Manufacturing leading enterprise mobile charge

Mobile technology spend will reach $1.2 trillion by 2019, with the manufacturing sector representing the largest enterprise opportunity for mobile technologies.

IDC estimates US$901 billion was spent worldwide on mobile technologies in 2014, with wireless data and smartphones making up the lion's share of the spend.

Excluding consumer, IDC says the industries expected to spend the most for mobile technologies going forward include discrete and process manufacturing and professional services.

"Combined, these three segments will represent 17% of the market in 2019," IDC says. The areas of greatest growth include personal and consumer services, media and the banking industries, IDC adds.

Jessica Goepfert, IDC global technology and industry research organisation program director, says more than ever, mobile technologies are empowering workers across industries to connect, collaborate and create new ways to operate and do business.

"It goes beyond providing a smartphone to liberate the deskbound worker," Goepfert says.

"Instead, it's about utilising mobile technology to increase sales, improve productivity and raise customer and employee satisfaction.

IDC says while mobility may have started with the simple concept of shifting employees from being deskbound to mobile, it has advanced and evolved in such ways that many organisations are embracing capabilities unique to mobility and unique to their industries.

"Each vertical is different in terms of its underlying industry drivers, barriers and potential benefits," IDC says. "Industry-specific applications will be a driving force as businesses look for solutions that can be easily configured to their unique business and vertical requirements.

IDC says worldwide, manufacturing represents the largest enterprise opportunity, with its sizeable economic footprint and global operations creating a naturally large market.

Consumer-centric industries, such as retail, media and personal and consumer services, meanwhile, are leveraging mobility to engage and connect with their customer and improve their experience, bolster loyalty and generate larger sales per customer.

However, despite the continuing growth of mobility, IDC notes there are still numerous concerns around it, with security and regulatory issues remaining the biggest barrier for mobile technology adoption across industries such as government and financial services.