Contributed article by Evaldo Horn de Oliveira, business development director, FairCom

The Rise of Mobile Analytics – Merging the Cloud and Data Access for Better Executive Decisions

With the emergence of smartphones and tablets, executives are becoming more accustomed to having mobile access to increasingly sophisticated personal and productivity applications.

The pressure to accelerate and improve business decisions is driving executives to demand constant access to high-level enterprise business applications and data. And, as we approach 2014, we will see more executives depend on smart mobile devices to provide real-time access to current market information to make better business decisions and improve productivity.

So far, CIOs at FORTUNE 500 companies have been cautious about shifting vital corporate data and applications to the cloud, particularly enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence (BI) and customer relations management (CRM) solutions. Looking ahead to 2014, we expect to see an increased demand from C-suite executives for mobile and real-time access to strategic planning tools - eroding this CIO/IT management resistance and caution.

So why would companies that have been historically cautious to embrace this concept now shift to the cloud and mobile access?

Until recently, smartphones have been used for communications and for personal productivity, but not necessarily for mission-critical business applications. C-level executives are just beginning to see the potential for real-time access to vital business data and applications that have been only available behind the corporate firewall. This realization is driving demand for mobile access.

Some of the benefits that CIOs and executives will see as a result of more mobile data access in the coming year include: 

• Better, timely business decisions: Problems and opportunities can emerge at any time, and delays in making critical decisions can lead to lost revenues or increased business risk. With mobile access to vital business applications and related data, executives gain access to the information and insights they need to make better decisions in a timely manner.
• Quicker adaptation to the ever -changing market conditions: Executives can improve overseas partner and customer negotiations during visits with real-time access to product quality data, supply chain performance insights, changes in local taxes or commodity price changes.

As the use of mobile data access becomes more prevalent, data - which was once restricted by legacy applications - will be converted to modern Web and mobile integration standards. The cloud will play an important role for enterprises in making data accessible from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. The cloud is a critical factor that will allow for mobile access to data and vital applications, which will enable executives to make better decisions required to succeed in today's business environment.

Evaldo is the Director of Business Development for FairCom Corporation, where he focuses heavily on the company's competitive market strategies. He has more than 18 years of experience in leading strategic sales in the IT industry, with a focus on Software. Evaldo joined FairCom from Fujitsu, where during his tenure had advanced from Project Manager to Fujitsu's Business Development and Alliances Manager. One of his particular strengths and interest is in the area of niches and vertical markets, which is where he first became interested in the COBOL landscape. He has extensive experience in international business relations, particularly in the UK, Brazilian and Japanese markets.

Although his career has evolved him more towards the business world, Evaldo came up from the technology side of things, which is where his heart remains. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. When he's not playing around with a new line of code or working on a new strategic opportunity, Evaldo is most likely playing with his family, building new swing sets and playhouses for his kids.