The managed mobility services (MMS) market remains integral to enterprise operations. Employees rely on mobile devices to remain productive, so you need the most innovative ways to keep your mobility environment running smoothly.
That’s why the managed mobility services market is expected to continue its growth, meaning it's an essential time to keep watch on the market.
What are Managed Mobility Services?
A managed mobility services partner helps enterprises manage large-scale mobile device deployments, support end-users, maintain security, and manage mobility costs. It's an essential method of achieving greater efficiency and cost optimization across enterprise mobility environments.
Let’s explore the trends driving the managed mobility services market for the year ahead.
1. Device Recycling
There have never been greater incentives for businesses to recycle their devices, and factors like sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are at the forefront of thought leader decision-making.
But modern businesses must balance their need for new technology, like the latest mobile device, and recycling. Ever-changing technology cycles generate a surplus of obsolete equipment, and enterprises require effective strategies to manage it.
In the coming year, implementing a reverse logistics strategy will be pivotal to managing this.
What is a Reverse Logistics Strategy?
It involves refurbishing or recycling employee devices, such as mobiles or laptops, when you no longer need them. This is incorporated into supply chain management and logistics, so it’s no longer an after-thought for organizations – but an integral part of their device management. This also contributes to corporate responsibility initiatives, demonstrating a positive environmental impact.
2. Mobile Threat Defense
Mobile threat defense tools are security solutions that detect cyber threats on mobile devices. This is especially useful for enterprises where a large number of mobile devices are in use – including a mixture of personal and business-owned devices.
However, most organizations aren’t doing enough when it comes to mobile security, and the consequences are costly. For example, experts estimate that cyber attacks, like mobile phishing, cost large organizations up to $4 million annually, and this will only increase with the scale of the threat.
We believe that thought leader insights, like the latest 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Managed Mobility Services, Global, highlight a growing concern for security in the managed mobility services market, too. The focus of managed mobility services will move towards features like device management, support, and cybersecurity.
The shift in priorities will cause businesses to choose solutions that are system-agnostic, meaning they're compatible with any device or mobile device management solution. This provides greater choice and flexibility – making it easier for businesses where employees use a wide range of devices.
3. Bring Your Own Device
Bring your own device (BYOD) can offer huge cost-saving benefits for an enterprise. Employees use their own devices to access business data and software, in turn relieving businesses from sourcing, purchasing, and deploying mobile devices for their workforce.
However, the BYOD landscape has changed over recent years. Security concerns have led many businesses to question its value, and some might be reconsidering including it in their mobility environment,
In the coming year, one of the biggest BYOD challenges will be balancing the protection and compliance of business data, while still ensuring an effective experience for device users.
4. Security
Unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions will be integral for overcoming security concerns. It provides a centralized application for data control across all devices that access sensitive data, creating a secure mobile ecosystem. UEM solutions can extend across both BYOD and corporate-issued devices, giving organizations complete control.
Compliance and security will remain at the forefront of corporate leadership minds in the coming year. However, today’s employees still want the freedom to work where and how they want, letting them be their most productive. The ability to maintain security across BYOD and bring your own network (BYON) infrastructure will determine the success of the policies in enterprise mobility environments.
5. Visibility
Like all good management processes, great managed mobility services require a single source of truth.
In the coming year, enterprises must store all their mobile data in a centralized system so that decision-makers can make the best choices using the same data. A consistent partnership with your MMS provider is also key as this underpins your mobile strategy and supports success.
Managed Mobility Services Trends to Look Out for in the Next Year
Security, sustainability, consistency, reliability, and visibility are the five key factors to look out for in the managed mobility services market. However, achieving this across the entire managed mobility lifecycle will remain a key differentiator.
