5 Mobile Technology Trends Transforming Architecture and Engineering

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One of the biggest challenges in any architecture or engineering firm is keeping everyone on the same page, especially when it comes to working with the same technology and processes. We see this in the 3rd Annual Deltek Clarity Study for Europe and Asia Pacific where 38% of firms identified office and project site coordination as one of their top three challenges.

These challenges only grow as firms deal with the rapid pace of change across the industry, the technologies they rely on, and the world itself.

So, how can you help keep your team aligned across every location — even in the wake of constant change? For many firms, the answer is making the most of portable devices to deliver an on-the-go single source of truth. But it’s not quite as straight forward as handing everyone a smartphone or laptop and sending them on their way.

In fact, there are five surprising trends in mobile device adoption across the industry that are transforming how firms operate. In this blog, we’ll explore these trends — and what they mean for firms looking to optimize their productivity.

1: Mobile Productivity Is Limited by Legacy Infrastructure

Even if you’re able to get mobile devices and laptops into the hands of your people, there’s a chance you won’t see the benefits if everyone’s still connecting to legacy, on-premises infrastructure.

The 3rd Annual Deltek Clarity Study shows that 32% of firms across Europe and Asia Pacific are looking to invest in better software tools over the next three years and 40% are looking to invest more in their IT infrastructure to enable them to keep pace with the rapidly changing business environment.

While, in theory, firms can unlock mobile productivity by migrating to the cloud, we know it’s not so simple in practice.

Cloud migration and adoption continues to be an uphill battle for some architecture and engineering practices. But only by solving this crucial challenge can firms make sure they’re ready to make the most of mobile devices. Explore five benefits of the cloud in this blog.

2: Security and Mobile Can Co-Exist — If They’re Handled Correctly

Data and cybersecurity challenges are some of the greatest obstacles faced in the architecture and engineering space.

Mobile devices only add to the complexity faced by security teams, with 55% of respondents in a Ponemon Institute Report saying smartphones represent the most vulnerable endpoint at their organization.

Mobile devices don’t have to come at the expense of security. But firms that want to embrace mobile working must ensure they collaborate closely with IT and security teams to roll out new devices and apps in a way that balances security, mobility and accessibility.

3: Industry-Specific Applications Can Unlock On-the-Road Productivity

While your team is probably used to scrolling through email clients and other general productivity apps on their smartphones, we’ve recently seen dedicated architecture and engineering apps really come into their own as well.

Now, the likes of AutoCAD Mobile make it easy to bring designs and models on the road, file-sharing apps can help teams connect with vital project information from anywhere, and job-specific tools like Deltek + ArchiSnapper save valuable time by streamlining core processes like punch lists and site inspections.

Many vital back-office solutions also offer mobile companion apps to help employees save time and minimize admin burden. For example, Deltek ERP’s mobile features help employees manage timesheets and expenses from their smartphone or tablet.

4: Mobile Devices Must Work Well Alongside Your Systems — Today and Tomorrow

On their own, mobile devices support all kinds of apps that help people work smarter. However, the true value of portable devices is also being able to access and add to core systems based in the cloud.

Ensuring your mobile devices play nicely alongside your back and front-office solutions is a vital part of mastering the many benefits of mobile working. However, it isn’t enough to just ensure interoperability today. You also need to make sure future technology deployments maintain the delicate harmony between your cornerstone applications and mobile devices.

Get this right, and you can reduce the risk of siloed or inaccurate data and help ensure everyone is working from the same source of truth — no matter what device they’re using.

5: Mobile Solution Adoption is Growing, but Still Has a Way to Go

Mobile device adoption is growing rapidly across businesses and consumers. According to Strategy Analytics, 3.95 billion of the world’s population owns a smartphone compared to 1 billion in 2012.

And according to our reports, firms across Europe and Asia Pacific are aware of the need to update their technology: In fact, 45% of Deltek Clarity respondents have stated that they want to develop a budget for strategic investment in technology and 41% are looking to create a strategic plan for implementing technology trends.

Discover 9 Industry Modernization Trends

Mobile devices are transforming how architecture and engineering firms operate. But they’re just one part of the digital ecosystem. To learn the other ways your peers are modernizing and transforming operations, get the white paper: 9 Reasons to Digitally Modernize Your A&E Firm