For years employees use Windows applications, but is this still what your employees need in order to be productive? Gartner predicts that the PC sales (both desk-based as notebooks) will keep declining. You already see tablets in the office, but in 2017 even 40% more tablets than PCs will be shipped. But how does this affect your Windows application?
As you can see by the rising number of tablets and smartphones, people want to be connected on multiple devices. Nowadays you see people in the office with their own tablet and construction workers at building sites using their smartphone in a smart way to work more efficiently. This will cause them to stop using the Windows applications their IT admin offers them, because –note- they are not developed for tablets.
So is it time for a change or can I still wait?
We see two types of companies. Company A can’t say goodbye to their Windows application because they still need it in order to work effectively. Company B who use a Windows application because they aren’t aware that there is a browser-based solution which frees them from their legacy Windows application. Both companies face the same problem. When a user opens the Windows application, which is originally designed for a desktop with keyboard and a mouse with multiple buttons, they have a hard time working with it on their tablet or smartphone. So what do users do? They install and use their own apps, which causes information to be lost and untraceable in the process. As more and more web apps appear on a daily base it is time to look at your applications and make a choice.
What choice do you have regarding your Windows applications?
So you established a problem. How will you solve it? We have been thinking about solving this problem before it even existed and are working since 2010 to make the browser your “new operating system”. What did we do? We developed Workspace 365 as a complete browser-based workspace that allows you to send email, manage documents, open all your applications (both web, hosted or local apps) and easily create new apps using any device.
But what if you still need the legacy Windows application? No problem, we’ve got you covered. As mentioned it is possible to open your legacy application on any device using your browser, but your users will still have to work with a program which isn’t designed for their device. Therefore, it is possible to create new web apps, which we named Business Apps, and link them to your existing Windows application.
Why would I build my own Business Apps?
Building sounds hard, but it is all drag & drop. So by quickly building your own Workspace 365 Business Apps you allow users to work on any device, while staying connected with each other. For instance, when you use the Workspace 365 Project App, your employees will be able to see who’s working on what project and which files, e-mails, activities, offers, etc. are linked to it. This way you can quickly add, share and edit information from any device. So companies who are not dependent on their Windows application can either integrate a web app or use Business Apps.
If you do need your Windows application you can create a Business App to simplify your user experience and link to the legacy Windows application. This way your input will automatically be processed in that application as well!
Are you curious what it would take to simplify your Windows applications using Business Apps? Contact us to discuss how we can help you to be prepared for the fast rise of tablets and smartphones.