Knowledge bank

MANAGING THE MOBILE REVOLUTION

According to Jeff de Cagna, founder of Principled Innovation LLC, a leading US voice on innovation for associations, ‘the future of associating is mobile’. The power of the iPhone computing platform has altered our expectations, experiences and capabilities – all whilst fitting comfortably in a pocket.

The iPhone arrived on the scene just four years ago. Today, smart phones are widespread and the iPad and other portable tablets are now having an impact. They’ve become a central tool or ‘remote control’ for managing daily life. And with the increase in availability of apps for business, news, travel and social networking, many of us have become increasingly dependent on mobile technology.

The key thing for membership organisations in all this is to understand how their stakeholders are using mobile devices both personally and professionally.

Face to face ‘physical’ relationships have been replaced by digital, portable and shareable social networks. Although some of these networks become long-term relationships, they have the capacity to constantly change and adapt as different groups of people collaborate online.

Jeff de Cagna claims that the most significant value of the move towards mobile is the opportunity for membership organisations to build more intimate connections with their stakeholders and capitalise on the power of mobile apps, building robust identities and useful features that people will want on their smart mobiles and tablets.

The pace of the mobile revolution is rapid. New technology appears on the scene daily. If the future of associating is mobile then your organisation must make mobile a top strategic priority to ensure you survive the technological revolution.

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