Having emerged as a separate type of gadgets, tablet pc’s (and first of all, Apple iPad) are now becoming a real working tool for managers worldwide. Unsurprisingly, the new platform has drawn attention of corporate systems developers that now offer their own custom solutions.

In September 2011, Digital Design announced that it has been developing Managers Workspace for iPad – a set of functional modules in form of client solutions enabling access to various corporate resources. Dmitry Livshits, Digital Designs commercial director, discussed the prospects of future tablet PC use in corporate field with correspondent from iBusiness.

iB – Recently, your company has announced development of Managers Workspace for iPad. How actively tablet PC’s are being used by management today? And for what purposes?

D.L. – We can now say this with confidence - the managements’ preferences will be shifting towards tablet PC’s. It is also clear that tablet PC’s are not going to be the only device managers will be using.

Basically, the administrative managers will receive some sort of mobile office, which will consist of various devices, be those netbooks, notebooks, or, least likely, a desktop PC. This office will include a type of smartphone, since some smartphone functionality cannot be transferred to tablet PC. Of course, iPad has 3G but this is unlikely that someone will use iPad for calls, even though voice communications of the device are going to be in use.

Each device is going to exist in its niche complementing each other. Some tasks are better addressed from an iPad with its touch screen capabilities that are not commonly present in desktop PC’s.

Will iPad be the only tablet PC. Certainly not, as other vendors are already entering the market. There will be tablet PC’s on Windows 7 and Android. The other question is whether these platforms will be capable of reaching the usability and features iPad has now. We’ve been testing a Windows 7 tablet PC on our applications recently.

Tablet PC’s on Windows will have their niche. The thing is that iPad is not so convenient to work on with some applications. The idea of this device is to work in context of a single application, completing a certain task. All multitasking that is coming with iOS 4.2 is nothing but just an ability to switch between the tasks and not to transfer control from one application to the other. Multitasking is going to be the reason for Windows tablet PC’s niche on the market. The other thing is that niche size is closely linked to the usability of these tablet PC’s so that if they will have everything running nice and smooth then…

iB – Operation of a mobile device is all about creating the content and not its consumption. And how to deal with creational function of control?

D.L. – Content can also be created on tablet PC’s. Such tasks as issuing of orders in regard to certain files can be relevant in context of electronic document management systems.

iB – What will be happening to the market of special offers?

D.L. – We currently are on a growing trend. Demand stabilization period is going to begin soon. It is certainly unnecessary for a manager to have all applications gathered on a tablet PC. However, EDMS is far not the only functional area available for tablet PC users as we also see prospects of their use for analytical reporting.

For example, in case if certain figures have changed, affecting the trends, the manager has to be able to make necessary observation in order to set new objectives and return the figures to desired level. This is not just about viewing reports, but also about being able to place specific orders upon them and being able to control their completion.

iB – How do tablet PC’s and netbooks exist in a single market?

D.L. – There are managers who will probably never use iPad and will only work on netbooks. Another part will never use netbooks because they don’t like Microsoft operating systems. But most of the people are likely to be using both.

iBusiness, Maksim Plaksa
October 18th, 2010