If your company already has made the move to e-business, the extension to m-business can be a lot smoother than that initial move. The learning from the initial transformation is highly applicable to the task of mobilizing the company. An e-business has already identified critical information, revamped business processes and begun to analyze the new information stream of electronic data. Creating real-time, anywhere access to corporate data and systems by extending e-business to mobile devices is no longer a leap of faith, but simply a step forward from firm ground.

If your company is contemplating making the move from pencil and paper directly to mobile devices, you face different challenges. You may soon see the need to work backwards and automate more processes in the main office in order to benefit from the new data stream.

Both kinds of companies can benefit from their own and others lessons at the School of Hard Knocks. After a period of hype and pipe dreams about the advantages of the always-connected business, enough real-world case studies are available, in this book and elsewhere, to illustrate the strategies and tactics that will pay off sooner rather than later.

The move to mobile is not a slam-dunk for any business. Strategists must carefully evaluate the opportunities for saving time, improving customer and partner satisfaction, and speeding cash flow.

After a serious assessment of the proposed mobile endeavor, careful planning and a step-by-step approach to implementation are the keys to success. Once an enterprise begins the...