Mobile devices driving need for advanced document solutions

Data volumes are on the rise for companies around the world, and many have their increasing reliance on smartphones and tablets and an ever-expanding mobile workforce to thank, according to new research from IDC.

The firm's latest study, the Worldwide and U.S. Document Solutions 2011-2015 Forecast, revealed that mobile devices are among the factors most responsible for rising data volumes. Given the robust computing power of today's smartphones and tablets, mobile employees are producing and accessing digital documents and other content like never before.

While such increased access to information is leading to a greater focus on mobile device management, it is also directly causing a need for document management solutions that address enterprise mobility, according to IDC. In fact, the firm revealed that the market for mobile document solutions will experience compound annual growth of 71 percent before reaching a total of $1 billion in 2015. Last year, the market peaked at $68 million, IDC stated.

"The mobile device explosion is also positively impacting document solutions," the report stated. "The growing adoption of mobile devices within businesses offers new output opportunities, while creating a need for new content management solutions to secure business-critical information."

Overall, almost unbelievable growth is expected for the global document solutions market, according to IDC. Its researchers believe the market will reach revenues of $5.5 billion in 2015, after earning just $3.4 million a year ago.

"Software designed to incorporate documents into a more streamlined business workflow represents [a] tremendous opportunity over the forecast period," Ron Glaz, program director for IDC's digital imaging solutions and services, said. "This market will experience unprecedented growth as users demand more effective device management, paper to digital document management, and output management."
Other market segments that will experience strong growth during the study period include solutions for authentication, authorization and security, according to IDC researchers.

Such solutions will only become increasingly important during the next several years, as more mobile users translate into the consumption of more data. A report from Ericsson recently revealed that mobile data traffic is expected to increase tenfold by 2016, as the computing power of mobile devices continues to rise along with adoption rates, InformationWeek reported. Companies will have to prepare their mobility programs accordingly, experts say.