As companies and employees begin to rely on mobile technology to complete work related tasks it is becoming apparent that corporate app stores can be a huge asset to businesses.  A corporate app store is similar to any other app store; the difference is that a corporate app store offers apps that are specifically for that business.  These app stores are created to organize business apps in one easy to find place versus getting lost in the sea of hundreds of thousands of other apps out there.  On top of that the apps are often made especially for the business by IT professionals.

A corporate app store may not seem like a necessity until your realize just how much it can help your employees and your bottom line.  These corporate app stores allow companies to empower their employees with the tools they need to succeed and drive the business forward.  They also help companies to track and modify the apps that work and the ones that fall flat.

Another way that these corporate app stores help businesses is through is the ability to customize the app store to deliver specific business apps to individuals or groups of employees.  This allows employees to find the business specific apps that they are looking for without obstruction.  It also allows a company’s IT departments to highlight or support an app that they think is critical.

As smartphones and tablets become less expensive and further advanced it is advantageous to have them in the work place.  Unfortunately just having mobile devices in the work place does not offer your company any kind of competitive advantage, however specific business apps may.  Businesses are using mobile apps to revolutionize the way they complete tasks and deliver services to consumers.  This is great for these companies, but placing them on an open app market puts their hard work and competitive edge at risk.  Putting your apps up for download in the open app market would allow competitors to study or even use your apps.  A corporate app store allows your companies IT specialists to allow only employees to download your business apps.

It works out great for IT as well because it makes their lives easier.  A corporate app store is easier to maintain and allows IT specialist to make sure employees are always running the most up to date version of apps.  Other key functions allow IT to push end-user license agreements to employees’ personal phones and information for IT to understand and direct future app investments.

Though a corporate app store may not solve every IT problem it definitely alleviates most of them.  Corporate app stores allow IT to distribute apps, ensure the security of corporate data, push mobile app updates, cultivate an understanding of the apps that work and invest future apps.  A corporate app store is a channel for IT to communicate and receive feedback, distribute apps to other employees in a secure manner, and remind employees of possible updates.  A corporate app store is hands down the best way for your company to distribute business apps to your employees.  Other companies are already employing corporate app stores with great success meaning those who don’t will soon be left in the dust.

On The GoWARE provides mobile app development and training services for Apple iPhone, iPad, Google Android, and BlackBerry platforms.