The adoption of mobile device management (MDM) and Bring your own application (BYOA) by enterprises is expected to drive enterprise app store growth over the next five years.
A Gartner report revealed that 25% of enterprises will have an enterprise app store to oversee corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices by 2017.
Enterprise app stores are expected to offer enhanced control over apps used by employees, while also controlling software expenditures, the report said.
Gartner research vice president, Ian Finley, said that apps downloaded from public app stores for mobile devices disrupt IT security, application and procurement strategies.
"Bring your own application (BYOA) has become as important as bring your own device (BYOD) in the development of a comprehensive mobile strategy, and the trend toward BYOA has begun to affect desktop and Web applications as well," Finley said.
"Enterprise app stores promise at least a partial solution but only if IT security, application, procurement and sourcing professionals can work together to successfully apply the app store concept to their enterprises.
"When successful, they can increase the value delivered by the application portfolio and reduce the associated risks, license fees and administration expenses."
Content from our partners
Enterprises can also benefit from app stores as they can support a diverse and competitive automated software process that requires less procurement intervention.
Lastly, enterprises can assist ensure the success of an app store incorporated with a dynamic selection that provide users ongoing opportunities to find out helpful new apps and also offer feedback to development teams.
Gartner research vice president Brian Prentice said that the implementation of an enterprise app store should be seen as a component of an organisation’s application strategy, rather than infrastructure strategy.
"The primary determinant of success is app supply. As a result, application leaders should be given overall responsibility for any app store initiative, but they should work in a collaborative fashion with other teams," Prentice said.
"The types of apps downloaded and used provide important information as to what types of solutions are of value to each type of user."
