In many security applications the PC client is seen as the primary interface to the system. Use of the PC client is a dedicated task normally carried out by a singular person checking for a specific item of interest.

When a mobile app is introduced – assuming that the app is easy and effective to use – the number of users tends to go up. The frequency and type of use also tends to increase.

If people don’t need to log on to a PC and can instead check a mobile app then they tend to check in more frequently. Also, more people check in. One person with the app says to the next to get the app and that it is easy and the user numbers grow. The sort of use tends to diversify. People find different reasons to check in. For some, the reason is security, the same as it ever was, others may use the logs to check to see who is in or out at present (staff levels). Others may check for crowds on the shop floor, others to see if the delivery lorry has been dispatched yet (workflow). Yes, some might use the system to see if there is a queue in the staff canteen.

Once the security system is made accessible in the form of a mobile app people find the data contained within useful for lots of different reasons. It is therefore generally true (certainly for security apps and maybe for other domains also) that users tend to be single and stationary or multiple and mobile.

EyeSpyFX user data suggests that the ratio is 1:3. Of course this will vary from application to application and installation to installation.