ABI Research predicts the number of “large enterprises” adopting app stores will grow 30.4 per cent year-on-year through to 2018, translating into threefold growth from current levels.

The manufacturing and trade industries, says the research firm, will command the largest share of app deployments.

ABI Research reckons that the Asia-Pacific region will have the most enterprises adopting enterprise app stores by 2018, growing at 59 per cent year-on-year.

North American and Western European enterprise app store adoption are expected to grow at 20.7 per cent and 21.5 per cent respectively.

ABI Research analyst Jason McNicol highlighted mobile application management as one area growing in popularity among enterprises that are looking to deploy flexible mobile solutions to support bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives.

“The problem is finding a scalable solution to deploy enterprise apps without placing additional burdens on IT departments,” he said.

“Enterprises supporting BYOD initiatives need to consider bring-your-own-app [BYOA] initiatives as well,” added McNicol.

“Widespread adoption of BYOD has led to an influx of third-party apps being used to support business functions. Instead of blacklisting these apps, enterprises are embracing, securing, and deploying third party apps through the enterprise app store. As such, the enterprise app store is a means to support BYOA.”