Go Mobile the Right Way: A Pragmatic Approach to Workforce Mobilisation
Mobile-enabled workers tend to be more than 35% more productive than their non-mobile enabled peers.
91% of mobile users keep their mobile devices within reach 100% of the time.
Where to start with web-to-mobile transformation?
Many companies recognise the need to “go mobile” - and the benefits it can bring - but just don’t know where to start. How do they conduct an efficient review of their own mobile needs? How do they know which business processes they should mobilise first? How can they guarantee that the apps are as user friendly as possible? Will the mobile apps even be used after the investment is made to create them? Will the apps make their organisation more productive and how they guarantee a good return on investment?
An organisation’s mobile journey is not just a simple case of arming its employees with mobile devices. It’s about the process of transforming the right business processes into functional and user-friendly mobile versions which will solve key business challenges, empower the workforce and ultimately lead to increased productivity.
Every organisation’s journey from web to mobile is a transformation, but it can vary immensely in terms of its key priorities and scale.
The key question for each company is “What’s right for my business?”
Pragmatic Approach
Starting with the technology and then trying to shoehorn in business processes is now widely recognised as the wrong way to do it. Understanding the business processes end-to-end before choosing the technology is the wiser route to “going mobile” in an enterprise.
The steps to this approach involve:
Understanding and prioritising the business processes and functionality that bring the most value for mobile interaction
Defining the user experience with the aim of achieving user-friendly mobile apps which are adopted by all employees and ultimately lead to increased productivity
Finding the right technology to “enable” the key findings from the first two steps
This approach is used to help navigate the mobile journey in a pragmatic and structured way, rather than by personal preferences or instinct.
Continued Business Operations – Wherever, Whenever
There are many key business challenges that can be overcome by mobilising the workforce. Business mobilisation allows for continued operations no matter what, for example:
Technicians in the field can access vital information in real time enabling asset maintenance and reporting.
Sales people can access critical information on a tablet as they are talking to a customer.
Managers can approve purchases or timesheets no matter where they are located.
Warehouse operatives can check stock while on the move.
Everyone can make decisions in real-time and at the point of interaction.
The whole workforce can be empowered, whether they are in the confines of an office, plant floor, field or on the move.
For those with limited network access, apps can be made available offline.
Companies that are considering developing their mobile strategy shouldn’t just dive in blind, in a bid to be seen to be “going mobile”. They should take a pragmatic approach, and make sure they create a compelling mobile user experience for their workforce to get the best return on this vital business investment.
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Are you an SAP client interested in exploring the advantages of having a mobile-enabled workforce?
Think of what you could do if your SAP applications were available to you wherever and whenever you needed them. Due to our longstanding partnership with SAP, IBM specialists can help your organisation to efficiently transform from web to mobile in a way that is built around your business priorities.
SAP + IBM + Mobile = Transformational Solutions
Learn more at the “Simply Mobilising SAP” live webinar from the comfort of your own desk on Wednesday 13th April hosted by IBM and SAP experts. Register here: http://ibm.biz/simply-mobilise
Statistics: “China Mobile 50k survey”; Morgan Stanley Research; 2011; Sorensen, S.; The future is now – why you can’t wait any longer to set a mobile work policy. Forbes.com
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http://www.ibm.com/solutions/sap/us/en/landing/mobility.html