How to set an effective mobile ERP strategy in five easy steps
The workforce is going mobile. According to research by the International Data Corporation (IDC), mobile workers are forecast to increase from 96.2 million in 2015 to 105.4 million by 2020 and will comprise almost three quarters of the total US workforce.
That means businesses that want to compete in the fast-moving modern economy must empower their people to work from anywhere, at anytime in order to meet rising customer expectations for near instant service.
At the same time, customers are demanding greater access to their data and more management control over their accounts through customer portals that put the ordering process at their fingertips.
This represents an opportunity for forward-thinking businesses to get ahead of the curve with mobile functionality and intuitive customer portals that deliver on both demands.
However, the transition to a mobile workforce requires careful management and monitoring. That’s why it’s essential to select an ERP solution that offers mobile user access for your sales team in the field to operate efficiently wherever they are. Additionally, a Customer Portal will improve client engagements, allowing them to work they way they want, when they want. This type of flexibility improves customer interaction experiences.
One example is MYOB EXO OnTheGo, which gives mobile employees access to the same information as they have in the office to deliver accurate quotes and manage customer accounts while in the field. This reduces transaction, delivery and quoting errors. Another example is i-Track — a MYOB EXO plugin developed by Indivia to allow existing account customers to raise new orders and view the status of existing sales orders as they are processed.
Here are five steps for setting an effective mobile ERP strategy:
Step 1: Speed
While the latest generation of mobile devices draw ever closer to desktop computers in terms of processing power, they require high-speed wi-fi connections to keep pace. That may come with an increased consumption of mobile data, which is a small tradeoff for increased inefficiencies.
Step 2: Compatibility
ERP apps are not necessarily compatible across Android and iOS operating systems and are often written for a specific type of advice such as tablets. This can cause a problem if your employees use competing mobile device brands. Either set a company-wide mobile device standard, use custom coding, or look for browser-based interfaces to overcome platform compatibility issues.
Step 3: User interface
When it comes to mobile ERP apps, design counts. A user-friendly interface should provide intuitive navigation to keep productivity high, and should be optimised for the screen size of your preferred mobile device whether that’s a smart phone or tablet.
Step 4: Native hosting
Native ERP apps that are downloaded to mobile devices tend to offer faster processing speeds and better integration with your back-end system than web-hosted apps. Native apps can also be customised to align with your specific operational processes and business objectives.
Step 5: Data security
Running a mobile ERP does come with some data security issues as your company information becomes accessible from a range of employee-held mobile devices. That’s why it’s important to choose an ERP solution with built-in data security including data encryption to protect your customer information.
The take-home message
The way we work is changing, and businesses that embrace the mobile work revolution will be well placed to provide near instant customer service through mobile-equipped sales and service teams with sophisticated system access that puts all their customers’ information at their fingertips.
To successfully manage the transition to mobile work, businesses should engage the services of a professional organisation that understands these complexities and can inform you of the best route to take. That leaves you free to do what you do best — run your business.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you implement an effective mobile ERP strategy or…
