Surprisingly, most US businesses have not invested significantly in mobile process development. This is a commitment to leveraging mobile apps to enhance business functions. With so many options, and the majority of employees already carrying smartphones, here are five ways companies can utilize mobile technology.
1. Mobile Workforces
More businesses include remote workers, whether it’s staff operating from home, remote teams, or mobile employees who spend substantial time in the field. This could be anything from technicians to sales agents. Mobile apps are available that allow them to share documents and connect to applications. Apps like Slack provide an archiving and messaging hub so that employees can stay in sync.
2. Improved Efficiency
Organizations can increase efficiency by switching to paperless processes. Smartphone apps can schedule appointments on virtual calendars and even scan entire documents to instantly collect and share information. They can also be used with digital payment systems to purchase materials offsite and automatically record the transaction records. Obtaining an online master of computer science can empower you to develop your own process-specific apps.
3. Visual Records
Smartphones also include the capability of taking photos and video. Mobile employees such as claims adjusters can easily capture images of damage and stream them to the head office or save them to files. Smartphones can capture video and audio for training films or record unsafe conditions. Graphics apps are also available on smartphones so that this captured footage can be edited and captioned.
4. Managing Logistics
Inventory-based companies can keep track of logistics with smartphone scanners. Materials and merchandise that’s coming or going can be scanned into the system easily by the pallet, bin, box, or piece. At the same time each scan is time-stamped into inventory systems so you know exactly what’s available and when each item was handled. This allows you to perform analysis to improve handling and shipping processes.
5. Reduce Waste
Smartphones can help businesses to implement lean processes focused on reducing wasted time and materials. Smartphone apps can let you track not just inventory, but every machine and procedure in your organization. Navigation apps work with scanners, beacons, cameras, and RFID tags to track every asset. You can even monitor smartphone usage to limit personal phone calls or disruptions at meetings.
Providing the right apps to the right employees can empower them to more efficiency while providing you greater transparency into your entire operations. This creates constant opportunities to make improvements.
