A Mobile Management Strategy Is No Longer a Luxury

Gone are the days when companies could choose whether to incorporate mobile devices into business operations. In the modern era, information officers must juggle more technologies than their predecessors ever imagined. This requires a knowledge of how and where to focus corporate resources and individual attention. Customers have come to expect access to information at any time and from anywhere and expectations of workers are now no different. This makes development of a mobile management strategy an important item on the to-do list of information officers.

Taking a Proactive Approach

Markets and technology seem to change at the speed of light. When faced with these changes, the best companies assume a leadership role. Resisting change causes a company to become obsolete. However, it is not enough to merely embrace change because this simply continues the status quo. Becoming a leader in an environment of change allows a company to flourish. There are many important trends brewing at any given moment, allowing companies to assume leadership roles on a regular basis.

One of the latest trends is mobility and this is still in its infancy. Included are more compact and feature- packed mobile devices, wireless technology advances, and the so-called "consumerization" of the information technology function. Mobility represents a huge opportunity for businesses of all types and sizes. This trend is expected to be as massive as the Internet revolution, but it will also be unique.

Characteristics of the Mobility Trend

It is difficult to imagine a trend that would have the same impact that the Internet did just 15 years ago. Mobility is expected to affect much of the world, forever changing the way we operate. While the Internet drove technology changes that connected information technology professionals with customers, the mobility trend will contribute to sweeping change in the workforce. Having a mobile strategy in place to deal with this change is essential.

Businesses must embrace the reality that many workers have become non-traditional. Employees now carry out their responsibilities in places other than the office. They work from the airport, train station, hotel room, and even at home. A mobile strategy must account for this changing reality, allowing workers to get the information they need when they need it so the business can remain competitive.

Important Components of Mobile Strategy

When developing its mobile strategy, a company should focus on optimizing business processes. Many companies initially concentrate on getting consumer mobile devices to perform the functions that workers demand. This makes a bring-your-own-device policy important to a corporate mobile strategy. According to a study by information technology research company Gartner Inc., nearly all companies will support at least one corporate application installed on personal mobile devices by the year 2014.

Business intelligence should also become part of a mobile management strategy. More workers are using tablet computers, and smartphones are boasting newer productivity-related features, thrusting mobile business intelligence to the forefront. Business intelligence is expected to catch up with mobility this year and the best companies will be prepared.

Do you need help developing an effective mobile management strategy for your business? Give Tele-Watch.com a call! We are a team of mobile management specialists that will evaluate your current programs and ensure that your mobile systems are meeting your demands. For more information, visit our website today!

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Essential Components of a Mobile Device Management System

Deciding that a system is needed to manage corporate mobile devices is easy. Finding the best mobile device management system is not, unless the business representative knows what to look for when comparison-shopping. With so many different systems available, it is easy to make the wrong choice when lacking experience in this area. To make the investment a worthwhile one, learn about the many factors to consider when shopping for a new mobile management system.

Systemizing the Procurement Process

A good mobile management system begins by streamlining the procurement process. Users see the hardware available to them, which maintains a consistent asset base within the company. A streamlined ordering process quickly puts the right mobile devices into the hands of users. The program administrator specifies the sources of hardware and the steps in the approval process. This process is then automated and can accommodate internal procedures like purchase order tracking.

Managing relationships with multiple providers and carriers should be simplified by using this system. The administrator should have the ability to control and process fulfillment of orders and the relevant information should be maintained by the system for later review and assessment. Bottlenecks are prevented when the system features a point-and-click process for device and plan approval. A good system should be able to provide fulfillment services from various vendors for the majority of mobile carriers.

Expense Management and Analytics

The desire to manage expenses is one of the main reasons that companies begin using one of these systems. Expense management is made simpler when data is centrally located, resulting in one place to access all communication costs for all accounts, locations, and carriers. This simplifies both tasks, like knowing when contracts are coming due and strategic tasks such as forecasting and budgeting. Data should also be segregated to align with the goals of the business, making it easier for users to identify shortfalls.

Identifying opportunities for mobile communication savings is easier when information workers are able to recognize changes in usage patterns. Through alerts, a system can notify the administrator of user changes, helping to optimize communication expenses. Information workers can use this information to make changes to devices or plans for calling or data. By customizing cost allocations for future users, businesses can ensure the most effective mobile device spending for each worker.

Managing the Mobile Lifecycle

Device management responsibilities do not end when the devices are distributed. Everyone within the organization should take responsibility for the mobile device budget. A system with an employee portal makes this possible. Device users can quickly see their usage and related costs, making them more aware of how their actions affect the corporate bottom line.

The cost and sophistication of mobile devices has made it more important for a mobile device management system to focus on lifecycle management. The system should enable information workers to follow the lifecycle of each mobile device from acquisition to replacement. This enables more accurate forecasting of hardware costs, improved efficiencies in timelines, and the ability to take advantage of new mobile technologies.

A mobile device management system can and will help improve the effectiveness of your mobile devices. If you are unsure of how to select programming or would like help in getting your mobile device management organized, contact Tele-Watch.com. For more information and available services, please visit our website today.

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