Impact of Mobility in business functions

Enterprise Mobile AppsEmpower your Business Functions

1Enterprise Mobile Apps - Empower your Business Functions

As enterprise mobility becomes ubiquitous, organizations are moving beyond plucking the low lying fruits of mobile technology e.g. mail, messenger, contacts and calendar etc., and are taking the next step towards mobilizing their business functions. There is a near unanimity on the benefits of arming the workforce with mobile devices. But, how mobility in business processes would pan out? How will it impact the bottom-line? Higher up-front costs on acquisition and deployment of enterprise apps do raise such questions in the minds of decision-makers before they opt for full scale integration of mobility in their organizations. Here, we look at key business functions in organization and how mobile devices and applications would impact them.

Mobile Apps for Salesmpower your selling

Sales professionals need continual access to customer and company data to optimize their efficiency.Mobile applications can immensely power sales team by providing all key information such as CRM, client information, lead data and analytics; right on their fingertips. Real-time access to all these would help on-the-go sales professionals optimize time, spread reach, accelerate decisions and, most importantly, seal deals on-the-spot.Mobile applications for Sales can help you in -

• Account management to give you a comprehensive view of your customers, prospects and channel partners.• Leads management by providing you real-time new lead notifications as updated in your CRM.• Allows your vendors and channel partners to view prices, requirements, stocks etc. • Retailers and salesman at shops can get the latest price list of products, stock availability, booking orders and payment processing etc., on their device. • Enable product demonstrations and other selling activities.• Get easy access to your ERP system and get stock of the inventory,track orders and delivery. • Plan your travel, visits and other work activities with a calendar and scheduling app.• View and create reports, update and analyze your sales & revenue data.

Furthermore, you can also customize the functionality of your application by adding other value-added features like maps,languages etc., to empower your sales team.

“ Your sales executive is travelling to meet a client. Midway he gets a call from a long- time client

who wishes to book order for certain products. Your executive immediately logs into the inventory

management system from the device, checks the availability of products and places the order. He then

turns to your client and assures him that the order will be delivered within two days. All in a few minutes!

That’s what mobility brings to sales- instant access to key information thereby reducing the sales cycle,

on-the -spot closure of deals and thereby higher revenues and customer satisfaction ”


Mobility in SalesIndustry Specific Challenges and Answers

BFSIS

Challenges•Transparency•Sales Cycle•Financial Literacy/awareness of customers•Documentation•Regulatory Compliance•

Mobility Solutions•Mobile based benefit illustrators, product brochures, premium calculators etc. •On the spot form fill-up, premium payment processing on the device. •Videos, Audios and other content on mobile for creating awareness.•Document scanner as an add-on device for mobile. Digital signatures, soft copies for the device.•Reference literature on the device.

Retail

Challenges•Consumer Awareness•Pricing•Stock Management•Payment Processing

Mobility Solutions•Facility for virtual product demonstrations on handheld devices.•Price Lists, Product-price comparison tools on smartphones and Tablets.•Mobile access to Inventory Management System, ERP etc.•Mobile based Bar code reader and Credit Card processing add-on devices.

Automobile

Challenges•Product Description/Demonstartion•Stock Availability•Financing•Post-Sales

Mobility Solutions• Interactive and Augmented Reality based mobile apps, Videos etc., can be used.•Mobile access to Inventory Management System, ERP etc.•Mobile apps featuring loan eligibility calculators, application forms for consumers.•Roadside assistance ticketing through a mobile app. Digital manuals, Servicing records can be accessed on mobile.

Hospitality

Challenges•Promotion / Pre-sales•Booking

Mobility Solutions•Virtual tours, Interactive apps, videos, maps, Augmented Reality apps etc., on the device.•Mobile apps featuring Ticket/ Hotel Search, reservations, tour planners.


Mobile Apps for Service and Supportfor the problem solvers

Another key function in an organization which is constantly on the move and requires anytime, anywhere access to corporate data is service and support. Enterprise mobile apps can streamline your service operations, provide easy access to your clients and bring quicker trouble-shooting processes thereby enhancing your post-sales services.In addition, mobile enterprise apps for service and support can help you in-

• Providing comprehensive view of client complaints, problems and history.• Enable systematic workflow information between various participants in the process.• Plan your travel, visits and other work activities with a calendar and scheduling app.• Enables your customers to log complaints and get real-time solutions as they do on your website. • Minimizes the role of customer support centre and reduces costs.• Analytics and Reports.

The mobile apps can further be empowered to use device features like mapping, languages, camera etc., to add more tools and resources to your customer support team.

“For a company providing car breakdown services, mobilizing services will enable its clients to log

complaints from the remotest of location and call for immediate help. The service team which is on

field can get access to all complaints on their devices and accordingly plan their movements. It will not

only help the team reduce its travelling (which otherwise will have to go back to office to know about

the next complaint) but will also help reach the customer quickly. The support team can also instantly

update the status of complaint.”


Mobility in Services & SupportIndustry Specific Challenges and Answers

BFSIS

Challenges•Policy Management•Consumer Awareness•Portfolio Management•Customer Support

Mobility Solutions•Access to policy details on consumer’s mobile. Premium Payment Reminders, Policy change notifications etc., can be sent to customer’s device.•Market updates, Mobile compatible newsletters.•Forms, brochures, Investment Management, Switches, Liquidity processes on mobile.•Voice, text & chat based services, FAQs, Knowledge Centre, ATM/Branch locator, push alerts, mobile logins

Healthcare

Challenges•Patient Information•Expert Consultation•Awareness

Mobility Solutions•Patient records, diagnosis reports, LAB results, Clinical summaries, Prescribed Medicine lists etc., on the mobile.•Appointments via mobile, Online chat, messenger and mail based services.•Health based calculators, monitors, bulletins and daily tips on mobile devices.

Automobile

Challenges•Complaint Management•Resource Management•Services

Mobility Solutions•Mobile based complaint logins, Ticketing, FAQ based apps, Digital Manuals, Knowledge Centre on mobile.•New assignment alerts, Dashboards, Offline work support, Location based Services, Maps•Vehicle servicing reminders, best practices notifications etc

Telecom

Challenges•Customer Support•Complaint resolution

Mobility Solutions•Voice, text & chat based services, mobile recharging, new plan notifications, bill payment reminders, mobile payment processing etc.•Mobile based complaint logins, Alerts to field engineers, FAQ based content, Interactive apps and Maps etc.


Mobile Apps for Supply Chainfor smooth flow

Mobile applications can be an excellent tool for people managing supply chain of a company. So far, organizations that have embraced mobility have mostly limited themselves to using smartphones in their interactions and sending alerts. However, mobile apps can bring much more to the process in terms of real-time control, monitoring, management and timekeeping which can speed-up the process, make operations leaner and resolve production problems quickly.

A supply chain app will make it easy for-

• Inventory Management by providing information on stock, raw materials, procurement etc.• Track movement of goods, orders and supply.• Shop floor management to forecast, deploy, monitor, and manage your workforce.• Update inventory information through barcode scanning. • Enable common warehouse and shop floor transactions.• Analytics, reports and other documentation.

“In supply chain, mobile apps can provide basic functions of warehouse management-shipping and

receiving orders, barcode labeling, reports & queries, tracking movement of goods etc. On getting an

order, your sales personal will immediately note it into his sales app which is then automatically updated

into the inventory management system. Warehouse manager will immediately know that there is an

order to be delivered and then he will update the movement of goods and track it as it is shipped and

reaches to the client.”

Challenges and Mobility Solutions

Challenges• Inventory Management•Process Efficiency•Stakeholder Collaboration•Monitoring

Mobility Solutions•Mobile access to Inventory Management System, ERP etc. Mobile data capture validation, mobile barcode readers, mobile scanners etc.•Mobile Apps with Dashboards, employee details, order booking, assignments, approvals, work orders, equipment & materials etc.•Quick mobile voice and text based communication tools. Need based access to required information on devices.•Mobile barcode scanning, Mobile delivery tracking, System record updates and status alerts on mobile devices.


In a new-age organization, the workforce is geographically dispersed; working at different time zones and a large part is on the move. The challenge before an HR department is to get connected to the workforce, engage them in various HR activities, and provide access to HR processes to put right men at the right jobs, record performance, process approval requests and facilitate coordination between various business functions. A mobile application for HR will provide-

• Human Resource Management system to forecast, organize and manage human capital.• Enable your employees to enter leave requests, travel requirements, bills etc., from their device.• View various approval requests like leaves, travel, relocation etc.• Take inputs from managers on team requirements.• Get access to other corporate metrics and provide insights to top management.• Performance Appraisals and other key meetings via video-conferencing.

Using mobile apps in HR activities will streamline operations, speed-up the process and help HR managers take decisions, on the move and at lower costs.

“Mr. John, working in US office, wants to take leave for a week. He applies to his HR office based in

another city. The HR needs to take input from John’s Manager before the leave is approved. John’s

Manager is on an official tour to UK. In short, concerned people are at different locations and at different

time zones. Connecting to them and coordinating would take time. A mobile application for HR with

employee management system would enable John to put his leave request anytime, anywhere; the HR

and his Manager can immediately see the request and John’s Manager can recommend granting the

leave. So, within a few hours, the entire process gets complete.”

Mobile Apps for Human Resourcesfor your most ‐valued assets


Challenges•Recruitment•Employee Management•Competency Management• Internal co-ordination

Mobility Solutions•Collaborative platform on the mobile featuring hiring requirements, job boards, recruitment service providers etc.•Mobile access to Human Resource Management software. Mobile apps incorporating employee details, payroll, leave and travel approval system. Company notice board and information sharing platform on mobile. •Mobile apps featuring competency, skills, talent pool & job architecture. Mobile access to Performance Appraisal and Review system.•Voice and text based communication tool on mobile. Need based access to required information on the mobile. Mobile apps featuring dashboards for key decision makers.


Mobile Apps for Productionpower your production line

Information on orders, inventory management, workforce etc., on their devices will allow Managers and Supervisors to make better decisions on the floor leading to effective utilization of resources and reducing wastage. Mobile Apps for production will offer-

• Process Management by giving access to various information and data for work hours, approvals, raw materials, manpower, finished products etc.• Access to supply chain management.• Performance overview and information sharing through reports and analytics.• Manager and supervisors can view and review product design.• Deep insights for delivery heads and other decision makers.• Interface between suppliers, vendors and other stakeholders.

The production apps can further make use of cameras, gyroscope/accelerometer etc., to customize the apps to meet their individual requirements. The production department can improve the coordination within the department by maintaining a lean and faster information flow and boost its productivity by embracing mobile applications into its work culture.

“Mr. Mark is the floor manager in an organization. One morning, he is informed by the vendor that the

expected raw material supply will be delayed by a day. The delay will not only affect his floor but will

also impact production in other floors. To avoid losses, Mark has to immediately inform various people

and co ‐ordinate between floors. If there was a mobile app for production, then Mark or his vendor

would have updated the status on the system and the information would have been instantly relayed

on the devices of concerned parties across the organization resulting in preventing losses and better

management of resources.”


Challenges•Efficiency•Co-ordination•Production cycle time•Employee Management

Mobility Solutions•Mobile based platform integrating operations and information. Mobile Apps with dashboards providing employee details, work hours, assignments, time sheets, scheduling and approvals.•Voice, text & chat based services on mobile. Mobile access to Inventory Management System, ERP and other corporate systems. Mobile based record updating.•Mobile based real-time tracking of production activities. Recording inventory data on mobile for up-to-date status.•Mobile app featuring employee records, time sheets, assignments, floor requirements, approvals and notices etc.


People at the top of hierarchy needs to constantly take decisions and resolve issues on-the-spot to accelerate downstream productivity. Accuracy and timing is highly important. Business decisions are based on sound logic which requires constant business workflow. Mobile Apps for Management offers-

• Dash board providing information on various corporate metrics on sales, production and other business functions.• Top executives will have real-time access to sales, project status, revenue and margins etc.• Advance Decision Support System and Analytics.• Reports, charts and other company information.• Information sharing with other executives and unit heads.

“A Sales President of any company would always require on ‐time data on sales, revenues, retail etc., so

as to plan ahead or to take critical decisions. Similarly, for a President ‐Operations, access to information

on project status, client feedback, expenses etc., would help in effectively managing the project. Now if

you have a mobile app that will be a dashboard presenting key performance indicators of the company

then all the top executives of the organization can log into it whenever required, get all information and

take on ‐the- spot decisions.”

Mobile Apps for Top Managementdecisions. on the spot. on the go


Challenges•Real-Time Information•Communication•On-the-move decision making

Mobility Solutions•Mobile dash boards providing information on business functions. Mobile apps featuring reports on various corporate metrics. •Voice, text and chat based communication tools for mobile.•Mobile integration with Sales Force Automation, CRM, Advance Decision Support System and Analytics


[x]cube is the premier mobile solution partner for companies and individuals creating the next generation of digital applications. [x]cube develops custom solutions for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Mobile platforms.[x]cube is a division of PurpleTalk, Inc.

xcubeLABS.com | 1-800-805-5783 | [email protected]

The potential with enterprise mobile apps is everywhere- from HR to Sales and across all industry verticals. We have only seen the major areas in which mobile apps can be leveraged, and there are many industry-specific, business-specific functions which can also adopt mobility to capacitate its operations and step-up its efficiency and productivity. Also there are multiple interwoven utilities of mobility across various business functions in the organization. As enterprises grow in their mobility experience, we will see more innovative and comprehensive deployment of mobile applications.

Mobile devices, Mobile apps, Mobile workforce and Mobilized processes will be the drivers of enterprises in the days ahead. While embracing mobility whole-heartedly will fetch huge dividends, indecisiveness can push you behind your competitors. Act now and deploy mobile applications in your enterprise and reap the benefits.

[x]cube LABS is one of the leading mobile apps development and consulting firm, headquartered in Dallas, U.S and with offices in New York and Hyderabad, India. With expertise across all the major mobile platforms, [x]cube has delivered over 500 apps till date and has an enviable client list comprising of some of the biggest brands like GE, Intel, Texas Instruments, Hasbro, Mattel and 24 Hour Fitness. [x]cube’s understanding of the mobile space and technology, suitably complimented by its rich experience across all the major industry verticals and the capability to deliver end-to-end solutions makes it a perfect fit to be the mobile consultant of choice.

The Road Ahead . . .

About [x]cube LABS

Reach [x]cube [email protected]

1-800-805-5783

www.xcubeLABS.com

To integrate your enterprise ; people, process and products with customized, avant-garde mobility solutions or to explore mobility opportunities in your enterprise with our experts, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We also encourage you to continue exploring our website ( www.xcubeLABS.com ) to find out more about our services.

Date post:	28-Jan-2015
Category:	Technology
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Impact of Mobility in business functions

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