In the technologically-driven business world of today, it’s crucial to understand what kind of software solutions you can implement to make your business operate more effectively.
This week, we’re focusing on the importance of Enterprise Mobility solutions and how they can make a positive impact on the way you run your business.
Simply put, Enterprise Mobility involves sharing company information across a variety of devices (mostly mobile), so that a business can be run from multiple locations. This is especially relevant for certain business industries, like transport and logistics, which require the management of a lot of information in real time (information that often changes very quickly!).
Enterprise Mobility is also referred to as Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), which really just encompasses all of the broader processes involved in managing information that is stored in a remote location (i.e. the cloud). This involves elements such as end-point management (which controls what information particular users can access) as well as the physical components of Enterprise Mobility (i.e. the actual devices).
To get some insight into why Enterprise Mobility is so essential, we spoke to SovTech management to get their perspective:
“Enterprise mobility provides realtime transparency to all levels of a workforce resulting in more automony for those on the ground and ultimately more accurate reporting data for those in management.” – Andrew Chouler, SovTech Product Labs MD
“For me the importance lies in the ability to monitor your business’s financial health, your team’s productivity, as well as the ability to collaborate on any piece of work at any given stage by merely opening your phone.”– Edward Vincent, SovTech Director of Developers-as-a-Service
In a nutshell, Enterprise Mobility solutions are important because they allow for a more dynamic business, in that data access, usage and storage isn’t limited to the office environment. In a competitive business world, having access to data on the go provides a competitive advantage, especially in a country like South Africa where many large companies are taking some time to migrate from legacy data storage systems to the cloud, mostly due to issues like data security.
In this kind of space, a nimble business that takes advantage of cloud-based storage solutions and innovative EMM applications can stay ahead of the curve. SovTech’s CEO, Gerald Neves, further emphasises this stating;
“The future of workforces are distributed and digital. Mobility solutions empower employees to add value while maintaining connectivity with core company systems, while also allowing enterprises to design and develop end point systems unique to specific roles, functions, and geographic locations.”
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have changed the way that businesses manage their data, and have created a much more fluid way of making sense of a company’s financial information. Today, Enterprise Mobility allows for this kind of functionality to be used without having to sit behind a company PC. An example of effective Enterprise Mobility is an application that integrates with an ERP system and allows company members to access information about stock levels so that they can make a sale (by being able to provide an accurate quote and invoice by just pressing a few buttons).
An extension of effective ERP integration is one that also links to a company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This allows salespeople to follow up with clients on previous items/services they have purchased, and to be able to predict what items/services they’ll want to purchase in the future and when (which also links to marketing automation and other advanced data analytics functionality).
In today’s business landscape, it’s critical to stay competitive, but any kind of software solution needs to be applied with due consideration to context and the exact nature and size of your business. Does your business hold physical inventory? If yes, then a targeted EMM system will need to be developed for you to make sure that you can accurately monitor stock going into and out of your warehouse.
For some, EMM might be as simple as being able to have remote meetings and share and edit documents collaboratively, so it really depends on what your business goals and priorities are when it comes to remote communication, as well as data access and storage.
At SovTech, we not only specialise in custom software solutions, but also offer technological insight and advice for those looking to digitally transform their business or improve their current software systems. If you’re looking to implement Enterprise Mobility solutions but you’re not sure where to start, Chase le Roux, SovTech’s Commercial Director offers this advice:
“It’s a journey, so don’t try and jump in all at once. Take it step by step and make sure to get user acceptance. Listen to your end-users, be it your customers or employees, and allow them to speak out on what is required. As technology continues to advance, digital transformation is imperative for businesses to not only keep up but maintain competitiveness, so make sure to do it properly.”
