Securing Executive Support For Broader Mobile Technology Utilization

By John Graff, Xplore Technologies

The use of mobile technology has become almost mandatory in every industry worldwide. Every worker, regardless of their job, is now expected to maintain a certain level of communication and visibility with colleagues, customers, partners and suppliers. That notion is not easily achieved by desk-bound employees, or “fixed” computer setups. Manufacturing, transportation and field service-centric organizations understand this more than anyone else. At least they should. The majority of their workforce spends their days either in a vehicle or on foot in the field, factory or warehouse; mobile technologies are the most efficient way to ensure mission-critical data and workflow applications are accessible in real time, at all times.

Yet, a recent seven-country study conducted by Arlington Research on behalf of Xplore partner and Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) firm SOTI found that ‘many CEOs, especially in transportation and logistics, are “failing to grasp” impact of mobile technology on business practices.’ This is highly concerning given that properly-executed mobility solutions are proven to increase worker productivity levels, improve business process efficiency and enable the expansion of service models. In other words, mobile technologies directly impact a company’s ability to introduce – and sustain – new revenue generating streams that can boost their bottom line. A recent Frost & Sullivan report even indicates that CEOs and other executives who have expanded their organization’s use of mobile technologies are seeing significant returns on their investment (ROI).