Mobile Computing Thought Leadership

  1. Disconnected Mobile Workers: A Bottom-Up Proof That Purpose-Built Devices Are Better 3/22/2017

    There seems to be a majority consensus (80%) among global enterprise executives that mobility is a “key enabler of reaching business goals”. In fact, more than 50% of senior executives intend to expand their mobile workforce in the coming months according to a recent study conducted by WBR Digital and commissioned by NetMotion.

  2. Q&A: How Effective Is Your Mobile Communication Strategy? 3/2/2017

     We hosted a webinar recently with enterprise communication platform provider Zinc and their customer Bio Tek Instruments to talk about the importance of effective and easy mobile communication. Bio Tek shared their firsthand experience on the impact that mastering mobile communications can have on field service.

  3. Putting The “Total” Back In Total Cost Of Ownership 2/22/2017

    TCO isn’t just about statistics. Field Service organizations responsible for everything from home repair to utility services and insurance claims to construction equipment rentals are seeing their workers quickly transform into “information workers” who expect real-time, digitally-delivered data about work orders, customer history, inventory availability and other logistical details at their fingertips all day long.

  4. Gazing Into The Crystal Ball: A Look At The Future Of Mobile Print 2/13/2017

    This time of year is traditionally one of reflection on the past and contemplation of the next 365 days ‘round the sun. It’s especially a useful time to get out the figurative crystal ball to consider current and rising trends, and see where the future lies.

  5. The Power Of Connectivity For Field Service Technicians 2/7/2017

    As digital tools have proliferated, what tasks and levels of access are field service organizations (FSOs) providing for their technicians online?

  6. Utilities Workforce Reality - Aging And Yet More Vibrant 2/1/2017

    A high-quality workforce is a tremendous asset to any Utility. And utility technicians, across the board, have a lot of experience and skill. The challenge to utilities is that this “asset” is older than the average workforce currently driving other U.S. industries. According to PWC, over 30% of Utility workers are within five years of retirement. PWC also reported that first-year turnover is high among the next-generation of utility field service professionals, and getting worse.

  7. What's Your Definition Of BYOD: eBYOD Or cBYOD? 1/25/2017

    Lately we've been hearing about the value that the “bring your own device” (BYOD) movement brings to Utilities focused on achieving greater efficiency and cost savings in their service models. Most of the media coverage discusses the advantages of BYOD as they relate to improved customer engagement. Many articles even encourage utilities to work with their software suppliers to implement expansive BYOD capabilities as quickly as possible.

  8. Big Data And Mobility: How Well Will They Work Together? It Could Depend On Your Mobile Device 1/18/2017

    In 2012, the NY Times reported on Big Data efforts at the retailer Target. Their analysis was able to determine which of their shoppers was pregnant, based only in changes to items purchased. These were not obvious changes like the addition of baby wipes, but subtle changes in shoppers’ baskets. The article (“ How Companies Learn Your Secrets” ) documented one case where Target knew that a teen shopper was pregnant before her parents knew. This just shows that there can be a wealth of information hidden in a forest of data.

  9. Big Data, In All The Right Places 1/11/2017

    Each business in every industry is unique, and yet there are common technologies that are used across each of these markets “horizontally”. For example, all service organizations – whether supporting utility, construction, mining or railroad operations – use heavy-duty pickup trucks, cellular data networks, and PCs with USB ports. Some organizations just add modifications to tailor these foundational tools to their specialized needs, such as hi-rail pickup trucks that can ride on railroad tracks, or the use of ruggedized mobile PCs with additional specialized I/O ports.

  10. Top Field Service Trends For 2017 1/3/2017

    The difference between what makes a great working day or a poor one, is very often to do with how all the components are connected. Connection and integration has been a key theme and will continue to gather importance throughout 2017.