If your business has considered implementing mobile technology, you’re not alone. Over the past few years, mobile has become quite the topic of conversation among business executives and managers. As software companies continue to unveil products designed with mobile in mind, many businesses are wondering if they are missing out on key features that mobile technology has to offer. Manufacturing processes are said to be better with mobile, sales are promised to be improved upon, and customer relationship management is touted to be easier when you can access your system from any location and device. The question is, are any of these statements true?
To put it simply, yes. Mobile technology can certainly make life easier on business executives and sales teams. When users can connect to their customer relationship management (CRM) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems via their smartphones and tablets, they can update customer records, view important sales reports, and update critical numbers within their CRM and ERP systems. Traveling business executives can stay connected to the happenings of the business even when they are stationed in an airport halfway across the country. Mobile technology certainly gives businesses the flexibility to improve upon their productivity and encourage instant access to company information.
However, recent research has shown that contrary to popular belief, businesses have been slow to adopt mobile solutions to manage their business. While 86% of small business owners use smartphones and tablets to connect with their customers, the majority of these interactions are via phone calls and texts. The study found that only a small percentage of business owners utilize social media or contact customers directly from the company’s CRM system via their mobile device. Survey respondents shared that they primarily use mobile devices to share files, tasks and calendars (59%), record cash flow (42%), or track expenses (44%). Less than a third of business owners claimed to use mobile technology for sales or inventory tracking purposes.
So the question begs to be asked: if mobile technology has so much potential, why aren’t businesses using it for sales and inventory purposes? Many businesses are reluctant to jump on new technology bandwagons. Experts predict that as the technology continues to prove to be a stable business solution, more companies will start to use mobile for everyday business tasks. Some companies assume that investing in mobile means having to buy smartphones and tablets for all of their employees; however, the majority of mobile business solutions are able to be accessed directly on employees’ phones via mobile apps. This actually makes mobile a very affordable (and practical) solution for businesses willing to give mobile a try.
If your business is looking to pair your CRM or ERP system up with mobile technology, we encourage you to contact us before making the leap. Let us examine your current business software solutions and processes to determine if incorporating mobile makes sense for your business. If the payoff is substantial, mobile is definitely the way to go.
Stay tuned to our blog as we continue to discuss how recent technology trends are shaping today’s businesses. Don’t forget to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your business software.