In this article series, we have been looking at the four most important factors for future business. In case you missed them, the first three articles discussed:
In what was once considered a temporary phase, Social Media has become a significant factor for businesses. Like it or not, it is going to play a role in how businesses operate in the future, as well as how they interact with their customers. Thankfully, through the utilization of the right technology – you can harness Social Media and use it effectively to benefit your organization.
This article discusses the definition of cloud computing (also known as Software as a Service, or SaaS), what it means for your business, and how it provides significant cost saving benefits and advantages.
Businesses hoping to remain competitive in the future should take an active interest in big data, and identify the best ways to turn it into analytics and reporting that is beneficial for the organization.
Part Four: Mobility in the Form of Mobile ERP
The traditional business model of a nine to five, static office is fading away. From allowing employees to work from home, to having satellite offices and roving sales personnel, the need for an ERP application that provides for mobility is growing. What’s more, manufacturers and distributors are especially interested in providing on the go systems access to shop floor personnel, drivers, repair techs, and others. One of the keys to achieving mobile access is the utilization of a cloud-based ERP application.
Whether you have staff members who work outside the office or warehouse, or those who don’t necessarily have a desk or office but need systems access, ERP mobility is crucial to improving efficiency and operations. Many companies are finding it beneficial to issue tablet and Smartphone devices to non-static staff members. This not only provides much needed systems access, but it allows information to be inputted in to the ERP system much more quickly which in turn improves real time insight into warehouse activities, delivery status, inventory tracking, and more.
Increasing staff member mobility creates better flexibility and opportunities for your staff to improve individual effectiveness. With anywhere access to business systems, employees are able to assist you in keeping your business data as up to date and as close to real time as possible. From accurate inventory counts improving order processing, to improved organization-wide efficiencies, mobile devices and ERP applications are likely a significant part of the future of business. Embracing mobility can specifically allow you to:
- Increase productivity
- Generate more revenue
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Reduce operational costs
Security Considerations
While increasing mobility through the use of tablets and Smartphones provides several significant advantages, it also presents added security risk. Before you make a decision, carefully weigh the ways in which productivity will be enhanced against the potential for security breaches. Should you desire to implement a mobile ERP system such as Sage 100 ERP Online, Spend some time identifying how you can implement the right kinds of security measures to help minimize risk. Keep in mind that going mobile isn’t necessarily appropriate for every company, and / or employee for that matter. It is helpful to create a protection strategy for mobile data which address the most common threats. This will help you ensure that staff members are apprised, aware and being responsible with your company’s data. Some areas you may want to cover in your security plan:
- Public device usage
- Security training
- File sharing
- The dangers of public Wi-Fi access
- A lost/stolen device policy and procedure
If you are interested in increasing mobile capabilities within your organization, perhaps through a cloud ERP application such as Sage 100 ERP Online, please give us a call. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and help you determine whether an application like this would be beneficial for your company.