Why Your Field Operations Need Enterprise Mobile Technology

New study reveals that only 60 percent of respondents have adopted a “mobile first” strategy

Male field technician climbs a ladder on the side of a building with a rugged mobile computer in hand

by Jim Hilton

April 05, 2019

Online reviews. Social media. Order tracking. Technology continues to create new opportunities for consumers and companies. And as the world becomes more digitized and more connected, companies need to similarly transform their field operations if they want to compete.

From our new Future of Field Operations Vision Study, we learned that many leading field organizations are raising their performance edge with mobile technology. Sixty percent consider their field operations strategies to be “mobile first.” However, that number really should be 100 percent. Mobility is essential to workforce and organizational agility in this on-demand era.

More effective field operations with enterprise mobile technology

Our study revealed that leading organizations are placing enterprise mobile technology in the hands of their front-line workers. By 2023, 50 percent will have equipped most of their field teams.

Mobility gives field teams the ability to do more work with the same amount of resources. They can accept mobile payments and maximize cash flow and perform scheduled preventative maintenance or deliveries by proactively setting appointments.

The benefits

Enterprise mobile technology doesn’t just enable field teams to be more effective. About 85 percent of companies surveyed say it increases employee productivity and efficiency. And within the next three years, this will rise by nearly 15 percent.

Survey respondents indicated that they use an average of 2,100 enterprise mobile devices within their organizations today. By 2023, this is projected to grow to about 3,500 devices deployed. And the most popular investments of mobile-first operations are barcode scanner-equipped handheld mobile computers and rugged tablets.

Teams equipped with handheld mobile computers that have barcode scanning capabilities can quickly and accurately conduct document inspections in real time. Ruggedized tablets allow fleet managers to access schematics wherever they go—whether out in the field or in harsh work environments. Cloud computing enables workers to access work orders or other large data quickly and securely. And that’s just the start.

With more capabilities, teams can enhance their customer service, increase revenue, achieve regulatory compliance and so much more.

Download the full Future of Field Operations Vision Study today to learn from mobile-first industry leaders and understand how you can emulate their plans to help your organization capture its edge in 2019 and beyond.

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Jim Hilton

Jim Hilton leads Zebra’s global vertical strategy in Manufacturing, Transportation and Logistics. He helps organizations look to this next industrial revolution and demystifies what it means to become Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) compliant to unlock the hidden potential of the organization.