Mobile-Centric Workforce Management – Tips and Ideas
It’s obvious that most people across the world have gone mobile, but it’s only when you see the statistics that you realize just how pervasive mobile technology is. Here’s a figure – 8.5 billion. Yup, that’s the number of global mobile connections we have today. And the shocking part is that this figure is predicted to increase by 5% every year.
Needless to say, this proliferation of all things mobile is a great opportunity for organizations. Not just in terms of catering to customers, but also in terms of fixing things internally. Going mobile inside the workplace can actually lead to some good results.
In this blog post, we are specifically going to discuss mobile-centric workforce management. You see, a mobile-centric approach to workforce management can be very beneficial, especially if you’ve got employees working remotely. For instance, it’s possible to stimulate innovation using mobile devices on the field by establishing new business models and streamlining operations.
Mobile technology can also help organizations keep a better watch over their employees’ productivity and even safety when they’re on the field.
Then, of course, there are other key benefits such as improved communication, optimized delivery, and checking of equipment availability etc.
By helping employees do their work in a more efficient manner, organizations can boost their position in the market.
But, the big question is, how can organizations make mobile workforce management a reality? Here are a few tips.
Make a note of the users and their needs
The relevance of mobile technology can vary from one department/team to another. For example, the sales team will have very different needs when compared to the service team. So, you first need to figure out what each unit or department wants.
First, look at who benefits the most from a mobile-centric approach and prioritize them. Then, you can work your way down.
Get the concerned teams involved in the design process
Teams here refers to the end users and they need to be part of the design process. Ask them for their input so that there are no failures in the meeting of expectations later. Once expectations are met, it becomes much easier to move on to the adoption phase.
Your end users, the various lines of business, and the IT team need to be in agreement. So, it’s best to have your end users offering as much input as possible, with regard to aspects such as workflow specifications, design, and front-end performance/usability.
Avoid complications
Make sure you are only focused on solving the user’s problems. Don’t get tempted by complex capabilities. It’s likely that you won’t be needing half the functions/features that get implemented. Keep things to a bare minimum.
The goal is to simplify the process and make the employee/team more productive.
Planday understands that work happens away from your desk. Planday’s mobile app allows you to work and schedule shifts from anywhere. You can add, edit, or delete a shift quickly. If you need a shift covered at the last minute, you can see which workers are available and assign them to a shift. Contact us now for more information.