With many companies switching to mobility to keep up with technology and business trends, scope management becomes critical to the successful implementation of a mobile office, says David Woolnough, MD of Mint Management Technologies.
Describing the practicalities of mobile business operations, Woolnough says: “Mobility is a big topic and scope management is critical in this regard. Companies should ensure they bite off what they can chew, and not try to take on everything in the initial stages.”
He says shifting to a mobile office is a wholesome process that brings about change in the operations of an organisation. “Companies should also bear in mind that mobility requires a culture change in their business, so the business needs to understand that the IT change is just one component of the project,” he says.
According to Woolnough, it's vital to understand changes, including changes in measurements. He adds that when organisations transition to a mobile office, they should be meticulous about the methodologies they employ if projects are to pay off.
He advises companies to select the correct device for the correct job. For example, a rugged device will work for field workers while a PDA is suitable for professionals who want to access information, finger print scanning or laptops, he states.
“The mobile choice must be flexible and have a roadmap that aligns to the future of the company strategy,” says Woolnough. “The organisation will go through a lot of changes, so companies should ensure the solution provider will keep up with the technology changes to maximise their investment and to remain relevant.”
Woolnough also notes that prior to implementing the mobile office, companies should prepare their staff through training, even if ongoing, to familiarise them with the concept. “Organisations should incentivise their employees to use technology and take action on those who do not want change, as they would be constant resistors in the future.”
He adds that companies should have real-time support in the form of call centres, for coordinating the office.
In addition, Woolnough recommends that companies synchronise their mobile office with the existing infrastructure. “Make sure the database you are currently utilising is well-structured and supports the representative body you want to manage in field.
”Ensure the information your team in field requires is available in real-time from your existing infrastructure. Remember mobility is real-time, so access to back office information needs to align,” he says.
Woolnough is one of the keynote speakers at the IT Web Mobile Biz Conference, being held on 28 and 29 July at Vodaworld, Midrand.
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