The internet of things will generate mobile data from devices and services that today are captured manually or not captured at all. This can be meter readers to capture temperature, qualities, quantities, friction etc. These types of devices might be available today but are not affordable – tomorrow they will be.
TRP: What benefits are businesses who invest in mobility schemes observing?
MG: From the research we found that the main drivers to enterprise mobility were powering a flexible workforce (83 per cent), boosting productivity (68 per cent) and delivering competitive advantage (42 per cent). Other important benefits include saving significant IT costs, improving data accuracy and response times, and reducing paper-based processes.
What we hear a lot from our own customers is that the real-time access to accurate data from across the organisation is truly enabling them to make more informed business decisions, bringing competitive advantage.
When building the business case for mobility including both tangible and intangible returns, business benefits can be seen from three perspectives;
- Personal workday – streamlined admin tasks resulting in increased personal work efficiency and productivity
- Business processes – shorter lead time throughout the entire value chain resulting in improved profits, lower risks and better customer service
- Everyday life – improved balance between work and private life resulting in improved employee loyalty and retention
TRP: How are IFS customers using mobile solutions?
MG: A significant investment in mobile technology is helping IFS customer Integrated Water Services' (IWS) clients respond more rapidly to critical data on water systems' temperature and legionella risk.
IWS field operatives can now immediately report data back to the company's business management from their Windows PDA device, which has led to a transformation in the way the contractor reports to its clients. To date, the system has removed "mountains of paperwork" and the company can now "turnaround reports in hours, not days and weeks," giving it a clear advantage over its competitors.
Previously, inspecting an asset portfolio of 1,000 sites for one local authority used to involve two contract managers sitting at a desk processing paper. Sometimes the client would see data two months retrospectively. Now they can go to their PC and see the 'exception report' of actual inspection data each day.
This investment in mobility is delivering clear ROI and will help IWS's clients respond with more agility to their water system data. The water industry, local authorities and government agencies are all feeling the squeeze, so mobility is helping IWS stay one step ahead of the game in trying to help to solve the client's problem.
Another customer, EPS Water, is using IFS mobile apps to enable field engineers to record and submit data while on-site, helping to provide more up-to-date information and reducing data processing costs. With the IFS mobile apps, engineers will be able to immediately record work carried out and place requisitions and orders for materials directly into the mobile apps, rather than fill in paperwork that will then need to be re-entered. This will ensure the business is constantly updated with the most accurate information from the field.
Visser & Smith Marine Contracting (VSMC) also invested in IFS Applications and IFS mobile solutions to improve its competitive edge. Project managers and work managers are now using mobile solutions to streamline the purchasing process.
Too long lead-times in the purchasing process results in extra costs effecting bottom line results and customer experience, because of extra boats that are shipped to an off-shore construction site. With IFS mobile apps, purchase orders can be approved anywhere at any time.
People who traditionally didn't access the business system can now easily access business control reports to make more confident decisions. Workers that are spread all over Europe can now register the hours but also the invoices on a day by day basis, even while sitting in the airport lounge killing some time.
