By Marco Nielsen,
Stratix
Retailers face a number of challenges when managing operations
that stretch from the production line to the showroom floor. They rely heavily
on end-to-end mobility to lower costs while increasing efficiency on all fronts,
including inventory, data management and even sales and customer service
Employing mobile solutions has become an industry standard,
but many retailers stumble when it comes to ensuring issue-free software development
and application. They are finding that new, agile software solutions are only
as effective as the employees handling each stage of the retail operation.
Advertisement
This mobile dependency makes it vital to have a clear
connection between the software development process and the end users. In
retail, end users can vary from back-of-the-store warehousing employees to front-of-store
sales associates, and it’s crucial to consider support across the entire
enterprise.
Rugged back-of-the-store devices, for example, are equally
as important (or more critical) as your ‘front of store’ devices at the
fingertips of sales associates. Having recently been affected by Microsoft’s
decision to end support for many of its legacy Windows operating
systems, many retailers are migrating rugged devices to Android or iOS — even
more of a reason to consider end-to-end mobile support regardless of the touch point.
The Changing
Landscape Of Mobile
Mobility is everywhere. You see it in the form of a mobile
POS device in the hands of a sales associate. It may be a tablet mounted on a
forklift for inventory management. It surfaces at every step in a global supply
chain. By
2020, 48% of the workforce will be mobile, and this rises to 70% for small
businesses.
As retailers shift more and more operations to mobile
solutions, it is crucial to maintain a seamless connection to all end users. This
shift is seeing retailers preparing users for a number of new innovations,
including:
- Wearable devices
- Artificial Intelligence in the supply
chain/operations and app development - Expanded voice integration
- Augmented/Virtual Reality
These innovations will fundamentally change how retailers
approach their entire business. Technology will cut down on inefficiencies
across the board — but only if they work from effective, interconnected and
user-friendly software platforms.
Integrating current employees into the development and implementation
of new software is needed to seamlessly transition into the new era of end-to-end
mobility, as it will help ensure that the software achieves practical business
objectives, enables appropriate management oversight and avoids the possible misuse
of mobile software.
As the landscape continues to shift toward agile solutions, it’s
better to adapt with your end users in the forefront rather than risk a
disconnect between software development, your operations and your employees.
How Can Retailers Get
The Most Out Of Mobile?
The temptation to plunge into mobility is great when the potential
benefits seem so obvious. Vital operational procedures can be developed or
modified while on the go. Mobile POS systems allow store associates to offer
better customer service, while tablets and other devices can offer inventory management
and shipping updates from anywhere.
However, to optimize these great features, retailers need to
move past the challenges of deploying mobile solutions. The top obstacles in
mobile implementation we see are:
- Inadequate IT staff/skill sets to manage
mobility - Mobile security
- Lack of operational support (e.g. device support)
Even the best internal IT teams may be stretched when it
comes to identifying, building and maintaining the most appropriate mobile solution.
One common option is to rely on third-party managed
mobility service providers with deep resources and know-how in
mobile solutions. In addition to technical expertise, the better providers will
have experience with incorporating the end user in software development and
application. If staff ask questions and provide a user perspective, software development
will yield far better results.
Part of relying on a managed mobility service provider is
the importance of providing 24/7/365 mobile support for retail associates, as
it will ultimately enhance and make for seamless customer experiences.
Integrating mobile devices with direct OEM support, device logistics and device
management will also drive more sales and vital usage of these critical
devices.
Priority also must be given to preserving data integrity and
eliminating security risks that will surface as retailers expand the use of
personal devices. For example, authentication methods can be employed to secure
all company and personal data in the event of lost devices. Coordinating with
end users can help ensure this.
For many retailers, deploying an effective mobility strategy
is easier said than done. But the rewards of a smart mobile approach will pay
huge dividends, especially if developers and end users are on the same page.
Marco Nielsen is Vice President of Managed Mobility Services of Stratix. He
has more than 20 years of cross-functional experience in systems architecture,
operating systems, hardware and communications for large enterprises. Nielsen brings
extensive experience, leadership and expertise to the development and execution
of enterprise mobility initiatives for Stratix. He creates enterprise mobile
strategies that align with clients’ objectives to assure that device
deployments deliver business value. A recognized industry thought leader, Nielsen
uses his real-world experience with large enterprise mobility clients to
conduct strategic workshops on a variety of enterprise mobility topics, publish
provocative white papers and create thought-provoking blog posts
