The way business is conducted is changing with everyone going wireless. Mobility solutions empower your company to do previously impossible things. Create a competitive advantage with wireless tools and become an adaptive enterprise that thrives on change.
Here's a 5-Step Plan on how to get started.
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Step 1: Plan your wireless strategy |
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First of all, resist the temptation to "throw money at the problem" and go on a gadget-buying binge. Instead, start your wireless integration process with a long, hard look at how your business operates today. Identify processes, approval points, responsibilities, workflow, cash flow and benefits etc
- Do an overall analysis of the potential of mobile solutions for the entire business as well as each department:
- Telecommuting professionals need to access precious
company data via email
- Sales reps may need to collaborate with each other
- Management may need real time sales data while
evaluating sales opportunities, or real time access to
inventory levels
- Prioritise which applications should go mobile first and assess resources available to commit to implementation schedules
- Identify inefficient practices
- Gather input and suggestion from your clients and your customers on how to improve business
- Visualise what your company could look like in the future
This exercise aims to show how wireless integration can have a dramatic effect on your business.
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Step 2: Ensure that your concepts are viable |
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Investigate available solutions to make sure they can work with your existing infrastructure and processes. Assess which wireless applications and devices make best use of your available technology. Laptops (with networking cards or with built-in wireless capability) are obvious. But there are also many other wireless devices such as tablet PCs, barcode readers and handheld devices that can empower employees. Use this potential list of wireless devices to define your wireless initiatives. Make sure that every item on this list is secure. Securing data on the device is an absolute necessity in any mobile strategy.
Next, see if your strategies are feasible. If you lack the objectivity or technical savvy to make decisions, bring in an IT consultant to help turn your ideas into action.
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Step 3: Run a controlled test |
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Test your wireless strategy on a small scale and measure the effects at regular intervals. You can deploy a wireless solution to one test application such as automation of a single sales or authorisation process. Or limit your test to one part of your organisation such as the regional sales force or inventory department. Test it for a month or two and see how well it integrates with your wired network and all your existing business processes. Develop concrete, well-defined, metrics for your test including tracking customer satisfaction, savings in time, cost savings or improvements in availability and uptime. During this test period, make sure data and network security is maintained for the new wireless application.
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Step 4: Continue limited deployment |
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As you meet with success and work the kinks out of your initial wireless projects, add new wireless initiatives. Link a few wireless features and processes together and ensure that things continue to run smoothly as your business begins to benefit from the wireless technology.
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Step 5: Roll-out solution company-wide |
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After making sure your wireless initiative is secure and has positive bottom-line contributions, it's time to initiate a full-scale rollout. As before, plan ahead and set up assessment checkpoints down the road to make sure you're reaping the maximum benefits. Also identify areas that still need some improvements. Finally resist the temptation to make everything wireless. It is a business tool and not a fashion statement. Make sure each new wireless implementation has some real ROI potential before you give it the green light.
Integrating wireless technology to your business may not be the easiest thing to do, but, if you do it properly, it may be one of the smartest and most rewarding.
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