2020 was a rough year for everyone. For the first time since the dawn of human civilization, the entire globe was forced to rethink the way we communicated and worked with each other, all without any sort of physical proximity.
Today, the world is on the path to regaining normalcy, but employees and consumer expectations have changed for good. According to Pew Groups Research Center, nearly six out of ten workers prefer to work from a location of their choosing. Workspaces have expanded beyond traditional spaces, and operational managers now have to manage multiple workflows outside of their immediate reach—a challenge particularly difficult for dynamic supply chains.
“Changes can happen at any time in the supply chain. Products can be held up at a port. Minimum wages can go up. Global relations can get heated, and all this affects how the supply chain communicates and moves.” - Onkar Singh, CEO of 42Gears, a leading mobile device management solution provider.
Modern supply chains now struggle with fast-paced production floors, micro-fulfillment centers, crippling shortages, and ever-increasing last-mile expenses. Statistica’s latest findings suggests that distribution centers struggle to hire and retain qualified workers amidst the labor shortage, while 36% of e-commerce shoppers expect same-day shipping.
To cater to this shift in consumer expectations, experts point to mobility’s key role in the post-pandemic world as the foundation for digital transformation.
How can CIOs leverage enterprise mobility initiatives effectively?
For CIOs who are looking at transitioning into a fully-remote or hybrid work environment, there are two aspects that need to be enabled in employees' work devices - Seamless connectivity and security.
“A mobile device, such as a rugged cell phone or an enterprise tablet, can digitally capture, store, and share data with fewer errors and wait times. That, paired with a dependable MDM solution, helps businesses easily deploy new devices, minimize downtime, optimize utilization, and even make sure security patches are applied in time to prevent breaches.” - Onkar Singh
Let’s take a look at the use cases in which CIOs can effectively leverage MDM for:
1. To analyze consumer behavior through collected data
Post pandemic, the increase in the use of e-commerce and buy-online-pickup-in- store (BOPIS) transactions shows how consumers have changed the way they shop. Handheld devices, sporting embedded scanners, are capable of automating data collection while transcribing data into a shared database. A robust MDM solution makes sure that all devices are running efficiently, and helps IT teams to avoid issues during peak operational hours.
2. To enable consumer engagement in real-time
Recent studies suggest that three out of four customers will check their order information many times before they receive their packages. This means that supply chains must provide real-time insight that’s compatible with consumer-friendly platforms to ensure up-to-date tracking. Moreover, it also means teams must be able to track deployed resources in real-time to disperse labor efforts to where they are needed most.
To meet this demand, leading operating system developers such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple collaborate with enterprise technology manufacturers to create platforms that connect workers and consumers seamlessly. Leading edge mobile device management solutions support all major operating systems and device types, further simplifying IT management of mobile assets.
3. To solidify business relationships and trust
If there’s one thing that breaks trust between two parties, it’s a breakdown in communication. Current cellular technologies, like push-to-talk connectivity options and cellular networking, help in bridging the gaps between teams to prevent miscommunication. Moreover, new security updates and patches to counter rising cyberthreats further strengthen mobile devices to house vital data and communication channels without placing operations at risk.
Digital Transformation is a necessity, and MDM is the fastest way to achieve it
“A robust and reliable MDM solution should be able to conduct basic functionalities such as configuring devices in bulk, tracking device lifecycles independent of the operating system, and supporting company and employee-owned devices alike. When these factors are in place, devices can be expected to empower workers with accurate real-time data no matter where they are.” - Onkar Singh.
For highly complex and intricate supply chains, enterprise-ready MDM solutions provide operational heads with the necessary tools, resources and security capabilities to be prepared for unforeseen, catastrophic events. Digital transformation remains a key goal for businesses across all industries, and enterprise mobility solution is the first step in achieving it.