As it becomes more challenging to meet the growing demand placed on supply chains, it’s important for you to have an enterprise mobility strategy in place for the future. The only way an operation will be able to handle the increased expectations for faster shipments is if the the right mobile solutions that can streamline and automate time-consuming manual processes and replace outdated, obsolete legacy devices are implemented.
Now is the time to strategize and ensure your operation is well-equipped for the future.
Evaluate Your Current Technology and Plan to Future-Proof
Take a look at your current operations. What manual processes do you currently employ? Are there any repetitive tasks that could be streamlined or automated through mobile technology? Do you have any tasks that are unnecessarily time-consuming? The first step in creating any enterprise mobility strategy is to identify your current needs, and any needs you suspect may arise in the future.
Microsoft is gradually ending support for Windows CE and Windows Embedded Handheld, which means that enterprises will need to plan for OS migration. If you’re still operating with mobile hardware that runs on legacy Windows operating systems, it’s time to put a transition plan in place.
Download Our Free Guide: Are You Ready for Windows CE and Embedded Handheld End of Life?
Plan for Automation
Once you’ve determined what your enterprise needs are, begin looking into how they can be addressed with mobile technology. Best-of-breed modern technology like industrial mobile computers can be employed to automate and streamline tasks and processes to help improve productivity and speed.
Mobile technology can be used throughout the supply chain to automate processes like shipping and receiving, quality assurance, order picking and more. This reduces unnecessary manual labor, materials, and inventory expenses, while increasing uptime and accuracy.
Your mobile technology needs to be future-proof to ensure a good return, otherwise, it won’t be able to handle anticipated increases in demands or any future software upgrades. If your existing devices aren’t boosting productivity, consider upgrading them to be more efficient and ergonomic, like wearable scanners paired with mobile computers. This allows workers to carry out tasks much faster and safer, which further increases productivity.
Any technology you employ should be rugged enough to survive warehouse operations, advanced enough to support future software updates, and powerful enough to handle future demands placed on the industry.
Stay Secure
Don’t neglect management and maintenance when you are developing your enterprise mobility strategy. Once you’ve settled on the mobile technology you need, you must consider how you plan on managing the technology. This includes everything from deployment to end-of-life. There is a lot of maintenance that goes into ensuring your mobile technology is up-to-date and in good working condition. Having an enterprise mobility management strategy in place protects your investment and helps you get the most out of your technology.
If your internal IT department lacks the resources to adequately manage your mobile devices, consider using a mobile device management solution. This equips administrators to handle remote troubleshooting and wipes, wirelessly configure scanners, monitor data, and enforce compliance.
If you need insight on your enterprise mobility strategy, or are interested in seeing what mobile technology can do to help your operation meet increasing demands for efficiency and speed, contact Imprint Enterprises today.
