Why field operations teams need enterprise mobile tech

The latest study from Zebra Technologies reveals that only 60% of respondents have adopted a ‘mobile-first’ strategy.

Online reviews. Social media. Order tracking. Technology continues to create new opportunities for consumers and companies — and as the world becomes more digitised and more connected, utility and telecommunications providers need to similarly transform their field operations if they want to compete.

Zebra’s Future of Field Operations Vision Study revealed that many leading field operations teams are gaining a performance edge with mobile technology. 60% of respondents consider their field operations strategies to be ‘mobile first’. However, that number really should be 100%. Mobility is essential to workforce and organisational agility in this on-demand era.

More effective field operations with enterprise mobile technology

The study revealed businesses placing enterprise mobile technology in the hands of their front-line workers and by 2023, 50% will have equipped most of their field operations teams.

Mobile technology gives field operations teams the ability to do more work with the same amount of resources. They can accept mobile payments and maximise cash flow and perform scheduled preventative maintenance or deliveries by proactively setting appointments.

The business benefits

Approximately 85% of companies surveyed say enterprise mobile technology increases employee productivity and efficiency — and within the next three years, this will rise by nearly 15%.

Survey respondents indicated that they use an average of 2100 enterprise mobile devices within their organisations today. By 2023, this is projected to grow to about 3500 devices deployed. The most popular investments of mobile-first operations are barcode scanner-equipped handheld mobile computers and rugged tablets — and for good reason.

As the majority of utility and telecoms work happens outside of the office, forcing workers to complete time-critical workflows while on foot or in a vehicle amidst extreme working conditions — critical data and real-time communications must be accessible to minimise asset downtime and maximise productivity. Ruggedised mobile computers and tablets are designed specifically to meet these challenging conditions. For example, field service teams equipped with handheld mobile computers that have barcode scanning capabilities can quickly and accurately conduct document inspections in real time. Furthermore, cloud computing enables workers to access repair orders or other large data quickly and securely. And that’s just the start.

Field service teams also have particular needs that must be met — they want bigger screens in their mobility tools, and they need to visualise multiple datasets at the same time. Their tools need to be extremely rugged — from the inside out, and this technology needs to be fast, connected and customised.

Mobile technology can not only meet the demands of the utilities and telecommunications sector but can give workers the capabilities to enhance their customer service, increase revenue, achieve regulatory compliance and so much more.

Download the full Future of Field Operations Vision Study to learn from mobile-first industry leaders and understand how you can emulate their plans to help your organisation capture its edge in 2020 and beyond.