The Role of ERP in Enterprise Mobility Strategy

Business mobility is when your staff efficiently performs tasks while sitting at home in pajamas.

Just kidding 😅

Any corporation today must be flexible and dynamic to quickly adapt to changing market trends and respond to situations and challenges in a timely manner.

This means that the traditional office work format is no longer viable, just as local corporate solutions are no longer sufficient. Cloud technologies are key to business mobility and efficiency. And ERP can serve as the foundation for building a robust digital infrastructure for your digital company.

In this issue of the Newsletter, you will learn about the role of ERP in EMS in detail.

Why You Need an Enterprise Mobility Strategy

Enterprise Mobility Systems provide the ability to work anytime, anywhere.

The mobility strategy itself includes the following:

• Instant access to tools
• Communication among staff
• Secure access to corporate data
• Ability to work with clients 24/7
• Improved efficiency through partial automation

By implementing this strategy, you ensure that your business remains flexible and efficient, maintaining its competitive edge regardless of external circumstances.

ERP perfectly fits into this concept as it serves as a tool for productive and unlimited staff work. Yes, your employees can interact with the system from both office and personal devices. However, in the case of personal devices, you'll still need to ensure the security of corporate data.

By the way, one of the previous Newsletter issues addresses this issue.

The Potential of ERP in the Enterprise Mobility Concept

While I've already discussed the structure and integration of EMS, I haven’t previously covered some individual elements. Let me fix that.

ERP is essentially a cloud-based, multi-module platform that provides remote access to corporate systems, tools, and data. Formally, it can already be considered a mobile solution, but there are several conditions it must meet to confirm this status. Specifically:

• An adaptive GUI that is easy to interact with in both traditional and touchscreen modes.
• Pre-installed apps that are synchronized with the rest of the system via a special protocol (e.g., Microsoft Exchange).
• Isolation of corporate packages with controlled account management and two-factor authentication.
• Uninterrupted network access via secure communication channels like 5G and Wi-Fi.
• The ability to quickly update and install on new devices for employees.

As for the advantages of ERP in a mobile context, they include:

• Remote access to all tools.
• Easy interaction, possibly with AI assistance.
• Ability to work with modules and documents.
• Access to client and corporate information.
• Full support for all traditional job functions.

The last list also represents key aspects of the role ERP plays in the Enterprise Mobility Strategy, so let’s dive into each point in more detail.

Remote Access to All Tools

Financial, accounting, operational programs, and applications, including corporate communication channels, are integrated into a unified system. While they may function as separate applications, they are pre-installed and remotely configured for each individual device.

This enables your staff to easily log into the system and work remotely without any discomfort. Some interface and interaction adjustments may be required, but it’s worth the effort.

Easy Interaction, Potentially with AI Integration

When it comes to working from smartphones, an adapted ERP should be easily manageable through touch, gesture, or voice input methods. For instance, an AI-based command interpreter, which has access to all key system elements and navigation triggers, can enable such functionality.

This way, your staff can dictate document content, edit values, or input information into the database while on the go. These are just basic examples, as the potential of such a control system combination is virtually limitless.

Ability to Work with Modules and Documents

“Paperwork” through ERP is no longer surprising, but that applies to cases where people work using traditional tools and equipment. For mobile systems, however, some interface and functionality adjustments are necessary to help employees easily adapt to it.

A mobile ERP can offer features like voice text input with correct punctuation and spelling, as well as secure document signing via an electronic signature system with biometric user authentication.

Access to Client and Corporate Information

While ERP primarily handles internal company operations, even a mobile version should synchronize closely with CRM, especially if your brand is customer-centric.

Formally, this can be achieved through third-party products with a seamless data exchange between systems. However, the best solution is to integrate ERP and CRM functions into a single package. This allows staff to work within one interface, which enhances their efficiency and productivity.

Full Support for All Traditional Job Operations

ERP must guarantee access to all tools and systems used when working on traditional corporate equipment. Only in this way will you achieve positive staff performance results, regardless of the devices they use to interact with the platform.

In Summary

When configuring your system through Enterprise Software Management tools, ensure that the full functionality of the platform is accessible on employees’ mobile devices.

• A great example of implementing such systems is specialized products for offline store staff. These solutions make it equally easy to check inventory, confirm item availability in-store, place orders, apply promotions, and accept payments.

• Another example includes corporate applications for logistics and agricultural companies, enabling employees to complete a full range of tasks directly from their smartphones — even in the field.

Implementing an Enterprise Mobility Strategy is a relatively new trend that is gradually becoming a standard for businesses that prioritize staying responsive.

ERP is the foundation of this strategy, ensuring your staff is always connected and performing their work efficiently.