Improving mobile workforce efficiency

Most organizations have very little visibility into how the remote workforce is performing and where improvements can be made. This needs to change, due in no small part to the growing environmental pressures and regulations, which require IT management to have in place the systems to prove mobile employees are working effectively, and identify where carbon footprints can be reduced.

Aeromark recently announced Optimatics, a technology platform that has been specifically designed for organizations with field-based employees, and which provides much-needed information on the many aspects of remote workers. Utilizing an application service provider (ASP) approach and centered on an intelligent interrogation engine, the solution integrates complex data feeds from telematics systems, as well as workflow, field service and job scheduling software, to obtain a holistic view of the data.

An integral component of the Optimatics technology is Aeromark's Smartdash graphical user interface (GUI) reporting tool, which provides visibility into what is happening with the mobile workforce, enabling the identification of ways to reduce operating costs, optimize productivity and increase customer service levels.

A management and monitoring capability is an important aspect of mobile application design. Administration issues with the mobile environment have proved a serious inhibitor during the last two years. A big challenge for many developers is to convert pilot projects into full-blown implementations. There have been cases where pilots have stalled, often due to the realization that the management challenges are very problematic.

The rapid expansion in the number of remote workers leaves the IT manager with a major headache over how to gain expertise in this area. Using an ASP model and the internet to deliver remote solution understanding and operational support, especially after the implementation of a mobility project, is one alternative to consider. The markets for managed mobile services are developing in strength and seeing considerable growth. Organizations should consider the benefits of using such services.

Ad hoc, manual methods based on spreadsheets are no longer an acceptable or practicable solution, especially as data quality for accurate and comprehensive reporting is now crucial. In order to reach the required level of intelligence, the deployment of an integrated monitoring solution must be an area of focus, as must the setting up of feedback loops and dashboards integrated with existing systems and solutions.

Source: OpinionWire by Butler Group (www.butlergroup.com)

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