In an era of digital connectivity and ubiquity, enterprises, especially manufacturing companies, are embracing next-generation enterprise mobile solutions to turn their factories into “smart factories”. Currently, enterprise mobility leverages cutting-edge technologies like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), industrial big data analytics and cloud computing to meet the modern-day requirements of manufacturers and optimize daily industrial operations.
With the proliferation of mobile devices in the market and an increase in the adoption of trends like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), the modern manufacturing industry is recognizing the pressing need for embracing hi-tech enterprise mobility solutions as a strategic move.
“The Enterprise Mobility and BYOD market size is anticipated to boost at a CAGR of 15.87%. from USD 35.10 Bn in 2016 to USD 73.30 Bn by 2021.” – Markets and Markets
The need to mobilize the manufacturing industry
Manufacturers, across the globe, are facing unique internal and external challenges that not only hamper a manufacturing company’s growth, making day-to-day operations difficult and expensive but also impacts the productivity of the workforce. Some of the challenges faced by manufacturers are listed underneath:
- Poor inventory management resulting in overstocking or shortage of stock, under buy or over buy of supplies, etc.
- Manually updating data delays the operations related to inventory audit, shop floor, part details, or management of raw material.
- Missing data/information and human errors in managing records.
- Difficulty in rendering quality products/services to consumers while ensuring that the internal process remains in compliance with industrial standards.
- Unreliable data or limited information leads to imprudent decision making.
- Lack of coordination between different verticals of a manufacturing firm.
To overcome the above-mentioned challenges, manufacturers felt a stringent need to mobilize their daily operations not only to make their work easier, more effective and ubiquitous but also to enhance workforce productivity. However, with the introduction of state-of-the-art enterprise mobility 2.0 and the adoption of smart line-of-business apps, manufacturers are now able to monitor discrete manufacturing operations within a matter of seconds, anywhere, anytime.
How to create an enterprise mobile strategy for manufacturers?
As manufacturing operations management (MOM) is becoming more and more intricate, it becomes arduous for manufacturers to manage myriad industrial activities such as asset management, shop floor, management and logistics monitoring in a digital space. To efficiently manage data/information via mobile apps, manufacturers must be aware of these six steps to craft a robust and unprecedented enterprise mobile strategy:
1. Define the objectives of the manufacturing firm
The first step to crafting an effective enterprise mobile strategy involves evaluating the objectives of a manufacturing firm and its corporate vision. At the same time, manufacturing companies must have a 360-degree view of their mobility solution and they should also know how to drive mobility objectives into their ongoing operational activities.
2. Identify functional areas that require mobilization
The second step involves identifying and analyzing the company’s core functional area/manufacturing operations that require mobilization. Manufacturers should have detailed discussions with managers of different verticals regarding the targeted mobility and conduct brainstorming sessions to gather potent mobility-based ideas. It will help in curbing performance delays across the business line and give a clearer picture of how mobile applications will accelerate industrial operations.
3. Craft a mobility framework
The subsequent step is to craft a sturdy mobility framework, based on a manufacturing company’s IT, security, business and BYOD policies. The framework assists manufacturers in standardizing the mobility solution and IT regulations throughout the entire enterprise. Furthermore, it helps them in interpreting various capabilities such as scalability, agility, third-party integrations, audit compliance as well as service interpretation.
4. Selecting the right technology stack
After creating a mobility framework, manufacturers should make the smart move of choosing and finalizing best-in-class technology vendors from the market to build an innovative and effective mobility framework. The manufacturing firm can choose from a wide range of the latest technologies for their framework to streamline various industrial processes and optimize all managerial tasks.
5. Create a roadmap and execution plan
The most imperative step, after determining all the aspects of an enterprise mobility strategy is to create a flawless mobility roadmap and to form a solid execution plan. For this, manufacturers need to determine a timeline that includes all the employee, IT and departmental needs along with priorities and objectives of the manufacturing firm.
6. Development and deployment of mobile applications
The final step involves the development and deployment of mobile applications. It can be done by consolidating various stages of deployment like planning, designing, developing, testing and finally launching the mobile app. After launching the application, manufacturers will be able to collect data ubiquitously, which will guide them in making all future decisions related to various manufacturing operations.
Merits of creating an enterprise mobile strategy for the manufacturing industry
A strategic and innovative enterprise mobile roadmap can revolutionize the way manufacturers manage their everyday production activities in real-time from anywhere, anytime. Consequently, crafting a powerful mobility strategy for the manufacturing industry comes with a myriad of benefits for manufacturers and consumers both, such as:
- Enhances employee productivity
- Higher Return on Investment (ROI)
- Faster access to critical information
- Improves customer experience
- Optimized logistics/freight management
- Increased data security
- Reduces time to market
- Quick decision making
- Enhances process visibility
- Fast and efficient resource management
- Strengthens regulatory compliance
- Stronger communication between all verticals
- Accessing data on-the-go from remote locations
If your manufacturing firm is planning to embrace an advanced enterprise mobile strategy, then get in touch with our experts.
