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BPM and the Mobile Workforce

Ben Farrell
January 17, 2011

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has released the second part of his new transportation plan, including proposed tax cuts for organizations with teleworking employees. This falls under the transportation plan because fewer commuters on the roads could obviously help reduce the state's budget. The cost-cutting measure, however, is merely coincident with a much stronger cultural force of change. The nature of work, including how, where and when we do it, is changing. Companies (and government agencies) must get ready for the shift.

The tax cuts are designed to off-set new costs organizations may face in adjusting to alternative workplace arrangements. However, a far more fundamental issue raised by broad worker mobility is the question of how a dispersed workforce can be unified into a single corporate entity. How do you instill and enforce consistent values, practices and procedures? How can a collection of geographically-isolated employees work together effectively?

The answer will come when BPM software truly embraces both social technologies and mobile device delivery. Mobile BPM will keep on-the-move employees connected to enterprise processes and policies, and will drive new levels of effective collaboration via iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android devices.

This is an exciting frontier for BPM software that opens up a world of new possibilities. Stay tuned for more!

Ben Farrell, Director, Corporate Communications