Smartphones and tablets are beginning to replace PCs in a variety of sectors, and are becoming the new engine that employees use to get the job done. This trend is leading to major changes to how businessprocesses are completed. As a result, organizations often need more transparency and better social operations to keep up with the unique challenges presented by mobile device use, particularly the bring-your-own-device trend.
Business process management (BPM) solutions are evolving quickly, as BYOD gains momentum and corporate mobile strategies shift in light of the consumerization of IT movement. As a result, mobile BPM solutions can play an integral role in helping companies deal with mobile-specific process challenges.
Considering new process issues in a mobile-device driven business world
Mobile devices change process workflowsbecause workers can get the job done from just about any location, giving them the flexibility to work when, and where, they want to. As a result, employees canoften complete processes at the best time, not just when it fits within the work schedule. This leads to a few key problems, chief among them, that organizations can get bogged down by mobile workers whoare slow to respond to certain process issues, struggle to pass along projects to the next user, or fail to document their efforts comprehensively, holding back their co-workers. All of these flaws can develop easily in a mobile-focused operational climate where flexibility is key.
BPM solutions introduce transparency into the broad process climate. If a mobile worker is taking too long on a process, a manager can open the BPM app, see what is going on with the project, text chat the employee and hasten process completion. Major problems can, therefore, be identified as quickly as possible. At the same time, documentation is automated, as is basic communication about process completion.
Mobile device use promises efficiency and flexibility gains for workers by putting technology in their hands. In a best-case scenario, these promises can come true because workers have more control over their work day and can get the job done as effectively as possible without IT limitations getting in the way. However, there are plenty of roadblocks to mobile-related success. BPM software can help organizations overcome process pitfalls associated with increased mobile device dependence in business settings.
Malcolm Ross
Vice President of Product Marketing
