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Process considerations key to making mobile work

Cindy Cheng, ​Sr. Director of Marketing Communications, EMEA, Appian
April 15, 2013

Personal mobile device use in the workplace is creating many challenges that organizations have to deal address.Business process management software can play a major role in resolving these issues, as some of the greatest difficulties associated with mobile operations involvealigning technological capabilities with operational needs. Business process innovation is critical in this area, making mobile BPM investments key.

The need for BPM software solutions to support mobile device functionality is especially clear as mobile changes many aspects of business operations and often requires many operational adjustments. A recent CompTIA study found that operational workflow challengesare among the most prominent issues associated with mobile success.

Dealing with operational challenges created by mobile device use

Seth Robinson , director of technology analysis for CompTIA, explained that many organizations focus on the device level of of functionality when trying to manage mobile devices. The emphasis should, instead, be on workflows and operations.

"Rather than focus on the device level, companies will need to assess the specific needs of their workforce and match the device," said Robinson. "For maximum benefit, workflow changes will need to be considered prior to evaluating workforce needs. But this is not a trivial matter and companies will need to weigh the cost of operational disruption and change management against the potential advantages."

According to the news source, the majority of survey respondents said their businesses are supporting both bring-your-own-device plans and corporate-liable mobile systems. This creates an environment in which IT departments no longer have as much control over the technology landscape, and organizations have to look for new ways to support devices, applications and other solutions.

Using mobile BPM to handle smartphone and tablet use effectively

Mobile BPM solutions can enable organizations to optimize business processes and operational workflows in light of mobile-drive technological changes. The challenges created by mobile device use are not just technical, they are also clear in collaboration.Smartphone and tablet use allows employees to get the job done when they want, how they want. As a result, it can be difficult to document when various processes have been completed and pass projects on to other workers. Integrating and automating processes is integral to success as mobile devices gain a more prominent role in the workplace,and mobile BPM solutions can make such functionality possible.

Cindy Cheng

Director of Product Marketing

Cindy Cheng