Subtitle

Developing a
Successful Mobile
ERP Strategy
For 2015 and Beyond

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Contents
Mobile ERP: The What and the Why ............................................................................................... 3
What is Mobile ERP? ................................................................................................................... 3
The Mobile ERP Market: .............................................................................................................. 4
Mobile ERP Market Players: ........................................................................................................ 4
Top 3 (Plus One) Reasons to Embrace Mobile ERP: ........................................................................ 5
How to Get Started with Mobile ERP? ............................................................................................ 6
Factors Driving a Successful Mobile ERP Strategy: .......................................................................... 7
Working Well with Mobile ERP: ...................................................................................................... 9
Future of Mobile ERP:.................................................................................................................... 10
Conclusion: .................................................................................................................................... 10
References: .................................................................................................................................... 11

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Mobile ERP: The What and the Why

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) refers to a suite of
integrated applications that help a business organize its
operations. It boosts profitability by taking stock of the raw
materials and assets required to keep the enterprise working
and by streamlining the use, procurement, modelling and
availability of these items.

ERPs are the mainstay of a

business.
Accessing
its
sensitive data on a smart device
is a concept that will take
getting used to!

The main advantage of an ERP system is the ability to

access cross functional and departmental data in real time without having to deal with the tedious
navigation or bureaucracy involved in requesting information. Legacy ERP platforms have simplified the
life of workers while organizing and standardizing workflows.
However, times are changing, and 2015 is being hailed as the year of Mobile ERP dominance. Before
diving into the advantages this paradigm shift offers businesses, it is important to understand the what
and the how of mobile ERP applications.

What is Mobile ERP?

The market for mobile enterprise applications is expanding
and maturing rapidly with time. With MEAPs (Mobile
Enterprise Application Platforms) becoming easier to
handle and manipulate, different businesses are rushing to
build custom software solutions that can provide their
employees with data from CRMs, Business Intelligence
suites and even Contact Centers, all on their mobile.

According to an ERP vendor IFS,

13% of business executives and
decision
makers
identify
mobility as the most important
criterion while choosing an ERP.

ERP isnt much different.

It is an application or thin client that allows representatives of a business to consume mission critical
data, carry out simple back end tasks and populate fields of their designated Enterprise Resource
Management System directly from a smart device like a mobile phone or a tablet. Though some tasks
require internet access, especially where information synchronization is concerned, simple data access
can be done offline as well. Unlike mobile friendly browser based ERP solutions, which are always a
counterpart of SaaS options, a proper client based ERP app can be developed around both a cloud
platform and an on-premise Enterprise Resource Planning hub.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

The Mobile ERP Market:

According to a report by Allied Market Research, globally the ERP software boom is going to touch a
record 41.69 billion dollars by the year 2020. And a large part of this, about 57%, will belong to legacy
platforms.
Where does Mobile ERP figure in the equation?
Due to the willingness of on-premise ERP traditionalists to stick to their conventional software solutions
for a myriad reasons such as the high cost of data transfer and an extremely complicated information
clean up and migration process innovation will come in the form of mobile ERP applications that have
robust security and a hierarchy of information access, allowing employees who matter to view and
manipulate sensitive data. As such, the investment in mobile ERP application creation and improvement
by traditional ERP vendors and users will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
Mobile ERP can work both as a complement to
cloud based Enterprise Resource Planning
software solutions and as a partial alternative
to them. With stay at home workers and
telecommute being touted as the future of the
global workforce, the ability to instantly turn
any smart device into a console capable of
delivering office data is no longer a luxury, it is
a must-have feature.

Context trumps training as the primary

mandate
where
mobile ERPs are
concerned.
Gartner
says
40%
of
employees do not understand the
implications of using a Mobile ERP
application. But once they do, figuring out
the interface is easy thanks to BYOD.

Enterprises that are comfortable with legacy platforms shouldnt fret about the onslaught of SaaS if they
have a mobile strategy ready and tested. Bring your own Device (BYOD) is a key feature of this ERP
revolution. Companies simply furnish the application and the rest is gradually figured out by users who
feel at ease with the familiar navigation of their own smart units.

Mobile ERP Market Players:

Most ERP vendors acquire mobility. That is, they either purchase a code base from a competent
development firm or they outsource their mobile functionality to trusted names like IBM. Sometimes
legacy system owners undertake the mammoth task of coding a robust ERP application in-house, so
they have a solution that pairs well with the customizations and work flows created over decades of
Enterprise Application Planning use.
Some important players who work to deliver mobility for renowned ERP solutions are:

Kony
Appcelerator

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

IBM
iEnterprises
Infosys
Verivo Software

Since most vendors do not build mobility extensions themselves, frequent patches (piece of software to
update a computer program) are required as advances are rolled out slowly and performance without
glitches takes a longer time to achieve.

Top 3 (Plus One) Reasons to Embrace Mobile ERP:

Mobility in ERPs is a relatively new trend, but it is here to stay. However, since its effectiveness is not
guaranteed, the first step towards a strategy that can serve businesses is to identify the technologys
advantages and compare them with desired end results or goals of the enterprise to identify a solid why
behind the decision to go mobile.

True Real Time Information Access With marketplaces steadily becoming more competitive,
the 9 to 5 workday is no longer a viable construct. Work tends to spill over the boundaries of a
defined time duration and seeps into the home life of employees as well. Under such
circumstances, mobile ERP provides them with the ability to take well informed decisions
anywhere and anytime while staying updated on risk notifications and imminent problems. For
example, if a consignment for a time sensitive order is delayed at an unusual time and the
production manager receives a push notification from the ERP app, he can plan an alternative
course and can inform other employees in key positions of the sudden disruption. Mobile ERP
saves thousands of dollars in wasted time and opportunities.

Productivity on the Go Most mobile ERP

Mobile ERPs provide up to 44%
applications are installed on touch sensitive
increase in productivity and
devices. These devices accept swipes as
45% increase in operational
commands and provide an intimate, involved
experience. Add to this the already discussed
efficiency Elinext
convenience of anytime, anywhere real time data
access and productivity soars. An average person checks his phone at least 20 times a day and
can potentially engage with the ERP application over every session. This greatly encourages
adoption. The ERP system truly becomes a part of the users daily life. Business can go about as
usual even if the individual is on the move or if it is well after office hours. Small back-end tasks
like submitting reports and checking in on the progress of department workflows can take place
without eating into the limited office time allotted for actual high-value project tasks.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Mobile Data Capture Maybe this advantage can be clubbed with productivity on the go, but it
warrants separate mention since most businesses do not even realize that Mobile ERPs can be
used for data capture as well. Innovation friendly companies like Nordstrom have replaced their
Point of Sale (POS) cash registers with mobile ERP equipped iPads that directly accept
transaction data and update the inventory automatically after each purchase. Similarly,
supervisors can use mobile ERP to boost manufacturing floor transparency by documenting data
from work in progress so that the sales department can update clients accordingly.

Extended ERP Advantage With Mobile ERP, moderated access to the platform is easily
available to supply chain vendors and other stake-holders who do not have a cubicle on premise
or reside in geographically dispersed locations. These individuals may not be committed enough
to fire up their laptop and engage with the platform. But when provided with the convenience of
accessing ERP on their smart devices, they can and do readily update data on their end while
getting insights from the information in the system to improve business operations for a company.

The infrastructure cost of supporting Mobile ERP is nominal. Most employees already have internet
enabled mobile devices, and if security protocols are strictly followed there is no harm whatsoever in
fostering a BYOD culture for ERP and other enterprise application software solutions.

How to Get Started with Mobile ERP

Taking the first baby steps towards a mobile ERP strategy can be a difficult process because in the
psyche of decision makers ERP = Bulky, On-premise Software.
However, some solid research and brainstorming can clarify what needs to be done, providing
businesses with a framework that governs the entire undertaking.

Choosing Functionality First and foremost a

"You're not going to do heavy data
small, laser focused list of the functionalities that
mining on a tablet. When you start
should go mobile has to be drawn up. This can
be easily achieved by determining objectives
talking about mobile strategy, you
and by discussing expectations for the
need to set an expectation of
investment with all major stakeholders.
limited amounts of functionality."
It is obvious that everything a legacy ERP offers
John Cheatham, ERP Consultant
on a desktop cant be crammed into a thin client.
This approach will slow down processing speed
and result in a large application that is bulky and undesirable. Creating a powerful solution that is
also light and agile is a big challenge for companies. Be sure to involve the IT department as well;
their opinion about what is feasible structurally (or code wise) is essential.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Choosing a Vendor Your ERP vendor is your success partner. And their credentials must be
investigated. This step branches in two different directions depending upon the needs of the
organization implementing the Mobile ERP strategy.
-

If the company already has a legacy or SaaS ERP product in place and is seeking to bring
in the advantage of going mobile, then a coding vendor has to be selected. It should be a
player like Kony or iEnterprise that can work with the business to create an application
from scratch. This is assuming that the original SaaS provider doesnt have a mobile client.
Some businesses even go in-house with the development if their IT team is astute enough.

If the company is putting in place an ERP system from scratch, it has a larger pool of
candidates to choose from. Many vendors offer custom mobile applications to support
their ERP offerings and one with a good track record and a strong focus on the mobile
aspect can be shortlisted.

Choosing Design and User Experience Elements If you do not understand wire-frames and
mock-ups or the concept of user experience, it is time to get savvy. Before coding a client, its
design, navigation and intuitiveness has to be carefully evaluated. The power of Mobile ERP lies
in adoption. And adoption is possible only when the workforce (largely comprised of aesthetically
sophisticated Millennials) finds the application sleek and appealing enough. A desktop bound
ERP can be clunky and unattractive. But when it starts residing on the home screen of a mobile
device, it must compete with the colorful icons and delightful experience of Facebook, LinkedIn
and Google.
So companies must work in collaboration with UX experts to remove friction points from their
application and make it user friendly and simple. Accommodating the required features in a
streamlined form is not easy, but it is necessary.

Factors Driving a Successful Mobile ERP Strategy:

A successful Mobile ERP strategy:

Improves Efficiency & Productivity

Drives Adoption
Finds new uses for the mobility factor
Ensures ease of use
Ensures data safety

Keeping this in mind, the following factors must be given due attention and diligence since they are the
building blocks of a sound Mobile ERP experience.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

The Native vs. Web Apps Web applications are code snippets that require a browser to run,
whereas native applications do not require browser support or indeed the internet to function.
Obviously, data updates and downloads do require internet accessibility but stored information
can be viewed off-line as well. Companies must decide on the nature of their Mobile ERP
application. Native apps are more robust and can support a larger range of features, but are also
very coding intensive. Web apps are easier to construct, but compromise on processing power
and the richness and depth of functionalities. It all depends upon what the company wishes to
achieve from the implementation and its budget.

App Add-ons Based on Who Needs to be Mobile If the mobile ERP is acting to bring an
element of flexibility to a rigid legacy ERP system, it requires add-ons like safety measures to
deflect Wi-Fi snooping attacks and encryption of uploads and downloads to protect sensitive data
from eavesdroppers. Public connectivity systems or hotspots are notoriously easy to hack. A sales
representative who is always on the go may not have the time or the mental bandwidth to keep
data integrity best practices in mind. Ensuring that a simple notification warning alerts the user if
he tries to connect to an open network may be enough to save the day. These additional
provisions may not seem like much but they can be very useful in the long run.

Considering a Suitable OS and Optimization

Your optimization approach will
Approach The two operating systems that
be dictated by what you expect
dominate the market are iOS (Apple) and
your
mobile
ERP
app
to
Android (Google). Unless you want to supply the
workforce with mobile devices to support the
accomplish. If it is data mining
ERP application, developing native apps capable
phone optimization is adequate.
of catering to both alternatives is a must. BYOD
Presentation viewing may require
allows employees to use their own devices, and
tablet optimization.
most individuals possess either an iOS powered
phone or an Android powered device. Serving only one group can alienate the other and
undermine adoption. Similarly, the app needs to be optimized for screen resolution, processing
power and other technical specifications of both mobile phones and larger tablets.

Development and Security Development of a Mobile ERP app can either be outsourced to
reliable coding partners and vendors or the task can be tackled by in-house tech talent. This
consideration has already been addressed in the Choosing a Vendor section. Where security is
concerned, it is important to first understand what the challenges are, and then address them
accordingly.
-

The most pressing issue is always that of unsafe public wireless network access.
Employees in a hurry or sales reps about to sign a deal may jump on an open Wi-Fi
network, potentially exposing all the data to hackers.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Another vulnerability comes from hidden malware. A device that is used to access
company data can also be used to log on to social media sites. Malware and adware can
corrupt ERP applications and compromise data integrity.

Last but not the least, human carelessness has to be factored in. What if the password is
saved in the device and it gets stolen? Strangers or even competitors may be able to
exploit such an opportunity by taking control of mission critical data.

A good Mobile ERP strategy looks at the pros and cons of a deployment. Measures like autoblocking Wi-Fi without passwords, offering users free license and use of an anti-virus and
restricting the access of employees who misplace devices are all effective ways of averting
disaster.

Working Well with Mobile ERP:

The following is a checklist of Mobile ERP best practices.
Extend the advantages of Mobile ERP to different users. Sales reps can leverage Mobile ERP
to check data and insights to seal deals. Supervisors and managers can key in work progress
statistics and other relevant updates to document the efforts of their sales teams. CEOs and other
top executives can use the ERP mobility to check the health of the organization anytime,
anywhere. Support and enthusiasm across the board adds credibility to the application.
Display core benefits in the right context. Instead of focusing on Mobile ERP as an innovation
or revenue booster, it should be presented as a tool that can potentially save, say, two work hours
every week. This translates to 120 extra minutes to relax or spend with the family.
If you are supporting BYOD, employ standardization. BYOD is a huge investment saving
move for companies, but it can lead to chaos as well. It is necessary to create a policy booklet or
rule book to guide the use of the application.
Go in for Mobile Device Management (MDM). This is a security software that can be deployed
on various OSes and across multiple mobile providers to ensure that corporate data and
workflows are not compromised. The MDM administrator can oversee the handheld devices as
easily as a desktop or laptop within office premises. He can tweak its functionality, optimize speed
and lock down activities that are not in compliance with safety protocols. Obviously, this is
applicable only for company issued units and not personal devices.

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

Tailor training for devices and permission levels. Instead of dousing each and every user with
the same content, it is better to create custom training snippets to educate employees depending
upon the device they will be using and the features they will have access to. This boosts both
retention and adoption.

Future of Mobile ERP:

The Mobile ERP phenomenon has just started, and only a handful of companies have jumped on the
bandwagon in earnest. It is not enough to simply churn out an ERP application. It is important to realize
that as much thought needs to go into the mobile iteration as went into choosing the central hub or the
main platform.
Somewhere down the line, mobile will completely supplant desktops and laptops. It is best to acclimatize
your workforce to the needs, advantages and catches of accessing corporate data on a personal device
so that innovative ways of capitalizing on the dual power of mobile and ERP can be conceived.

Conclusion:
This primer is a comprehensive primer for businesses looking to create a Mobile ERP strategy. If you are
eager to test the waters, start out by defining your goals from the exercise, set a budget and a timeline,
choose functionalities, mold them in a user-friendly sleek design and then code the actual client keeping
in mind OSes and optimization approaches.
This will automatically encourage adoption!

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

10

References:
1. Top
8
ERP
Trends
for
2014,
Drew
Robb,
EnterpriseAPPSToday,
http://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/erp/top-8-erp-trends-for-2014.html, Accessed on 14th July,
2015
2. ERP Trends: Mobile Apps and Integrated Processes, SAP Blog, Andreas Schmitz,
http://www.news-sap.com/erp-trends-mobile-apps-and-integrated-processes/, Accessed on 14th
July, 2015
3. THE TOP 5 WAYS MOBILE ERP APPS INCREASE OVERALL EFFICIENCY IN THE
ENTERPRISE. appsFreedom, Vaidy Iyer, http://www.appsfreedom.com/top-5-ways-mobile-erpapps-increase-overall-efficiency-enterprise/, Accessed on 14th July, 2015
4. Mobile ERP is Gaining Popularity . . . But is it Right for Your Organization?, Eric Kimberling,
Panorama
Consulting
Solutions,
http://panorama-consulting.com/mobile-erp-is-gainingpopularity-but-is-it-right-for-your-organization/, Accessed on 14th July, 2015
5. Global ERP Software Market is Expected to Reach $ 41.69 Billion by 2020, PR Newswire,
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-erp-software-market-is-expected-to-reach-4169-billion-by-2020-498133891.html, Accessed on 14th July, 2015
6. Mobility
Solutions
for
ERP,
A
Rimini
Street
Whitepaper,
http://www.riministreet.com/Documents/Collateral/Rimini-Street-White-Paper-Mobility-Solutionsfor-ERP.pdf, Accessed on 14th July, 2015
7. Mobile
ERP
helps
manufacturers
improve
productivity,
eliNext,
http://www.elinext.com/mobile-erp-helps-manufacturers-improve-productivity, Accessed on 14th
July, 2015
8. 10 Keys to Creating a Mobile ERP Strategy, Ann All, EnterpriseAPPSToday,
http://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/erp/10-keys-to-creating-a-mobile-erp-strategy.html,
Accessed on 14th July, 2015
9. Top 4 Security Challenges for Mobile ERP, Jerri Ledford, Toolbox.com,
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/inside-erp/top-4-security-challenges-for-mobile-erp-59193, Accessed
on 14th July, 2015
10. Mobile
device
management
(MDM),
Margaret
Rouse,
TechTarget,
http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/mobile-device-management, Accessed
on 14th July, 2015

Successful Mobile ERP Strategy | Compare Business Products 2015

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