The global market for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is expected to continue along its multibillion-dollar growth path, and it’s little wonder why: By centralizing real-time data and automating many critical business processes, ERP has helped businesses become more operationally efficient and better able to make strategic decisions. Increased adoption of cloud-based ERP has also been advantageous for businesses with remote workforces spanning different geographies and time zones. The next logical extension? Mobile ERP, which allows workers to access and use an ERP system directly from their mobile devices. Among the business benefits, to be explored in this article, are productivity gains, greater internal collaboration and stronger customer relationships.
What Is Mobile ERP?
Mobile ERP means business users can log in to use ERP software on their mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, from any location and at any time. As such, they can easily obtain the information they need to do their jobs more effectively, add data at the point of capture to streamline workflows and process transactions to bring in more revenue. Team leaders and executives are also able to manage critical day-to-day business processes, working with the same real-time data that resides on a centralized platform. Another advantage? Early discovery of workflow inefficiencies, supply chain bottlenecks and possible cash flow interruptions, which can be then managed and/or resolved before they become bigger issues that impact customers and businesses alike.
Key Takeaways
- Mobile ERP keeps remote employees connected to the business via their mobile devices.
- Key features of mobile ERP include access to real-time information, offline access, and security and access controls.
- Mobile ERP can quickly scale to support mass deployment, company growth and new features.
Mobile ERP Explained
Mobile ERP is not just about empowering a mobile workforce. It’s also about streamlining processes, improving productivity, making smarter decisions and growing the business by extending an ERP system’s reach to employees wherever they may be. Accessible via a browser-based interface or mobile application, mobile ERP should be easy to navigate and readily adaptable to smaller screen sizes (known as responsive design), yet still provide full functionality that includes the ability to manage workflows, complete tasks and view real-time data, from client information and sales histories to inventory levels and employee performance metrics. Mobile ERP works in sync with a company’s ERP system to ensure that everyone works with the same information.
How Does Mobile ERP Work?
A significant ERP trend for the foreseeable future, mobile ERP serves as a portal into an ERP system. Using any mobile device supported by the ERP application — and depending on the ERP itself — employees should be able to do anything they would be able to do from their desktop computers, such as track orders, monitor financials, view dashboards and generate reports. Mobile ERP typically connects to a cloud ERP back-end system through a secure API that delivers the requested information and services to the mobile device. Workers are typically granted access only to the features and functionalities necessary to do their jobs, enhancing data privacy and security.
Benefits of Mobile ERP
With 92 million employees working remotely part or full time in the U.S. alone, mobile enablement has increasingly become a standard software feature. Mirroring the ERP systems on which they rely, mobile ERP offers a multitude of business benefits that can result in increased revenue, decreased costs and greater profitability.
Access to Real-Time Information
The business world moves quickly, and companies must move just as fast. Mobile ERP provides employees with entry to real-time data collected from across the organization and stored in a central database so that every division is working with the same information. With the most up-to-date data at their fingertips, salespeople, for example, can determine product availability, field technicians can download the latest procedures for maintaining hardware and accountants can track payments.
Enhanced User Experience
A well-designed mobile interface that optimizes the ERP’s layout for best viewing on a mobile device’s screen makes it easy for employees to navigate the system, so they can accomplish their workflow tasks, improve their response times and keep business flowing. Around-the-clock access, offline capabilities and personalized interfaces are additional ways to enhance the user experience.
Increased Productivity
Rather than having to return to their desks to view documents, input purchase data, work on a budget or answer customer queries, employees are able to conduct these activities, and many more, on the spot, courtesy of mobile ERP. This permits workers to make the most use of their time — imagine a salesperson with 10 minutes to spare before an appointment logging into the mobile ERP to review the customer’s purchase history. It also speeds workflows, reduces response times and frees employees’ time to conduct additional business.
Improved Collaboration
In their personal and professional lives, people are accustomed to connecting to the internet and to colleagues in their networks via their mobile devices. Mobile ERP builds on that behavior. Mobile ERP makes it easy for employees in widespread locations and from different departments to brainstorm on projects, share documents and expedite approval processes. Moreover, automatic notifications can alert workers when messages arrive or tasks require their attention, which also enhances collaboration.
Scalability
Business success and business growth go hand in hand. As part of cloud-based ERP software, mobile ERP can easily grow to accommodate new users, new capabilities, simultaneous workloads and ever-growing volumes of data, without affecting system performance.
Cloud Storage
Speaking of the cloud, businesses that subscribe to cloud-based ERP put responsibility for storage infrastructure, such as storage servers, in the hands of their cloud providers. Mobile ERP users can securely retrieve real-time, encrypted data from anywhere, at any time. The cloud vendor is also responsible for maintenance, data backup and recovery, regulatory compliance and software updates or patches.
Business Agility
Companies that adapt quickly to the ever-changing business environment have enjoyed increases in financial and operational performance, innovation, decision-making speed and customer satisfaction, according to McKinsey. Key to this agility, which also helps businesses capitalize on new opportunities and outperform their competitors, is decision-makers having 24/7 access to real-time data and to each other. Mobile ERP enables both.
Streamlined Supply Chain
Companies are under continuous pressure to tightly manage their global supply chains, a stress exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Supply chain management requires around-the-clock, end-to-end visibility across vendors, customers, warehouses and partners to head off any potential disruptions that could impact the ability to source, produce or deliver quality goods and services as cost-effectively as possible. Mobile ERP allows businesses to connect with their supply chains, pinpoint weak links and streamline operations.
Key Elements of Mobile ERP
Mobile ERP must be able to replicate the desktop experience. That includes access to various ERP components, or modules, that are dedicated to specific business functions, such as finance, human resources and customer relationship management (CRM). That said, working from smaller screens across the public internet requires a few key considerations inherent to the mobile experience.
Mobile App Interface
A mobile ERP may sport all the bells and whistles, but without a well-designed, user-friendly interface, employees may become frustrated or even resist adoption. A general rule of thumb: Simple is better.
- User interface (UI) design considerations: Important UI features include automatic adaptation to different screen dimensions, as well as intuitive and customizable navigation, so employees can easily access the features they use most. Streamlining the number of steps in a workflow is also helpful, as is making sure employees of all abilities are able to operate the app.
- Data visualizations: Charts, diagrams, graphs and the like can require scrolling or zooming in to highlight areas of interest on smaller screens — for example, when a table has too many columns and/or rows. Uncompressed images can also slow page-loading times, which, in turn, drain a device’s battery — and people’s patience.
Offline Capabilities
A router malfunctions. Wi-Fi goes down during a storm. An area has poor internet coverage. Work must go on. What’s Plan B for mobile ERP?
- Offline functionality: A mobile ERP should offer offline functionality, where employees can access and modify data stored on their local mobile devices. This is analogous to working from the hard drive of a desktop computer.
- Data synchronization: Once the device reconnects to the internet, data should automatically upload and synchronize to the central platform.
Security Features
It stands to reason that business-critical data that travels over the internet requires strong security, and mobile ERP is no exception. Security measures for mobile ERP applications generally fall into three categories:
- Data protection: Strong authentication methods, including multifactor authentication, can protect data by preventing unauthorized users from gaining mobile ERP entry. Establishing secure enclaves within a mobile device is another form of protection, as is mobile device management for ensuring adherence to security policies.
- Role-based access controls: Role-based access controls enforce the principles of least privilege, limiting users to specific data and functions in accordance with their responsibilities.
- Encryption and secure communication protocols: Encryption is a security technique that encodes data at rest and in transit, so it can be read, or decrypted, only by authorized staff. Secure communication protocols, including HTTPS, SSH and SSL/TLS also encrypt data and establish secure remote access.
Features of a Mobile ERP Solution
Leading mobile ERP solutions should be as feature-rich as their desktop counterparts so businesses can manage their operations from anywhere, through department-specific ERP modules that support front- and back-office functions, such as accounting, inventory management and procurement. Here are eight key features and functions businesses should expect an mobile ERP solution to have.
Reporting and Analytics
Modern ERP systems store a wealth of business insights that help employees, including those out in the field, perform their jobs better and make smarter, data-informed decisions. Mobile ERP provides employees with access to actionable reports and analytics that support operational strategies, shed light on what’s working and ferret out areas that need improvement.
Offline Capabilities
Remote workers may not always have an internet connection. When that occurs, a mobile ERP solution should be able to access an offline repository where ERP data and functionalities are maintained so that employees can carry out their tasks. Once their mobile devices go back online, the updated information should synchronize with the central application.
Real-Time Data Access
Providing employees with up-to-the-minute information about business operations and results requires the collection and delivery of data from wherever they might be. This is essential for maintaining a continuous flow of information and supporting agile decision-making processes.
Workflow Management
Projects are at the heart of business operations, and managers need to plan, create and execute efficient workflows to see them through. With mobile ERP, team leaders can closely manage workflows, even when they’re not physically present to oversee them. Employees, too, can stay on top of their roles in workflow plans by using mobile ERP systems.
Inventory Management
Inventory includes raw materials, components and finished goods, all of which require careful inventory management. After all, no business wants to run out of inventory, affecting its ability to manufacture goods, meet customer demand and increase its revenue and cash flow. The same is true of overordering, which ties up funds in unused/unsold merchandise, increases carrying costs and reduces cash flow. Mobile ERP provides 24/7 access to real-time inventory data, so managers can plan for demand and make on-the-spot decisions that lead to cost savings, improved cash flow and higher customer satisfaction.
Supply Chain Management
Turning raw materials into finished goods and services that wind up in customers’ hands necessitates a well-managed supply chain in which each touch point in the chain operates at maximum efficiency. All it takes is one bottleneck to disrupt its flow, which is why constant monitoring is a must. Mobile ERP provides end-to-end visibility across multinational supply chains so managers can check that all parts are working in harmony and on schedule. Any problems, or potential problems, along the way can be proactively managed, including communicating delays to customers.
Sales and Customer Management
Mobile ERP extends CRM capabilities to mobile devices, allowing sales, marketing and customer-service teams to manage leads, customer interactions and sales processes effectively. CRM also gives companies a holistic view of their customer base and revenue, improves team collaboration and supports an overall customer-centric approach.
Security and Access Controls
Mobile ERP should be built with security and access controls so that only authorized users can get into the parts of the ERP they need to perform their jobs. This requires the ERP provider to adhere to security best practices, such as creating a documented ERP security strategy, instilling good password hygiene and constant monitoring of threat intelligence.
Mobile ERP Challenges
For all of mobile ERP’s many benefits, businesses may encounter a few technical challenges to navigate, especially when trying to retrofit mobile enablement to legacy software. Hurdles relate to system compatibility, security and how much work can be accomplished from a small screen. Here are some points for businesses to keep in mind.
Compatibility Issues With Existing ERP Systems
Incompatibilities between a mobile ERP and existing infrastructure and software can create data silos, disrupt business processes and inflate costs, due to the need for custom solutions. Companies should confirm compatibility and then roll out a small pilot project to ensure that the mobile ERP works as planned.
Security Concerns Related to Mobile Devices
Mobile ERP requires strong security guarantees. Not only can mobile devices be stolen or lost, but each device and connection over the public internet expands a business’s attack surface. To minimize security risks, companies should add multifactor authentication, enforce end-to-end encryption and have the ability to lock out suspicious mobile users.
Potential Limitations in Functionality Compared to Desktop Versions
The extent of a mobile ERP’s functionality will depend on the ERP in use. If the mobile ERP doesn’t match the full functionality of its desktop counterpart, its use and effectiveness can only go so far. Employing middleware, developing custom integrations or devising a plan for data migration and synchronization are all options to bridge the gap, but they incur additional costs and are time- and resource-intensive.
Take Control of Your Business From Anywhere With NetSuite Mobile ERP
The mobile workforce is here to stay, and organizations’ reliance on their ERP software continues to grow. NetSuite’s mobile app for ERP, which debuted in 2015, reflects both realities. The app is easy to navigate and provides a unified experience across iOS and Android devices. Mobile employees can tap into real-time operational data and performance metrics, manage their teams and workflows, collaborate across departments, search records, generate reports and collect data at the point of service. These access-anywhere capabilities result in greater business agility, reduced costs and opportunities to uncover information your business can use to identify new opportunities.
Business operations have long passed the tied-to-your-desk days of 9 to 5. Mobile ERP solutions grant an increasingly mobile workforce entrée into their companies’ ERP software from their smartphones and tablets around the clock, wherever they are. Employees have everything they need at their fingertips to perform their jobs, leading to gains in productivity, operational efficiencies, internal collaboration, stronger customer relationships — and a healthy bottom line.
#1 Cloud ERP
Software
Mobile ERP FAQs
What is a mobile ERP?
Mobile ERP provides entry to a company’s enterprise resource planning system via mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets.
What is the importance of mobile ERP?
By providing access to real-time business data, mobile ERP allows workers to make decisions faster and to provide data at the point of capture, improving the quality of business intelligence, reducing operations costs and helping the company become more agile.
Is ERP an app?
ERP is software businesses use to manage their daily operations. A mobile ERP app provides access to the ERP from an employee’s smartphone or tablet, from wherever they are working.
