A successful mobility project requires more than just a computing platform and applications. A successful mobility project requires a complete mobility solution including mobile devices designed for the desired usage model, mobile application development, mobile device management, project administration and systems integration support. This list can be daunting for anyone looking at undertaking a mobility project.

The complexity of a mobility project can prevent many companies from initiating projects that would provide benefits of "Going Mobile." Fears that development will be costly, time consuming, or will provide an undesired outcome often stop projects dead in their tracks. Perceived risks include:

• forgetting to ask for the right functionality
• getting the wrong feature
• features that don't work as designed
• unplanned downtime
• staff buy-in and training.

In addition to these risks, managers and business owners often wonder whether or not their employees will adapt from a clipboard workflow to a mobile device workflow. It doesn't take much effort to investigate whether or not all the effort is worth going to an electronic solution, but here is a short list of mobile solution benefits to start with:

• increased efficiency and productivity of field workers
  • increase the number of jobs performed or customers visited
  • eliminate data transcription errors and reduce clerical data entry costs
• real-time access to data in the field, ensuring workers have the information they need, when they need it
  • improve customer service
  • increase time spent in the field by eliminating the need to return to the office to complete paperwork
  • reduce invoice and accounts receivable lag time
• more data that can quickly be packaged into meaningful and digestible information
  • improved situation awareness and understanding
  • improved decision making-decisions are based on real time information

Enter Mobile Epiphany, MobileFrame and Terraine, just to name a few of Trimble MCS' mobile application partners. Their core competencies include:

• creation of user friendly custom applications for customers in a wide variety of industries, including corporations and government agencies
• quick development of mobile applications for 5 seats or 5000
• the ability to build prototypes of mobile applications in a few short days
• prototype enables customer to refine and approve the new workflow before investing money

Companies new to mobile computing should know that the time and money saved by "going mobile" is typically realized a few short months after putting clipboard and paper processes behind them.   Companies should also know that solutions are scalable over time. Start with five, ten or twenty copies and build up as needed. When you decide that new functionality is needed in your application, just ask. It can be created.

Trimble Mobile Computing Solutions is in the business of providing outdoor rugged computing devices, as well as providing opportunities to connect Customer needs with Partner solutions. Please contact us for more information about Going Mobile in your business.