What's Mobile Workforce Management & is it Necessary?
Managing a mobile workforce isn't quite the same as managing traditional in-house employees. Employees servicing customers in the field require different tools and resources to effectively perform their duties and fulfill customers' needs.
In today's fast-paced world, consumers and employees alike demand flexibility, accessibility, and convenience. As such, it's important for businesses to adopt mobile workforce management systems that are designed specifically to optimize the mobile experience.
But what exactly is mobile workforce management, why is it important, and how can it be implemented in modern business?
Let's take a look at how companies can utilize the power of mobile workforce management to create a more productive and efficient business.
What is Mobile Workforce Management?
Mobile workforce management systems provide tools to help businesses manage their mobile workforces that is, employees working outside the office while still providing a service.
These systems can help companies-
- Create optimized schedules
- Communicate with remote employees in real-time
- Track employees while on the go
- Track employee performance
- Record service length
- Delegate new jobs to mobile employees
Online employee scheduling software that makes shift planning effortless.
Try it free for 14 days.
Trends in Mobile Workforce Management
Customers demand exceptional service at a moment's notice, and to accommodate this, modern businesses must be aware of the challenges and trends which shape modern mobile workforce management.
Prioritizing Mobile Management
The importance of the remote workforce is a relatively new development. In the past, mobile employees struggled to remain connected to the office and get the support they needed to perform their duties. When these employees ran into problems in the field, they were often unable to resolve their issues without returning to the office.
Remote workforce management platforms offer a solution to this issue as they allow employees to easily communicate with in-office employees, report important information and data in real-time, and more.
For managers, these platforms streamline the employee scheduling process and help analyze productivity.
Meeting Customer Expectations
Business success depends on meeting customer expectations. However, mobile employees may find it difficult to satisfy customers' needs without support from their employers.
Concerns that may arise-
- How can employees ensure accurate arrival times?
- How can businesses dispatch mobile employees efficiently to keep up with demand from consumers?
- How can managers ensure their employees are properly performing services?
Data-Driven Practices
Collecting data enables businesses to better serve their customers by offering insight into customer behavior, wants, and needs.
Analyzing these invaluable insights are a vital aspect of effectively managing an active workforce. By using a platform that helps evaluate these data points, managers can more efficiently delegate workers and make important decisions regarding their field services.
Diversifying the Workforce
Workforces of the past were largely made up of full-time, in-house employees that worked that standard 9 - 5 schedule.
However, in recent years, it has become more and more common for businesses to diversify their workforce via the addition of part-time and contract workers. These types of employees often have different needs than traditional full-time employees; however, managers can't afford to sacrifice the needs of one type of employee for another.
This is why it's vital for businesses to adopt a mobile workforce management system that can provide the necessary support to full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract employees without sacrificing productivity.
The Importance of Mobile Workforce Management
As mentioned, mobile workforce management is necessary to ensure customer satisfaction; however, beyond this, managing a mobile workforce is also necessary to ensure employee satisfaction and high-level productivity.
Gallup found that employees are 48% more likely to leave their company when their engagement and wellbeing are low. An important aspect of maintaining high employee wellbeing and engagement is ensuring effective communication and employee support.
Many businesses, though, are not equipped with the tools and resources required to effectively support their mobile employees and are often reluctant to adopt new technologies and processes.
However, supporting your remote employees is possible through the adoption of a full-featured mobile workforce management platform.
These platforms include tools to help managers create better schedules, keep accurate records, optimize mobile operations, understand their customers' tendencies, and complete other vital administrative tasks.
How to Implement an Effective Solution
Successfully implementing a modern mobile workforce management platform depends on adopting a system that fulfills employee needs, is intuitive, and gives supervisors the tools they need to manage their workforce.
Complex platforms increase the length of the onboarding process, discourage continued use of the platform by employees, and can lead to decreased productivity.
To ensure the desired results of implementing new software are achieved, employers should be sure to search for a platform that offers extensive customization options and actually overcomes the obstacles their companies currently face.
Before choosing a platform, managers should ask employees for feedback. This will ensure their needs are covered and can improve employee engagement as they become more involved in making important decisions regarding the future of the workplace.
Online employee scheduling software that makes shift planning effortless.
Try it free for 14 days.
