The Importance of Mobile Discrete Manufacturing

It’s cool and it’s the thing, but mobile applications are more than just games.

In fact, I believe they are the key to an evolution of discrete manufacturing, and those who don’t jump on the bandwagon will find themselves lost, rather than found.

What types of benefits do mobile applications give to discrete manufacturing professionals? Let’s consider these three for those who are looking to up their competitive edge.

Mobile Applications and Advanced Discrete Manufacturing

With warehouse systems, what areas are the best to improve? Let’s take a closer look:

• Speed – Within discrete manufacturing, those who have faster access to data get more done and see bigger results. By leveraging a mobile solution, for both the plant floor and the sales force, you can bet you will see more personnel get more done and bring in more leads. Without these types of solutions, you might have to wait on data via web-based workstation pushes or other non-mobile technologies.With mobile app type technologies, you see sales teams have instant access to data to show prospects. For plant floor employees, they have instant access to data that might sway production flow or the need to change things. Mobile applications give speed to personnel with fast access to required data for important decisions.

• Efficiency  – Along with fast access to data, mobile solutions make personnel more efficient in their jobs and how they go about interacting with prospects and customers. For instance, you don’t have to wait to update important data from the field by coming into the office. Instead, you can update it right from the field and save time, money and become more efficient in your operations.When it comes to advanced discrete manufacturing, efficiency is key and getting data updated in the field or having access to it from anywhere provides a game changing experience for any manufacturing professional.

• Sales – Ok, so we’ve talked about speed and we talked about efficiency, but when it comes down to it, what matters is how many sales come in, right? Without sales coming in, you can bet nothing else will matter. That’s why I believe mobile technologies most important benefit is increased sales.Again, with the power to do anything from anywhere, the sales team can close more deals by having close at hand all the data they need. Imagine trying to tell a prospect you’ll get back to them on a large contract. This is why I think mobile applications are now essential, not just nice things to have, for those in the discrete manufacturing arena.

Yes, not everyone will have access to mobile apps and the hardware to run them, but those who do will have a leg up on the competition and that means more of an edge. Mobile applications will result in faster access to essential data, more efficient operations and more sales to the organization. If you’re not exploring the mobile application arena, you might want to get there sooner, rather than later.

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