Fueled by the internet, wireless devices such as powerful handhelds and PDA’s, virtual private networks and wireless local area networks, workers are becoming more mobile. It is no longer necessary for workers to work at the company’s headquarters. Research has shown that between forty to seventy percent of employees work in remote locations.
A mobile or remote workforce can be beneficial to both small and large companies. These companies are able to cut costs especially on office space and equipment. However the management of a mobile workforce can be difficult. It is easier for companies to manage their workforce in the office; however, it becomes more challenging to manage mobile workforces. Mobile workforces include the workforce that is the field, at a job site or a customer site or even on a shop floor. Some challenges may include proper communications, training, camaraderie, and securing intellectual property.
Mobile workforce management is very important to make sure that your mobile workforce is able to efficiently access the information they need at any time no matter where they are. A mobile workforce solution will help this process and will provide your mobile workforce with accurate information. It will also increase your overall performance together with the individual performance of your mobile workforce thus increasing the performance of your business. You will also be able to give proper accountability for your front-line operations.
Obtaining the critical labor, job costing information and the work order that is needed for proper management of your operations are some of the main components of effective mobile workforce management. During this process, you should not lose sight of the productiveness of your employees.
Some aspects of labor and time management of a mobile workforce include: keeping track of billable as well as non-billable hours as well as breaks, finding ways to eliminate errors and incomplete paperwork including time sheets, making sure timesheets are approved accurately, being able to know where your mobile workforce is at any given time so that you know if they are on the job or not, proper management and allocation of resources to minimize overtime therefore controlling costs, and reporting accurately.
