How enterprise mobility can transform logistics and transport management
To say that the transport & logistics (T&L) industry has experienced change over the last 12 months would be an understatement. The sector has experienced considerable pressure to adapt, with emphasis on increasing efficiency and reducing cost and downtime as part of their logistics and transport management.
The key to this adaption lies in technology: investment in the right tech and the software to go with it. The industry is at a turning point, so investments in the right technology now will stand many businesses in good stead for the years to come.
So how is mobile technology currently disrupting the industry, and how you can best prepare your company for the future? Having the right transport and logistics technology solutions is a vital first step. Read on to explore the top tips around implementing an enterprise mobility management strategy with this in mind.
How is mobile technology currently disrupting the transport and logistics industry?
Speeding up the last-mile delivery process
The last-mile delivery is the most important part of the delivery process, and it is also the most expensive and time-consuming. With that in mind, identifying efficiencies and anticipating problems to be solved will be key to optimising it in the future.
In the May 2021 SOTI survey, ‘Mobilizing the Delivery Workforce’, 71% of respondents felt that mobile-first technology would be key to last-mile delivery in the future. With 50% of respondents saying that mobile-first technology that speeds up the last-mile delivery process will be important, it is clear to see that the future of logistics is mobile.¹
Saving time with integrated systems
Considering that 75% of respondents to the SOTI survey said their organisation had heavily invested in technology over the last 24 months, it is alarming to note that the survey also reveals 72% of respondents believe their technologies are not integrated.¹
This means that many processes are being done manually, and precious time is being wasted while systems are updated, which could all be done quickly and automatically with the right integrations.
With the right advice and purchasing decisions, many hours could be saved. At the Barcode Warehouse, we have a team of technology experts who ensure that integration is carefully considered during the purchasing process.
The true cost of downtime
With an average of 3.3 hours per employee per week lost due to downtime and 98% of respondents saying they experienced downtime that delays shipments in an average working week, it is understandable that 70% of respondents felt that reducing downtime was their top concern.¹ Indeed, the cost of vehicle downtime alone costs the industry $3.3 billion per year.²
Next steps
What the T&L industry needs now is to adopt an intelligent mobile strategy that considers how everything will connect. This may be app development, mobile management, diagnostics, business intelligence, security, IoT or collaboraion.
Technology decision-makers are at a crossroads, and the pace of innovation is only going to increase. The adoption of intelligent mobile technology, designed specifically for the T&L industry, is the next step needed to accelerate innovation in the sector.
Tips for transforming logistics and transport management with enterprise mobility
With the adoption of mobile technology comes security risks and other complications created by mobile devices that aren’t effectively managed. Enterprise mobility management software offers several mobility-oriented solutions, including mobile device management (MDM) and mobile identity.
So, how can effective enterprise mobility management for T&L prepare your company for the future?
1. Security management
Security can be deployed to every single device within the network, and protocols can be established in the event of a suspected security threat. Control remote access to sensitive data, provide user authentication, and even offer remote data wiping of devices if they become lost or stolen.
2. Lower costs
Enterprise mobility management software can provide device management for BYOD devices, which can be far more cost-effective than purchasing the devices and software for workers and still having to provide the device management.
With effective device management, there are many benefits that serve the company’s bottom-line, including increased productivity and freed up time and resources.
3. Improve workflows
Enterprise mobility management software can provide faster, more efficient collaboration and workflow management that enables workers to do their work from any location. Managers can quickly assign jobs, organise teams, assign tasks and monitor progress.
4. Simplify IT demands
Simplify processes by putting tasks into a single, comprehensive platform, giving IT staff the tools and support needed to effectively manage a mobile device network.
IT staff can also monitor mobile device behaviour with an enterprise mobility management solution. This can help IT departments quickly determine if someone suspicious has taken control of a device.
5. More time for workers
Give employees the tools they need to stay on top of their work responsibilities even when they’re out of the office. Effective mobility management supports communication, collaboration, and greater overall productivity. With strong mobile security, remote workers can access critical data and content without a heightened risk of a security breach.
Why SOTI?
SOTI is a market leader in mobile and IoT technology for the transport and logistics sector. Its mobile technology experts help design, source and build the mobile solutions needed to reduce downtime and improve integration across the business. The focus is on increasing efficiencies within the business but, more importantly, strengthening customer brand trust.
SOTI’S enterprise mobility management (EMM) software, SOTI MobiControl, can help T&L companies to secure, and manage multiple devices throughout their entire lifecycle, from deployment to retirement. It controls all aspects of business mobility, from tracking physical assets to managing apps and content, as well as keeping devices and data safe and secure. The EMM software offers mobile device management and more.
Speak to The Barcode Warehouse
The Barcode Warehouse is the UK’s leading specialist provider of barcode technology, RFID, labelling and enterprise mobility solutions. Partnered with SOTI, the Barcode Warehouse is here to provide transport and logistics technology solutions to increase performance, operate more efficiently and become more competitive.
Learn more about SOTI MobiControl and get in touch on our transport and logistics technology solutions page.
Sources:
¹ Mobilizing the Delivery Workforce: State of Mobility in Transportation and Logistics 2021 Report, SOTI
² https://www.commercialfleet.org/news/van-news/2019/04/02/van-downtime-costing-business-24bn
