Apps for Mobile ERP
Standards apps -a one trick pony
What may seem like a revolutionary idea, creating apps for use in ERP systems on smart phones and tablet computers, is probably no more than a fad. Clearly, the virtue of standard apps is that they show what is technically possible and their ability to inspire us to explore new ways of working more comfortably and efficiently is undeniable. But that’s where it ends. If you want to get mobile devices to work faster (which we think is a sound idea), you will have to rely on custom-made mobile applications, irrespective of whether they are based on existing apps.
Our take on things
Here is why we believe only custom-made apps will actually work:
- an ERP system is never completed, which in itself is a good thing, because business innovation should be integrated in your software
- there is no such thing as a standard document (even a purchase order varies from customer to customer)
- there is definitely no such thing as a standard business process, otherwise, this would leave little room to inject competitive advantage
- most companies do not work with the fully updated and latest version of an ERP software, and guess what, standards apps would probably only work on its most recent version
- most companies use more than one ERP software application, making integration necessary
- mobile input should be considered as one of the many channels in the process flow
Five steps to consider
In order to enhance the connection to your processes, we can help you develop fully integrated apps after we’ve established the following:
- what business processes are relevant to enable a semi or full transfer to a mobile platform
- which actions in those processes need to be mobile accessible
- what data sets do you need to perform those actions
- what systems hold and manage these data sets
- what identity or role-based security protects these systems
Once we’ve gathered this information, we will enact a dry-run and insert the smallest piece of data appropriately, under the right circumstances and with adequate protection. For almost ten years now Cnext has been successfully supporting companies. The main change to the business model tends to be seen in the change applied to the interface.