Perhaps one of the most discussed topics in the business world today, mobilizing a workforce has many aspects and topics to consider. All of these topics are important and must be considered for a complete solution. A miss on any important ones can be the difference between a 'paper weight' and a solution that you users cannot live without (think of your smart phone). These are findings, observations and learnings noted over many years of the discussion and deployment of mobile solutions. All must be evaluated to develop a mobile solution that will produce a home run for your users.

1. MOBILIZING THE WORKFORCE
A Management Discussion of Considerations
Chet Johnson
EAM Lead Strategic Business Consultant

2. THE 5 W’S TO CONSIDER
 Who is performing the work
 Skill sets, age, physical size, etc.
 Develop a ‘persona’
 What work is to be performed
 Focus on specific tasks (user stories)
 Avoid the ‘what if’ scenarios
 What information is needed
 Performer’s needs
 System’s needs
 What mobile equipment will be used
 Mounted in/on vehicle
 Carried on person
 Worn
 Where work will be performed
 Outside, Inside
 Wet conditions, Hot conditions
 Construction, Warehousing, Operations
 On site, Off site (Connectivity options)

3. THE HOW'S: SOFTWARE
 Full ‘core system’ solutions
 Limited ‘core system’ solutions
 Third party integrated solutions
 Custom code solutions

4. THE HOW'S: HARDWARE
 Laptops
 Tablets
 Handheld Computers, Warehouse Scanners
 Smart Phones
 Wearables

5. THE HOW'S: OPERATING SYSTEMS
 IOS
 Android
 Windows

6. THE HOW'S: INFRASTRUCTURE
 Connected Methodology (Real-Time updates needed)
 Wi-Fi
 Cellular
 Mi-Fi
 Company Firewalls and Security to consider
 Disconnected (Real-Time updates not needed)
 Validation needed (Data native to device)
 Amount of data to download to device and keep updated
 Data contention errors when reconnected

7. THE HOW’S: DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Design Build Release
Risk
Risk Risk Risk
Design
Build
Release
Design
Build
Release
Waterfall
Agile