Mobile ERP case studies you can learn from

As the saying goes, “for every seller, there’s a buyer,” or in our case, an enterprise resource planning platform.

On average, adults in the US now spend nearly four hours a day on their phones, mainly using apps for communication, entertainment and work. This rise in mobile usage directly impacts ERP development and adoption.

What is mobile ERP?

Mobile ERP solutions are virtual ‘all-the-time-anywhere’ operating platforms that can be leveraged by managers, workers, or customers in real time. This universal value proposition allows the enterprise to force-multiply any scale of enterprise; whether it’s a small ‘Mom and Pop’ shop generating revenues on the order of a million dollars or less, or a multinational industry titan generating billions on an annual basis.

One of the key benefits they offer is accessibility to critical enterprise data and tools from anywhere, at any time. Whether in the field, traveling, or working remotely, employees can stay connected to the ERP system.

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This eliminates the need to wait until you’re back at the office to update customer records, check inventory, or review sales reports. Instead, all essential processes, from supply chain management to financial reporting, can be done on the go, offering businesses real-time visibility and operational flexibility.

Its importance for remote workforces

Remote employees can easily log in to the system, process approvals, view project updates, and collaborate with colleagues across time zones.

Recent data shows that over 50% of US remote-capable employees expect and prefer hybrid work models, highlighting the growing importance of flexible, mobile-enabled solutions that support remote workforces.

Security considerations

One of the major concerns with mobile ERP is security. With data being accessed from multiple devices and locations, it's essential to implement strict security measures to safeguard sensitive business information. This includes robust encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to ensure compliance with industry standards.

For example, oil and gas industries often need to secure real-time data related to drilling operations, which could otherwise be vulnerable to breaches. Mobile ERP software ensures that enterprises maintain the highest level of data security, protecting critical business functions from potential cyber threats.

Industry-specific mobile ERP apps

• Manufacturing: This category ranges from small fabrication operations to large-scale product developers such as auto or equipment brands. Particular functions and features typically involve all record adds/changes/deletes, time/stamp markers, geo-locators, user announcements, and security alarms.
• Commercial marine operations: This category primarily relates to vessel processes and dock and port facilities. Particular functions and features typically involve all record adds/changes/deletes, time/stamp markers, navigational tracking, communication systems status, geo-locators, standard/emergency user announcements, and triggered security alarms.
• Oil & gas: This category primarily relates to drilling, refining, production and delivery of fossil fuels. Particular functions and features typically involve all record adds/changes/deletes, time/stamp markers, geo-locators, standard/emergency safety announcements, and HAZMAT, and/or triggered security alarms.

As suggested earlier, these mobile ERP features apply to three industrial segments and represent only a small sampling of what mobility means to today’s global industry.

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Mobile ERP case studies

Here are some case examples to review as you determine how important mobile ERP is to your own business needs. These range from mid to large-scale operations; however, all enterprises were either already involved with a current ERP platform or were applying active mobile capabilities during various selection/launch/implementation processes:  

1. Transportation supply-chain operator

The company is a leading supply-chain operator in the road construction equipment segment. The company is a mature enterprise, encompassing a 40-year lifespan. Its product line is extensive, primarily supporting global transportation systems developers.

The mobility requirement:

The company’s workforce expanded in recent years, requiring a need to streamline its administrative communications capabilities. It aimed to ensure that all information related to personnel allotments and task assignments was deliverable throughout the company’s business infrastructure. The company also wanted to enhance field staff operations by equipping them with a native mobility capability oriented to enhanced customer support and affiliated reporting.

Baseline scenario:

The administrative manager usually assigns sales staff to field sales managers, who then manage multiple customers. Previously, paper forms were used after each sales transaction to gather information, followed by manual data entry through the company's web portal. As the company expanded, operational logjams developed due to the growing number of active customers.

Subsequently, a related internal investigation found that:

• Sales personnel spent too much time searching for necessary customer information.
• Manual data entry processes were redundant and prone to error.
• Sales status reports experienced delivery lags since legacy processes only allowed for end-of-day batching.
• New customer record updates were slow and consequently resulted in lost sales.

The solution:

The company already had a web application system, so after a thorough internal analysis, it proposed an iPad app for its field staff. The app enabled the company to seamlessly use its online portal and active data store.

It offered various record options, including customer lists, address books, and an ability to register operational events, while using direct geo-location. The app also allowed sales personnel to submit reports in real time.

Results:

After development and implementation were concluded, the company successfully realized all stated goals.

2.  Mid-size retail sales chain

Various metrics relating to today’s retail environment suggest that a minimum of 50% of all retail customers involve themselves with smartphone device use. This non-mobile mid-size retail operator faced increasing competition from mobile-enabled competitors.

The mobility requirement

The company was not mobile-enabled and consequently was experiencing lost sales opportunities, particularly in the case of targeting young customers. Unfortunately, the company had largely depended on young users to increase brand value through word-of-mouth.

Baseline scenario

The company required a way to enhance its promotion, marketing, and engagement of products to young customers, while at the same time leveraging a seamless resource-based digital infrastructure. The company felt that by tailoring its sales offerings while enhancing the company’s shopping experience, customers would be more attentive to its product attractions.

The solution:

The company engaged a professional mobile developer to ensure that a proper set of operational goals were established. Subsequently, the following solutions were developed and delivered to the company:

• Mobile shopping cart – allowed users to select and purchase items on demand.
• Mobile product search – enabled targeted lookups of specific items from larger catalog products.
• Mobile payment – enabled customers to securely pay for purchases.
• Mobile product ship and track – enabled customers to manage inbound products and allowed the company to maintain active transaction tracking.
• Wish list– allowed users to bookmark selected items for future purchase.
• Store locator– helped customers find the nearest outlet.
• Direct support – provided customers access to a 24/7 hotline with live chat.

Result:

Once the company launched its mobile app, it reported a significant rise in customer engagement. Customer ease of access led to numerous positive responses from its sales team. Ultimately, customer retention has risen accordingly, in addition to significant increases in new prospect transactions.

Case studies 1 and 2 were originally sourced from Innomobile, but their respective pages have since been removed. 

3. Global aviation manufacturer

While the company’s outsourced operations lowered manufacturing costs, it also added complexity and presented a need for rigid controls when managing day-to-day operations. Due to the limitations of a legacy MRP system, and while establishing a newly sophisticated multiple-module ERP platform, much of the company’s work had to be done manually, which became increasingly more difficult to manage as the company grew. Consequently, a mobility-adept system was desired as a middle ground.

Baseline scenario:

To prevent counterfeit items from entering its supply chain, the company bought a significant number of parts domestically and consigned them to factories in China.

The practice required manual calculations of needed components based on finished assembly usage and inventory levels at the factory. Additionally, the company had to calculate the necessary excess to purchase based on historic scrap levels. Communicating with Hong Kong and China operations was also challenging due to time differences.

The solution:

The company implemented a multi-module ERP system, including accounting, purchasing, sales orders, and inventory, enhanced with mobile capabilities. Once complete, critical data was shared across the company’s functional areas in real time, and the ERP system provided real-time visibility into inventory levels at its four factories in China. A quality module was also included to help the company meet international compliance standards.

Result:

The company’s ROI increased by 50% of sales growth by year four.

Source: SolidWorks

Final thoughts

If your business involves field workers, remote teams, or complex supply chains, it might be time to think about how mobile ERP can help your business stay agile and responsive.