5 Features of a Good Mobile Workforce Management Software

Nearly half of the global workforce will be mobile by 2022, and our workforce management solutions have to keep up. In this article, we discuss the emergence of the mobile workforce trend, how technology can help, and five features to look for before you purchase a mobile workforce management solution.

Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in Mobile Workforce Management

The traditional workforce composition is rapidly changing. Businesses no longer rely on a fixed team based out of a single office. They have teams made up of full-time employees, part-time staff, a contingent workforce, and permanent workers logging in from remote locations. The tools used to manage this workforce also need to keep up. It is expected that by 2020, the number of mobile workers in the US will riseOpens a new window to 105 million, and nearly halfOpens a new window of the global workforce will be mobile by 2022. However, are traditional workforce management systems equipped to handle this trend?

We’re not so sure. “Managing a mobile workforce involves supporting administrative processes and employee experiences across many locations, policies, and types of locations. In addition to this, there are a lot of often-changing tax and immigration rules that companies must stay compliant with. Today, much of this is manual and run on spreadsheets, emails, and legacy, fragmented databases,” explains Opens a new window Brynne Kennedy, CEO, and Founder of talent mobility company Topia.

To address these challenges and ensure that businesses make the most out of their mobile workforce, it is important to adopt dedicated mobile workforce management (MWM) software. In fact, technology advancements and falling prices of smart handheld devices mean that MWM software are set to become a business staple. Not only do they automate manual tasks, but they also allow mobile employees to update managers about their progress in real-time in a non-disruptive manner.

Learn more: Workforce Scheduling Tools you Need to Win in the Gig EconomyOpens a new window

5 Essential Features of Efficient Mobile Workforce Management Platforms

If you are looking for good MWM software for your company, use this list of the following essential features of one to make your decision:

1. It provides timestamps and captures locations

These two features are among the very basics of an MWM solution. By using GPS, the tool should be able to record the precise location from where an employee is logging in, starting their shift, completing tasks, and clocking out. Not only does this maintain full transparency, but you can also ensure that no resource is being wasted because of idle hours, and no resource is being overworked beyond acceptable hours. From attendance logs to schedules and in-app communication, time and location should be visible across the board.

2. It offers flexible scheduling

MWM tools cannot follow a “set and forget” model when it comes to scheduling. Users should be able to request changes, exchange shifts, and rewire the workflows as needed. Additionally, managers should be able to view and approve these requests at a click without delays or complex procedures.

Most mobile workforces are highly dependent on accurate scheduling: for example, sales personnel who are scouting new prospects or service technicians assigned to a particular on-site issue. The scheduling feature should be able to handle the dynamic nature of these roles and be able to accommodate them.

3. It sends alerts in real time

The MWM solution must take advantage of the power of mobile technology. Real-time alerts and notifications ensure that the workforce is always aware of the latest developments in the organization despite being away from a centralized location.

On completion of a task, the platform should auto-update employees about their next assignment, alert managers about any changes, and provide a geo-fencing tool to let managers know when employees are moving from one location to the other and share any relevant details for their safety.

Learn more: 7 Workforce Management Trends for 2019Opens a new window

4. It supports customization according to industry needs

Every company relying on MWM is not the same. A fleet management company will need to incorporate vehicle checks into the platform, for instance. Manufacturers, on the other hand, will require specialized safety checks. The MWM tool must provide highly configurable workflows, where business rules can be set in line with your unique requirements.

5. It allows seamless reporting and third-party integrations

As Brynne tells us, companies continue to rely on spreadsheets when managing their mobile workforce. To resolve this issue, the solution must have a powerful reporting module built into the system. Users should be able to view KPIs, trends, and patterns on unified dashboards, and these should be exportable to different formats. An auto-export feature can help keep a business compliant with minimal human intervention.

Besides reporting capabilities, third-party integrations are also useful to meet industry-specific scenarios. Even if third-party integration is not available by default, your provider should be able to integrate modules such as invoicing and CRM into the solution.

Learn more: 3 Best Practices for Managing Remote TeamsOpens a new window

Key Takeaways

Managing a mobile workforceOpens a new window is a pressing challenge for companies today. It is not enough to have a bare-bones solution that can monitor and approve mobile workforce movements. You will benefit most from a solution that will help schedule tasks, predict requirements, manage performance, maintain compensation compliance, and offer admin capabilities, all from a single platform. We recommend looking for a comprehensive, bandwidth-light and well-designed mobile workforce management tool that is built on the cloud for seamless connectivity anytime, anywhere.

Which factors will determine your decision to adopt a mobile workforce management tool? Share your perspective with us on FacebookOpens a new window , LinkedInOpens a new window , or TwitterOpens a new window .