Mobile technology is big, and only set to get bigger over the next decade. Here, Sam Cannon, account executive at sales-i – a sales performance software company for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers – explores the possibilities that using mobile technology can bring to fastener companies with the right mindset.
If you’ve ever been in a new city and wanted to find somewhere to eat, then you’ll know the frustration of not knowing what’s near and suitable. And if you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember a time before mobile technology when you’d have to find an actual person who was willing to stop and give you directions.
Luckily, we now carry the solution to these everyday problems in our pockets. Without a second thought you can have your phone in your hand and type, for example: ‘Italian restaurants near me’. When you do, two solutions come into play. One, you have access to all the local knowledge you need and two, typing ‘near me’ is enough – if your location services are on – for your device to know which city you’re in and that you want something relatively local that you can walk there.
Applying those two solutions to the workplace, it’s obvious how mobile technology can play a critical role in our workflows, both on the road and back at the office. Equipped with the right technology that provides an answer to a question like ‘give me the name of a fastener manufacturer’ can prove invaluable for staying on top of the rapidly changing manufacturing and distribution market. This was also true following the pandemic when so many businesses pivoted their offerings in new directions, or staff turnovers meant there would be someone new at the end of the phone or email.
If your mobile technology knows where you are in relation to customers or potential customers, it can alert you to further opportunities. Think of it like your assistant sitting in the car with you. They’re looking out the window spotting new places you might miss. Couple that with, for example, software that provides sales opportunity insights, and you’re quickly able to prioritise which customer you visit first.
Getting the most out of mobile technology may require a shift in how your organisation thinks about that technology. Many businesses still aren’t prioritising mobile technology for their team, despite its increased growth. There’s much more to having a mobile workforce than being able to do business on the go. In fact, it’s becoming critical to many businesses. If you aren’t making the most of your mobile technology and your competition is, who is likely to be taking the lead?
Businesses are becoming increasingly mobile, spending time away from their base office. One thing most people learnt last year was that we’re now able to be out of the office and still remain fully connected to our colleagues.
The potential of mobile technology is so vast that not only will your team be able to work on the go, equipped with smartphones, tablets and other mobile gadgets, but they will also be able to collaborate with team members on projects thanks to Apps hosted in the Cloud.
Mobile technology is now so advanced that you can place orders, check stock levels back at the warehouse, as well as record all your meeting notes anywhere you can get an Internet connection (and with the right Apps, even when you can’t). The modern workforce needs to stay connected to access the information and tools they need wherever they are, from any device and at any time.
Biog
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
