Mobile ERP: A salesman’s tool

Since we have to be realistic, we ought to admit that the mobile version of ERP is not as fun as a recently released mobile version of a new game. On the other hand, it is also a fact that mobile ERP is one of the most useful and important mobile technologies developed so far.

In any case, even though we live in the era of apps, there are still many who do not directly associate ERP with a mobile app. In the following paragraphs, we’ll examine some of the advantages provided by mobile ERP solutions, especially for sales departments.

Let us consider what the sales process was before the introduction of mobile devices. Sales professionals spent their time between customers and their office, carrying with them to-do lists, surveys, orders and a whole lot of other paperwork and documents. Now, having digital technology as an ally and equipped with a smartphone or some other user-friendly digital device, sales professionals can offer a much more responsive experience. Actually, this experience can be even more effective if mobile devices are equipped to provide direct access to business intelligence.

Sales professionals are no longer obliged to leave their customers waiting in order for them to check stock availability, order status or customer’s account. With a tablet or a smartphone, these issues can be handled in real time, thus ensuring a quicker and certainly more reliable and attractive customer service experience. Furthermore, since sales professionals can switch devices every time they login to their laptop or desktop computer, upon their return to the office, they can continue their work exactly from where they have left it, without losing any important data.

In today’s customer-centric economy, businesses are under constant pressure to provide services quickly and respond to their customers’ demands promptly. As far as sales departments are concerned, quick response can actually make the difference between closing a deal or not. Another important advantage of mobile access to ERP is the geolocation feature that enables sales personnel to find their customer’s location on the map and thus avoid being delayed. In general, a mobile ERP solution promotes sales by providing specific answers to real questions, thus improving customer service.

To sum up, this solution’s advantages are the following:

• Sales personnel can submit orders with their smartphones, during their meeting with the customer and while also checking the available stock.
• Customers can confirm their orders by signing on the device.
• Orders are sent to the warehouse, so that product delivery processes can begin.
• Sales personnel do not waste time finding customer locations, since mobile ERP provides them with a geolocation feature for easy access to their addresses.