O2 survey reveals bespoke applications look set to rival corporate business applications
O2 today announces the results of an independent pan-European survey revealing that in the UK, blue-collar workers are set to overtake professional services workers in the roll out of mobility in the enterprise. The survey, conducted by Quocirca Research, reveals that whilst professional workers continue to adopt mobile email and mobile data applications at a rapid rate, the fastest uptake is taking place amongst blue-collar workers as businesses look to mobilise key systems across service management, inventory and logistics functions that ultimately allow workers to spend more time out in the field.
The survey also concludes that around 30% of professional companies are active or starting to become active in providing mobile access to corporate business systems such as sales force automation and project management systems. However similar levels of activity are now seen amongst grey/blue collar workers with nearly 30% already active in providing wireless access to systems such as service management, inventory and logistics with a further 20% planning to become active in 2005.
In addition, over 30% of companies had deployed specialised mobile devices for their blue-collar workers in the field and around 20% have significant wireless projects planned for 2005 spanning both bespoke business systems and packaged applications such as SAP and Siebel.
Helen Wylde, Head of Corporate at O2 said, “Historically, when people think about mobile data, they have thought about mobile email and corporate white collar applications. Now, with mobile data devices in the hands of plumbers, maintenance staff, engineers and craft workers, customer service can be moved from the call centres to the doorstep allowing workers in the field to have access to the most up to date information and services helping to provide an overall better service for customers.
“Whilst growth in the mobile data market is due in part to massive take up of mobile devices by business professionals, the real drivers and innovators are to be found on construction sites or under sinks – the blue collar workers who are using mobile to improve the bottom line, enhance customer service and increase individual productivity.”
O2 is currently working with a number of customers to develop bespoke mobile applications for blue collar workers. At Lewisham Borough Council, a workforce of 120 plumbers, joiners and maintenance staff look after the borough’s 30,000 homes by using O2 Xda II devices to pick up jobs and confirm the details of finished projects at a saving of £60,000. Likewise, the largest distributor of construction products in the UK, Wolseley, has equipped its engineers with wireless devices to receive and log job information, source necessary parts by accessing real time stock inventories and automatically invoice customers for work conducted.
Rob Bamforth, Senior Analyst at Quocirca added, “Mobile communications have evolved from straightforward voice calls and point to point pager or text messaging to a richer set of application opportunities providing closer integration with IT. New devices and services deliver remote access to core applications straight into the hands of all types of employees over and above mobile email. Additionally, bespoke applications are extending the boundaries of mobile communications further still. Companies with blue collar workers have been keen to take up the opportunities presented by mobile and we have seen considerable growth in this area in recent years.”