More companies are looking for ways to embrace mobility and make it a value-driving trend within their operations. For manufacturers, the back office could be the place to accomplish this, taking business management software mobile and utilizing ERP solutions to drive efficiency and flexibility.

According to Enterprise Apps Today, mobile ERP has been on the rise for a little while, and as more firms embrace it the value of doing so becomes more apparent from their success. Adam Cheatham, an ERP consultant, noted during a webinar that mobile manufacturing ERP software offers "an opportunity to eliminate gaps and streamline processes in real time."

"An increasingly connected world leads to increasing speed of business," Cheatham continued. "You can interact in real time with people from around the world. We are seeing a push for having a single source of truth and being able to interconnect it throughout the globe."

In order to succeed with mobile ERP, however, there are a few steps that companies have to consider:

Function – The functionality of the ERP systems in the first place is essential. Many firms may realize that they need to update their manufacturing software in order to make mobile a reality.

Form factor – Mobile devices function in a very different way than desktop and laptop PCs. The primary issue is the smaller screen size, which can be troubling to some workers. This makes them excellent for performing quick and minor tasks, but a full audit or sales pitch will likely need to be performed on a bigger machine, the news source noted.

Connectivity – The primary advantage mobile devices offer is the "any where, any time" accessibility of data. However, this means increased focus on connectivity in the workplace and remotely. Companies will need to potentially update their networks and improve access to ERP apps in order to deliver on performance demands.

Usability – User experience relies on the usability of these apps and devices. From the operating system to the apps that the business invests in, they have to align with user expectations and needs. Cheatham noted that pulling out a tablet to perform work sets a certain expectation of efficiency and function, and if the app or UX falls short of that expectation it will ruin the experience, even if it is better than an older system overall.

Security – The final key issue that manufacturers have to contend with is the high security demands of mobility. While these devices aren't by necessity less secure than other computing options, they do require a different approach to security that companies will need to prepare for.

While the news source offers further advice on improve mobile integration with ERP solutions, companies will benefit most from investing in assistant with taking their back office operations to the next level and leveraging these tools to maximum efficiency. Mobile ERP trends are just starting to catch on and companies that embrace them early on will be able to gain a clear competitive edge.