It's More Than Just a Phone to IT Folks

 

I spent a few days at a users’ conference for PMPA technical member, Epicor, an ERP software solutions provider.

As I am just a manufacturing guy among 4,000 computer, software and systems experts, I was in a unique position to see what our world looks like from the IT side of things.

What I learned was that to the IT folks, devices are more than just devices. Here are some of my gleanings about how we, as manufacturing users, are seen by the folks that deliver us our data:

• C-types want data visualization
• Middle managers want metrics
• Front line managers want conditional awareness
• The people doing the work want to know what to do
• Everyone has a mobile device and wants to access their data with it
• Mobile devices—iPads, tablets, smart phones—mean our customers are no longer tied to their desk.

The internet expanded the demand for data availability to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Mobile technology is now transforming that to everyone, everywhere, everything, every time!

An interesting fact that we need to be aware of as this mobile transformation continues to transform markets: 87 percent of chief marketing officers are planning to integrate every customer touch-point digitally within the next 5 years.

Think about what that could mean for your business. You have a website?  Good start. Is it mobile friendly?

What about all the information that your customer needs? Does it involve a phone call and clerical work to assemble a report? Is it available only during business hours, or can they get that digitally—anywhere, anytime?

That is where the world is headed—actually, it is where the leading companies have been.

Originally posted on PMPAspeakingofprecision.com blog.