For many companies, mobile working on smartphones and tablets is steadily moving up the list of priorities. Just how companies organise and, more importantly, manage mobile working will become a key factor in market differentiation, not just in terms of current and future customers but also with regard to present and potential staff. But how can you best approach it? The following four steps will get you a long way.

Step 1: Elaborate a company-wide strategy

All too often, mobile working is viewed as a part of the salary package or as a working tool made available to staff. As a result, it is often an isolated project that contributes little towards achieving the company objectives.

Mobile working is essentially a strategic instrument designed to create added value for the business and to provide your staff with a new and improved working experience. That is why we would advise taking a strategic and company-wide approach. Right from the start you should involve all the relevant stakeholders (staff, management, IT, HR…) in the vision, strategy and implementation.

Step 2: Ensure end user buy-in

Mobile working initiatives often break down due to a lack of buy-in on behalf of the single most important party involved: the end user. Too many projects are imposed top-down but lack the support necessary to make them a success.

That is why it is important to involve the end users in the process and ask them what they need to work more effectively. Inquire as to their security and privacy needs with regard to mobile working. Only by being transparent about your approach from the start can you expect your staff to do the same. Communicate your intentions clearly and openly and ask for feedback.

Step 3: Devise a policy and offer coaching

Elaborating a mobile policy is a must. After all, mobility equals freedom and freedom comes with rights and obligations. This means your policy should be geared to your company’s needs and individuality. Strike a careful balance between freedom and privacy on the one hand, and security and control on the other.

Establishing rules is one thing but keep in mind that any mobile working policy requires a change in mentality and constitutes, therefore, a change management trajectory. Coach your staff and teach them what secure and efficient mobile working is all about. Aspects such as time management (‘how do I process emails’), and learning how to use social media and the internet in a safe and sensible way are an integral part of that training.

Step 4: Provide day-to-day management and control

While a strategy, a policy and a vision on the subject of mobile working are indispensable, you also need the proper knowledge and tools to implement your policy on an everyday basis and manage the use of mobile devices at all times. This is what mobile device management and mobile application management involves.

If you lack the knowledge or expertise to handle that day-to-day management yourself, you can always opt for a fully managed solution. For a fixed monthly fee you not only get to use an advanced management tool but you also benefit from assistance in drawing up your mobile policy and end user support. Proactive services prevent problems and make it possible to react quickly to policy violations. Moreover, a service level agreement ensures the necessary guarantees are in place, and frequent reporting and advice keep you up to speed.

Today mobile working offers a host of opportunities to improve your company’s service and inspire customer and staff loyalty. More than that, it is an absolute prerequisite to enabling digital transformation. The success of your mobile project depends on whether or not it is set up and managed in a professional and well-thought-out way.