Most supply chain and logistics firms are constantly attempting to increase warehouse efficiency and production while eliminating errors and process delays.

As mobile technology advances, this industry gains real-time visibility into all of its functions for final customers, retailers, warehouses, transporters, manufacturers, and suppliers. They can rely on mobile technology for better and smoother management.

It helps management in internal and external communication through text messages, images, and video sharing and also boosts them in perfect decision-making.

Where is mobility technology typically used in the supply chain?

You can monitor mobility technology in various operations of supply chain management to improve the efficiency of work. Here are a few enlisted:

• Warehouse Operations

In warehouses, mobile devices are used for inventory management, optimal space utilization, order picking, and tracking of goods within the warehouse. Managers and other staff also use mobile devices to update the stock and use barcode scanners for efficient information delivery.

• Transportation and Logistics

Mobile devices provide real-time fleet position, device status, weather conditions, and item updates, assisting in the optimization and consolidation of the dispatch and delivery operations.

• Supplier and Vendor Management

Mobile technology acts as a communication medium between suppliers and the partners of the management chain to ensure real-time access to the inventory and order status.

• Field Service Management

The field service team uses mobile devices to dispatch technicians, while technicians use the devices to check requests and then respond to them. It helps them coordinate with the customers and the management team for assistance.

• Last-Mile Delivery

Mobile technologies play a crucial role in managing versatile e-businesses. These devices help in optimizing the routes for delivery staff and ensure the delivery of the packages on time. It provides a continuous tracking facility to businesses to accurately update customers and win their trust.

Challenges of Mobility in Supply Chain

 Here are some specific challenges associated with the incorporation of mobile devices into the supply chain:

• Security Risks

Mobile devices can cause various security issues when allowed to be used in enterprises. The security threats include potential loss of devices, unauthorized access, and cyber-attacks. These potential risks can cause the breach of confidential information, leading to great loss.

• Device Management and Support

Supply chain management cannot be managed with a single mobile device. It depends on the level of business and might involve hundreds and thousands of smart devices. Management of a fleet of devices is a complex task as it includes timely updates of devices, monitoring and restrictions. Several operational disruptions might occur if these devices are not managed effectively.

• Cost considerations

Mobility technology often involves upfront investment in devices, software licenses, infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance costs. Unbalance between the benefits and costs can create serious issues.

• Device maintaining

Device maintenance is a crucial factor in enhancing their lifetime; otherwise, they might wear out before time. Maintenance of these devices, which are all over the place, and troubleshooting is also a cost-consuming task.

Benefits of mobility in the supply chain

Here are the benefits that mobile technology brings to supply chain management:

• Increased Efficiency and Productivity

Mobile devices streamline various management processes and shift the workload of employees with improved accuracy. These ensure smooth communication and easy access to the information by authorized users for inventory management, order processing and quality control, leading to enhanced efficiency and productivity.

• Improved Real-Time Visibility

Mobile devices help administrators ensure the availability of the company’s data, inventory details, and delivery updates online or offline so immediate actions can be taken without delays. It helps them take quick measures to manage uncertain things and proactively reduce downtime.

• Faster Order Fulfillment

Better stock maintenance ensures the availability of products anytime, and live tracking of the vehicles used for delivery results in faster order fulfillment. It is only possible by incorporating mobile technology and various applications in the system.  

• Cost Savings

Efficient use of mobile devices can save costs of business. It reduces the costs for extra labor like data entry on the register, calculations and other manual tasks. Low error rates also minimize the costs and time consumption, making the system mobile and fast.

AirDroid Business for managing mobility in the supply chain

AirDroid Business is a mobile device management solution specifically for enterprises that use Android devices for business operations. It is a powerful tool that allows businesses to enroll an unlimited number of devices, customize their settings and then remotely monitor and control them from a central location. It provides users with a single dashboard to get device insights and take immediate actions for device safety.

AirDroid Business ensures optimized and safest use of mobile technology for supply chain management. It provides a high level of security to control device usage and acts as a shield against external attacks.

Key Features for AirDroid Business: 

• Centralized management

AirDroid Business provides a single console to manage a large fleet of devices. Supply chain management is made efficient by monitoring and maintaining all the enterprise devices from a single location, also reducing costs. 

• Black Screen Mode

Black Screen Mode, a proprietary technology for AirDroid Business, enables a privacy mode while remote controlling. The remote screen will be darkened and the device will be temporarily blocked when turning on this mode, which will prevent business-sensitive data leaking.

• Troubleshoot device issues

AirDroid Business enables the IT team to remotely diagnose issues on employees’ devices and control them to manage the settings and troubleshoot problems remotely. It helps to reduce the downtime of devices while managing the supply chain.

• Configure and provision devices with business apps

AirDroid Business provides zero-touch enrollment that allows admins to manage pre-configured settings and configuration of mobile applications that are necessary for business operations. After provisioning, these devices are ready to use when the device is turned on.

• Monitor device performance, activity and location remotely

With AirDroid Business, admins can remotely monitor device activities in real-time and can also check the history of device usage. It provides individual app usage history and also enables admins to watch the real-time location of devices to ensure productivity.

• Automate alerts and workflows

Various alerts and workflows are set using AirDroid Business to ensure work continuity and timely maintenance of devices. For example, on low battery, the device automatically turns into power-safe mode and updates the devices after office hours.

• Lock down the device with kiosk mode.

The kiosk mode of AirDroid Business allows admins to restrict device usage. Supply chain management demands the use of more than one application, so businesses can use multi-app kiosk mode to allow only required applications to run on the devices.

• Security policy setting

Customization options in the policy and kiosk files tab of AirDroid Business ensure enterprises set high-security features that also enable them to comply with various industry standards. Settings strong password policies, device and app limitations, web filtering, and network settings result in the implementation of unbreakable security measures.

Conclusion

 The significance of mobility in supply chain management is irrefutable due to its more significant benefits. However, it is only possible if businesses corroborate optimized usage of mobile devices. In the supply chain, mobile devices have excessive use in various departments. So, companies must address challenges and find efficient solutions to these issues to generate productive results. Using an MDM solution compatible with your mobile devices lessons the efforts of workers and also the costs for management, maintenance and monitoring of devices. Start a 14-day free trial to get more tips for effectively manage your mobile device fleets.