Data Visualization and Enterprise Mobility
Data Visualization gives meaning to data
I have been pondering the power of data visualization and mobility since reading Kevin Benedict’s most recent blog “More on Mobility and 4D Field Services“. In his article Kevin makes a key point and ask a critical question, “The data can provide us with real-time “situational awareness,” but can we understand it and use it to make better decisions for our businesses?
As they say “a picture is worth a 1000 words”, data visualization is the same.
Presenting real time data in a visualization layer provides REAL meaning to job status or progress. Presenting data in an easily understood and actionable format enables decision makers to act NOW instead of struggling to interpret the data and then respond in in damage control mode.
We often think of only acting on critical “red flagged” data. This reactionary model negatively impacts our customers and business. Whereas if we can associate visual cues to help us immediately understand a situation the greater our opportunity to quickly and properly respond.
In Kevin’s example he used yellow circles to visually identify languishing jobs. A simple example of this is a stoplight. We all understand the metaphor; red – stop, yellow – slow down (or punch it), green – go. What happens to your decision making capabilities if you carry this some color or other iconic metaphor into your applications?
Data visualization provides immediate interpretation of data
In a recent mobile application we developed for the natural gas industry we implemented this type of data visualization. At a glance technicians can identify service calls that require immediate or semi-immediate attention based on color. Graphical “color-cut” representations of the tank enable service tech to immediately understand the product mix contained within a given tank. Armed with this data technicians are able to make quicker decisions based on situational import as well as data content.
By providing visual clarity to the data, service techs and managers can proactively respond and manage service issues before their status moves from “yellow” to “red”. Businesses that are implementing these types of mobile strategies are gaining a gain competitive edge due to their ability to dynamically respond to customer needs before they even know there is a potential problems. Armed with better tools to interpret and act on data they are providing better perceived and real service to their customers.
Jody Sedrick
Follow me on Twitter: @jodysedrick and @zenewareinc
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Zenware is a Boise Idaho based company that specializes In custom mobile software development, custom iOS development, custom Android development, ipad software development, iphone software development, custom web development, web hosting and Saas based work order management software.
MEAP Nirvana? Is developing your own mobile solution wise?
For the past year I have consulted with a company that has sought to develop their own mobile solution. Early in the consulting process I recommended a cloud based mobile solution that aligned with their business model and processes. My recommendation to go with a pre-packaged solution that met 90% of their needs was primarily based on the fact that they hadn’t put together a dedicated team to work on the project. Their attitude was, “A MEAP will make up for any difficiencies our developer might have in time or expertise”, or “I can work on this project while traveling”.
They have come to realize that while a MEAP solution provides great power to accomplish their mobility goals there are still a lot of challenges and complexities involved with developing an enterprise mobility solution that require time, evaluation, dedication and development.
A very simple example of this happened this week. The same company that decided to build their own mobile application approached us to solve some challenges they had encountered developing their own mobile app. As our team looked at the mobile solution a few simple, yet crucial, points were missed in their application design. Here are two examples:
- Work order tables were joined on a customer name without having a unique customer ID. The result – if they changed a customer name from “Freds” to “Fred’s” all ties to previous work orders would have been lost.
- Work order numbers were not unique and could be shared between multiple customers. The result – Customer A could end up with Customer B’s information. Not such a good idea.
There were other complications within their app but you can see how a few simple things can negatively impact the results of your mobile solution. It is important to recognize there are difficulties and challenges in customer developing a mobile solution whether using a MEAP or traditional coding.
The following is a list of questions and considerations you should weigh before embarking in developing your own mobile solution:
- Do you have dedicated resources available to gather all the business and technical requirements of your application?
- Do you understand the business process in the field? What does the field technician need to be successful? What does the corporate side need to be successful? The key is building a mobile solution that provides the right data at the point of action.
- Do you have and can you dedicate the right technical resources to design, develop, test, deploy and support your application?
- Do you have experienced mobile application designers that can build intelligent business logic within the application and not simply design a great interface?
- What mobile device options are available? What device features are required by the end user – barcode scanning, GPS, RFID or are consumer grade devices sufficient?
- With what backend systems do you to have to integrate?
Mobility has become an integral part of business. It’s no longer a “would be nice” part of your business, it is mission critical. Whether using a MEAP or traditional development methodologies the key is developing a mobile solution that can evolve as your business and mobile technology evolves.
Jody Sedrick
Follow me on Twitter: @jodysedrick and @zenewareinc
LinkedIn Profile
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Zenware is a Boise Idaho based company that specializes In custom mobile software development, custom iOS development, custom Android development, ipad software development, iphone software development, custom web development, web hosting and Saas based work order management software.
Mobile Device Selection – Yes, it’s important
After reading Kevin Benedict’s article “Thinking About Mobile Devices for Field Services? Considering what is needed in the field.” http://ow.ly/8X3RD, I thought I’d share a few thoughts to further illustrate his point.
In my experience device selection is often severely underrated by many decision makers. They often immediately go to the “soft” devices that are “Free” as part of their cellular service instead of evaluating the true needs of the field worker. Working environments are a significant factor.
Last year I was at a meeting with a large auto detail professional group. One of the franchisee owners challenged the need to purchase rugged PDAs when the he could simply scan Auto Vin numbers using his Android phone. I suggested we compare two device features that were important to him on the condition that he had to do both. He agreed.
First test – hi-speed scanning. I pulled out a pre-printed list of VINs on a piece of paper and set up each of us to scan. Using the Psion Neo i scanned ten VINs before he scanned one Vin. I then asked him if he’d like to try scanning again, this time through the window.
Second test – I grabbed the Neo and threw it across the room. I then turned to him and asked him for his device. He wisely put his Android in his pocket and conceded the point that the right device in the right environment is key.
Jody Sedrick
Follow me on Twitter: @jodysedrick and @zenewareinc
LinkedIn Profile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zenware is a Boise Idaho based company that specializes In custom mobile software development, custom iOS development, custom Android development, ipad software development, iphone software development, custom web development, web hosting and Saas based work order management software.