There’s An App For That
Mobile supply chain technology has become essential in today’s business environment.
Everyone has a smartphone. Mobile applications are ubiquitous, and mobility in the supply chain has grown beyond the debates about the best way to use an RFID chip.
SupplierGateway supports an app because we know that’s how people do business today. From providing single-use security credentials based on physical location to instantly accessing warranty information or locating a specialized supplier while on the go, the value of mobile supply chain technology is undeniable.
Change seldom arrives without apprehension and resistance. We recently had a client who worried that their users wouldn’t have faith in a smartphone app to conduct critical procurement business. Fortunately, they are finding their fears to be mostly misplaced. Still, the intelligence of a system living in the cloud and not on a device remains hard to grasp at times.
Challenges and Opportunities in Mobile Supply Chain Technology
The technology faces other challenges. Mobile security – particularly in a Bring Your Own Device environment – may be the most serious issue. Maintaining quality of service can be dependent on outside factors. Discovering and provisioning web services over traditional networks remains a challenge. Nevertheless, the imminent arrival of 5G mobile networks is expected to alleviate many of these issues. As technology continues to advance, overcoming these obstacles will be crucial for its widespread adoption and success.
Insights
- “Anything I can do on my desktop, I need to be able to do on my phone.”
