“By 2020, more than 75% of field service organizations with over 50 users will deploy mobile apps that go beyond simplified data collection and add capabilities that help technicians succeed.” - Gartner,
“Magic Quadrant for Field Service Management,”
By 2020, 70% of all access to enterprise systems will be done via mobile devices.
As smartphones and tablets begin to replace PCs and laptops, companies are recognizing that some of the biggest payoffs come when mobile apps are used by field service workers. Mobile forms represent the majority of mobile apps that field workers will use -- forms that help dispatch field teams and track their work, forms that collect data during site visits and inspections, and forms that initiate and record work orders or service repairs. And the need for more mobile forms will only crease as more and more companies replace paper processes with smartphones.
Mobile apps for field service have a incredible impact on field team productivity. One furniture warranty company realized an 80% increase in its field team's productivity with the addition of a mobile form. Other research indicates that mobile forms for field service have a 50 percent ROI in only two years. Here are some of the ways mobile forms increase field team productivity:
Read "7 Important Ways Mobile Forms Transform Field Service Work"
Despite all the talk about mobile, significant roadblocks still exist for companies looking to mobilize their business processes. Amid bullish technology reports, Gartner, Forrester and IDC have all released survey data that shows how companies are facing a massive bottleneck: they have hundreds of processes to mobilize, yet have only gotten a few out the door.
To solve the problem, companies are embracing business users to help digitize and mobilize business processes. Mobile forms are increasingly being build by employees closest to the business processes they power and track. Technologies that build mobile form have emerged to allow business users who cannot code to mobilize paper forms and digitize business processes without needing help from IT. The best technology solutions allow business users and IT to work independently on mobilization, but collaborate whenever necessary, so each side of the business can contribute the most value to the mobilization effort.
Read "Getting Business Users Building Mobile Forms: How to Meet IT Demand for More Mobile Apps"
Modern fieldwork calls for capabilities that go beyond basic data capture. These advanced capabilities turn a field data capture app into a powerful business tool that streamlines field work and drives business in real time. Some advanced capabilities include:
Read "What is the Difference Between Mobile Forms And 'Enterprise-Grade' Mobile Forms?"
It's important to recognize realize that mobile forms are very different from desktop applications or traditional paper forms. Mobile forms will only disappoint end-users and see low adoption and usage rates if they fail to address the types of real-world mobile experiences that field workers encounter today. Some examples include:
Depending on the specific features your company needs, most mobile form builders are usually sold as SaaS solutions with a cost between $12 - $50 per month for a single license.
But mobile forms are rarely a one-and-done effort. Forms need to be maintained and updated. It’s critical to consider how any product you select will scale over time. Ask how will price and performance be affected when you:
Alpha TransForm is a sophisticated forms builder that includes such capabilities as data and workflow integration, offline operation, full programmability and more for $35 per user per month. The technology also lets you craft as many forms as you need at that price and also offers predictable pricing as you add new end-users.
Demo: Turn a Visiting Nurse Paper Form into a Mobile Form in Minutes
With the technologies available today, building mobile forms can be fast and easy. The video on the right shows one way to turn a paper form into a mobile form in minutes which such capabilities as:
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