Challenges for a Global Manager of Service Delivery

This morning in New York City, I spent time with a Manager of Service Delivery for a global security and alarm company.  He shared some of the challenges he faces around mobilizing his field services teams.
  • Operations in 40 countries
  • 40 different ERP instances from many different vendors
  • Need to replace a 22 year old mobile system
  • Old mainframe systems in many regions
  • Desire to integrate mobile time sheets with all the various backend systems and regional laws.
  • Questionable data quality
  • Workforce reluctant to learn new technologies
Sometimes the biggest challenges to mobility, really have little to do with enterprise mobility.  This company is developing their mobility strategy now, looking at mobility platforms and conducting small POCs with a plan to implement in a couple of years.

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Expert Video Series: VIP's Mark Goddard

VIP is a systems integrator that I met at SAPPHIRENOW 2011 that has recently added a mobility focus.  Learn about their mobility strategy and how they are approaching the market in this short video interview.



Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Nick Brown

Myself and fellow SAP Mentor John Appleby interview SAP's Nick Brown on SAP's enterprise mobility strategies, timelines and products.  The audio on this video is rather poor, but the content is great, so crank up the volume and put on the headset.  I have even experimented with adding captions.

 


 
Additional videos by Kevin Benedict at SAPPHIRENOW 2011

 

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Retailing News Weekly - Week of May 23, 2011

The Mobile Retailing News Weekly is an online newsletter that is made up of the most interesting news, articles and links related to mobile retailing applications and mobile marketing applications that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting market size and market trend information.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Mobile Marketing News Weekly
Also read Mobility News Weekly
Also read M2M News Weekly

A study from TNT Research shows that over 50 percent of consumers in rapid growth economies want to use mobile phones for greater access to financial services.  Read Original Content

According to a new survey by MasterCard Worldwide, 62 percent of Americans who use a mobile phone would be open to using their device to make purchases.  Read Original Content

Advancements in technology are set to change the way customers pay for things, and telecommunication companies and financial institutions are readying themselves for the mobile payment revolution.  Read Original Content

Americans are ready and waiting for mobile payment systems, reveals a new survey from MasterCard, with almost two-thirds open to using their mobile device to make payments.  Read Original Content

VeriFone and software developer Micros Systems have developed a program that will allow NFC enabled phones to pay for meals at restaurants with participating NFC capability.  Read Original Content

Pyxis Mobile provides an agile, powerful, and secure mobile enterprise application platform.  It enables rapid cross-platform application development, unlimited data integration, enterprise-grade security, and the unique ability to change and update applications in real time.  This newsletter is sponsored in part by Pyxis Mobile, http://pyxismobile.com/.

According to research done by Acxiom, 20 percent of smartphone owners in the UK are ready for NFC payments.  Read Original Content

A recent rumor suggests that Apple will in fact be introducing an NFC capable iPhone 5 phones during the late summer months.   Read Original Content

EBay is continuing to enter the local mobile shopping market as it continues to purchase startup mobile payment companies.  Read Original Content

Consumer research conducted in nine countries has found that PayPal is the most trusted by consumers to handle personal financial data when making mobile payments.  Read Original Content

Capital One now offers customers an iPhone app to help manage accounts through their mobile devices.  Read Original Content

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Video Series:  Novus’ Dave Ploch
Mobile Expert Video Series:  Clicksoftware’s Nigel Clark
SAPPHIRE NOW 2011 Day 3 Mobility Photos!
Mobile Expert Video Series:  ClickSoftware's Moshe BenBassat
Mobile Expert Video Series:  Smartsoft Mobile's Ed Krufka
Mobile Expert Video Series:  SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl
Mobile Expert Video Series:  Leapfactor's Luis Cabrera
Mobile Expert Video Series:  Smartsoft Mobile's Dan Homrich
Mobile Expert Video Series:  AMT-Sybex's Malachy Martin
Mobile Expert Video Series:  SAP's Thortsen Stephan

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

You can follow me on Twitter @krbenedict and read my blog, Enterprise Mobility Strategies.

I have added a feature to my blog site that supports email subscriptions.  You can now receive all blog articles directly via email.  If you are interested, click here.

*************************************************************

Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Expert Video Series: Novus' Dave Ploch

Dave Ploch is the Director of New Technologies with Novus International.  He is right in the middle of an SAP implementation of ERP, and an SAP mobility implementation.  I interviewed him about his strategies and experiences in this short video taken at SAPPHIRENOW 2011.


Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobile Expert Video Series: ClickSoftware's Nigel Clark

At SAPPHIRENOW 2011, I found ClickSoftware's SVP Nigel Clark.  He was sporting a large trophy in a case and I wanted to know what it was all about.



Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Field Mobility News Weekly - Week of May 23, 2011

The Field Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to field and medical mobility that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

Also read Mobile Marketing News Weekly
Also read Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Also read Mobility News Weekly
Also read M2M News Weekly

SAP is developing field service mobile applications that are aimed at technicians and other workers who are frequently away from a central location, servicing customers. Read Original Content

Rugged tablets and RFID technology are combing to help streamline the food and vegetable shipment process and to help quicken the rate of delivery from grower to consumer.  Read Original Content

To avoid accidentally cutting water mains and for routine maintenance on water pipes, a French company is using RFID technology.  Read Original Content

RFID technology is being used in the TELUS Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.  It will be used to track sailboats along their two week race around Vancouver Island. Read Original Content

Healthcare mobility has become increasingly popular in the past few years as hospitals find new uses for iPads and other devices.  Lately the security of these tools being used by physicians has been questioned.  Read Original Content

Since 1995, Syclo has enabled hundreds of companies in 37 countries and industries supercharge their businesses with mobility.  This newsletter is sponsored in part by Syclo.  http://www.syclo.com/.

The mobile health market is estimated to be worth $2.1 billion at the end of 2011.  Read Original Content

Alaska Airlines and Boeing are currently working on an RFID route that will allow airlines to better track airplane parts and components.  Read Original Content

ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. announced that the UK's largest water and wastewater services company, Thames Water, has selected the ClickSoftware Service Optimization Suite.  Read Original Content

Trimble has been awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement by the U.S. General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service for its fleet management solution.  Read Original Content

According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in North America was 2.1 million in fourth quarter 2010 and is expected to reach 3.8 million by 2015.  Read Original Content

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

SAPPHIRE NOW 2011 Day 3 Mobility Photos!
Mobile Expert Video Series: ClickSoftware's Moshe BenBassat
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Ed Krufka
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl
Mobile Expert Video Series: Leapfactor's Luis Cabrera
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Dan Homrich
Mobile Expert Video Series: AMT-Sybex's Malachy Martin
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Thortsen Stephan

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

You can follow me on Twitter @krbenedict and read my blog, Enterprise Mobility Strategies.

I have added a feature to my blog site that supports email subscriptions.  You can now receive all blog articles directly via email.  If you are interested, click here.




*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

SAPPHIRENOW 2011 Day 3 Mobility Photos!

K2 Partnering's James Common
These are my photos of the Mobility Experts from Day 3 of SAPPHIRENOW 2011!  See how many you can name.
Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

M2M News Weekly - Week of May 16, 2011

Welcome to Kevin's M2M News Weekly, an online newsletter that consists of the most interesting news and articles related to M2M (machine to machine) and embedded mobile devices.  I aggregate the information, include the original links and add a synopsis of each article.  I also search for the latest market numbers such as market size, growth and trends in and around the M2M market.

Also read Kevin’s Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Kevin’s Mobile Marketing News Weekly
Also read Kevin’s Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Also read Kevin’s Mobility News Weekly

Juniper Research reports that the M2M market will see revenues of over $35 billion by 2016.  Read Original Content

Sprint continues to lead in M2M programs and is showing increased competitiveness in that industry.   Read Original Content

By 2020 there will be 1.5 billion M2M connections in the utilities business, the majority coming from smart meters.   Read Original Content

The U.S. market for smart grid technologies is expected to increase to $37.4 billion in 2014, for an annual growth rate of over 16 percent.  Read Original Content

Hundreds of buildings in Dubai are using M2M services from Pacific Control System to save energy while cooling buildings.   Read Original Content

With the help of smart meters the M2M market will account for approximately 24 billion Euros in revenue by 2020.  Read Original Content

According to Berg Insight, the number of fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in North America is expected to reach 3.8 million by 2015.  Read Original Content

ClickSoftware is an SAP mobility partner and the leading provider of automated workforce management and optimization solutions for every size of service business.  This newsletter is sponsored in part by ClickSoftware.

Deutsche Telekom and M2M specialist Gemalto have announced that their M2M solution is being embedded by German auto manufacturer BMW as part of the European Commission’s eCall initiative, designed to enable rapid response assistance for people in road accidents.  Read Original Content

Lately there has been a move to equip vending machines with M2M capability to allow customers to use their debit and credit cards while making purchases.  Read Original Content

Hospitals are using M2M technology to allow their patients to personally monitor their health status and feed data back to hospitals.  Read Original Content

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Video Series: ClickSoftware's Moshe BenBassat, Part 1
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Ed Krufka
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl, Part 1
Mobile Expert Video Series: Leapfactor's Luis Cabrera
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Dan Homrich
Mobile Expert Video Series: AMT-Sybex's Malachy Martin
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Thortsen Stephan
Today is Mobility Tuesday at SAP's SAPPHIRENOW 2011!!!
Kevin Benedict's Mobility Photos from SAPPHIRE Now 2011

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
Exclusive SAP Mentor and Blogger Briefing:  Syclo and SAP Deliver Mobile Apps on Sybase Unwired Platform
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

You can follow me on Twitter @krbenedict and read my blog, Enterprise Mobility Strategies.

I have added a feature to my blog site that supports email subscriptions.  You can now receive all blog articles directly via email.  If you are interested, click here.




*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Mobility News Weekly - Week of May 16, 2011

The Mobility News Weekly is an online newsletter made up of the most interesting news and articles related to enterprise mobility that I run across each week.  I am specifically targeting information that reflects market data and trends.

Also read Field Mobility News Weekly
Also read Mobile Marketing News Weekly
Also read Mobile Retailing News Weekly
Also read M2M News Monthly


SAP introduced the 2.0 version of the Sybase Unwired mobile platform, newly integrated with SAP application infrastructure and complemented by a software development kit for custom mobile app development. SAP announced 19 new SAP and Sybase mobility applications, set to debut in September.  Read Original Article

Syclo, a leading provider of enterprise mobile solutions, has announced that its mobile applications in support of the SAP® ERP and SAP Customer Relationship Management applications are scheduled to run on the Sybase® Unwired Platform in the third quarter of 2011.  Read Original Article


ClickSoftware announced that the U.K.'s largest water and wastewater services company, Thames Water, has selected the ClickSoftware ServiceOptimization Suite to ensure significant improvements in the efficient use of its workforce, its assets and the quality of service that it provides to its customers through optimized scheduling of its 2,000-strong field force and contractors.  Read Original Article

Google has begun fixing a security flaw that affects some 97 percent of Android smartphones.  The fix, which addresses a hole allowing hackers to access the contacts, calendars and photos on an Android phone connected to an open Wi-Fi network, will take a few days to cover every phone, a Google spokesman said.  Read Original Article

Executives from the biggest brands in mobile computing were called to Capitol Hill Tuesday to clear up concerns that they have tracked and stored data about their customers' whereabouts, in some cases without their permission.  Read Original Article

According to Gartner's latest numbers, Microsoft sold only 1.6 million Windows Phone 7 devices during the first quarter of the year, leaving it just ahead of HP's anemic webOS numbers (categorized by Gartner as "other"), but behind every other major platform.  Read Original Article

Worldwide mobile communication device sales to end users totaled 427.8 million units in the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 19 percent from the first quarter of 2010, according to Gartner, Inc.  Read Original Article

One-third of Americans use a smartphone app before getting out of bed in the morning.  While cellphones have long doubled as alarm clocks for many owners, a new survey out from Ericsson ConsumerLab found that 35 percent of smartphone owners in the U.S. open up a non-voice application before removing the covers.  Read Original Article

WIS Publishing has announced that its free SAPinsider app for iPad and iPhone is available for download in the Apple App Store, it allows mobile subscribers to read, search, and browse the full content of SAPinsider magazine with free, unlimited access. Read Original Article

Expanding their long-term partnership with a joint base of thousands of customers, SAP and Microsoft Corp have announced plans to improve integration between SAP software and Microsoft virtualization and cloud computing technologies.  Read Original Article

Sprint Nextel Corp. CEO Dan Hesse has told members of Congress that the firm might have to sell itself if AT&T purchases T-Mobile USA, as Sprint would find itself too far behind the two dominant U.S. wireless providers, AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which between them would control nearly 80 percent market share in the U.S. mobile market, while Sprint operates with 17 percent share.  Read Original Article

ClickSoftware is an SAP mobility partner and the leading provider of automated workforce management and optimization solutions for every size of service business.  This newsletter is sponsored in part by ClickSoftware - http://www.clicksoftware.com/.

When Dr. Jose Soler got a late night call about a critically ill patient, he grabbed his iPad and checked the results of the electrocardiogram test that just had been administered. Thanks to an app that zooms within half a millimeter of every heartbeat rhythm variation, Soler made a diagnosis within two minutes.  Read Original Article

SAP AG, the largest maker of business management software, predicts mobile products, services and real-time analytics technology will generate about a quarter of its projected 20 billion-euro ($28.5 billion) in sales by 2015.  Read Original Article

Apple, RIM and HTC are dominating the smartphone market, owning 75 percent of the smartphone profits in first quarter 2011.  Apple proves to be the most profitable smartphone brand so far, owning 55 percent of that portion.  Read Original Article

International research firm Parks Associates forecasts over 2 billion people worldwide will own at least one smartphone by 2015, with unit sales growing over 175 percent from 2010.  Read Original Article

According to the latest market research from ComScore, 16.7 million U.S. mobile subscribers used location-based "check-in" services such as Facebook Places, Foursquare or Gowalla on their phones in March 2011, representing 7.1 percent of the entire mobile population.  Read Original Article

The number of malware that aim the Android mobile operating system has gone up by 400 percent since summer of last year, according to a report by Juniper Networks.  Read Original Article

Recent Articles by Kevin Benedict

Mobile Expert Video Series: ClickSoftware's Moshe BenBassat, Part 1
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Ed Krufka
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Dr. Ahmed El Adl, Part 1
Mobile Expert Video Series: Leapfactor's Luis Cabrera
Mobile Expert Video Series: Smartsoft Mobile's Dan Homrich
Mobile Expert Video Series: AMT-Sybex's Malachy Martin
Mobile Expert Video Series: SAP's Thortsen Stephan
Today is Mobility Tuesday at SAP's SAPPHIRENOW 2011!!!
Kevin Benedict's Mobility Photos from SAPPHIRE Now 2011

Whitepapers of Note

The Business Benefits of Mobile Adoption with SAP Systems
ClickSoftware Mobility Suite and Sybase Mobility Solution
Networked Field Services

Webinars of Note

3 Critical Considerations for Embracing Mobile CRM
The Future of Enterprise Mobility
The Latest m-Business Trends and How the Onslaught of Mobile Devices Affects Development Strategies
The Real-Time Mobile Enterprise:  The Benefits of Rapid, Easy Access
Redstone Arsenal's (DOD/Chugach) 3 Maintenance Challenges Solved by Mobile

You can follow me on Twitter @krbenedict and read my blog, Enterprise Mobility Strategies.

I have added a feature to my blog site that supports email subscriptions.  You can now receive all blog articles directly via email.  If you are interested, click here.




*************************************************************
Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst, SAP Mentor Volunteer
Follow me on Twitter @krbenedict
Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Interviews with Kevin Benedict