How mid-sized businesses can facilitate a mobile workforce
The workplace is changing as new technology comes into play to optimise employees’ time and resources. This new digital age means employees expect to be productive from anywhere using mobile tools that have the same functionality as the tools they would use in the office.
The future of work is mobile and businesses need to prepare accordingly.
For those in construction and building industries, who often spend more time working offsite on projects than in the office, having to deliver paperwork to the office at the end of the day is an unnecessary burden. For employees that travel long distances to the office each day, spending almost as much time en route as in the office, it is impractical to confine the activity of work to one set location.
Scott Crosby, CEO, Upstream Solutions, said working remotely gives employees more freedom, increasing job satisfaction and employee morale.
“To be competitive, businesses need to put a system in place to cater for mobile or remote employees and enhance offsite working abilities. Without this capability, businesses may struggle to compete both in the marketplace and for talent.”
Delivering mobile productivity can be easier than it sounds, with many organisations looking to cloud-based applications and solutions to give employees access to company systems regardless of their location.
For example, an accounts payable (AP) solution can automate the process of managing invoices, purchase orders, document capture and information extraction, and route the digital documents to the appropriate approver in the business. These documents are automatically uploaded into finance systems, storing the files electronically, which lets employees manage invoices on the go and access them when needed.
Electronic forms (eForms) are digital documents, rather than traditional paperwork, which employees can fill out when on job sites or working remotely, then upload to the relevant system. These documents can include: site inductions; compliance and safety forms; assessments;
project updates; and many others, some with the option to include pictures.
This digital approach streamlines processes for the business, providing greater efficiency, giving more visibility into projects, and creating a working environment that supports the needs of employees.
