eBusiness Work Exchange and Work Eexeution Solutions For the eWork Market

There are many systems and processes that create demand against the field workforce. From Work Management Systems and Network Operation Control Systems, to Customer Information Systems and even the World Wide Web, customers and infrastructure management continually communicate their needs to the enterprise. These requirements are typically single threaded, not coordinated with one another and result in less than optimal delivery of work. Using the Mobile Work Execution approach, all sources of work are consolidated in a single database where their requirements can be rationalized and optimized.

The notion of optimizing processes is not new. Logistics systems have been optimizing over the road trucking for years. Workforce automation solutions identify the appropriate personnel for work as compared to their availability. Supply Chain systems gained much of their notoriety by the ability to optimize materials and resources simultaneously. Mobile Work Execution combines the best of all of these approaches to optimization resulting in the goal of positioning the ‘Right Resource, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, for the Right Cost and Service Level.’ This process sounds easier in theory than it is in practice. As Dispatchers usually do not have control of the entire workforce, nor do optimization goals typically translate easily from one district or division to another. It is imperative that the Mobile Work Execution solution be able to address this division of resources to deliver an appropriate solution.

Once optimized a plan needs to be dispatched to the field. Either in an automated fashion or manually; work must be communicated to the workforce that will execute it. Many solutions have focused on the ability to leverage wireless communications to extend the enterprise connectivity. While wireless connectivity is very powerful, the test of a good mobile application is that it provides the capability to gain access to information through whatever connectivity available (LAN, CDPD, Satellite, www) and operate completely disconnected from enterprise. Providing continual wireless updates of work performed is valuable for many segments of the workforce. In addition, workers generate a tremendous amount of measurable value from being able to ‘sync up’ once a day recording the results of a day’s work and getting assignments for the next day.