Mobile Workforce Management: Importance & Benefits

Mobile workforce management (MWM) is the process of coordinating, supporting, and overseeing employees who work outside traditional office environments, such as field service. MWM software enables mobile workers to access the necessary resources, stay connected with their teams, and perform their jobs effectively.

Efficiently managing a mobile workforce should be a top priority for service businesses. According to our research, 74% of mobile workers say customer expectations are higher than they used to be, making effective mobile workforce management even more important.

We'll explore what mobile workforce management is, how it differs from field service management, why it's essential, how to choose the right software for your needs, and more.

• What is mobile workforce management (MWM)?
• Benefits of mobile workforce management
• How to choose mobile workforce management software
• Future of mobile workforce management: trends to watch
• Optimize your mobile workforce for better results

Mobile workforce management (MWM) is the practice of supervising and supporting remote teams. MWM uses software and other technology to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction. MWM is critical in roles, such as field service, where workers have to execute a variety of tasks in all different locations.

What is mobile workforce management software?

MWM software is a tool that helps businesses manage their mobile employees. It typically includes functions like real-time tracking, scheduling, dispatching, and real-time communication – all features included in Salesforce Field Service. MWM software helps managers to monitor the location, status, and performance of their mobile workforce.

Mobile workers are equipped with smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices with apps that provide them with access to the MWM software. This allows managers to assign tasks remotely and ensures workers — both employees and contractors — have all the information and resources they need to complete their work efficiently.

Now, the third wave of artificial intelligence (AI) – agents – is rolling out, and leading-edge mobile workforce management software like Agentforce includes autonomous AI agents. Agentforce can automatically schedule field service appointments, taking into account both customers’ and technicians’ location and availability, as well as technicians’ skills and the specific requirements of each job.

Agentforce also helps dispatchers, operations managers, and technicians via assistive AI agents, which act like personal assistants to your team right in the flow of work. For instance, Agentforce creates pre-work briefs for field techs, serves up relevant knowledge articles on the job, and creates post-work summaries, saving technicians time. Agentforce creates schedule summaries for dispatchers, helping them see and quickly address urgent scheduling issues, like when a tech has to go out sick and appointments need to be rescheduled. Finally, Agentforce surfaces insights for operations managers that help them optimize service.

Why is mobile workforce management important?

With the need for on-the-go service, businesses have to make sure their mobile employees are well-coordinated, productive, and connected. This is where mobile workforce management comes into play.

For any business that employs a mobile team, a reliable MWM system is essential. It not only streamlines operations but ensures employees can perform their duties effectively, regardless of their location. MWM allows companies to monitor and support their mobile workers and remote employees in real time, providing the tools and information needed to do their jobs effectively — no matter where they’re located or if internet access is spotty or unavailable.

By automating key processes and providing real-time insights, mobile workforce management enables businesses to respond quickly to customer needs, optimize resource allocation, and maintain high levels of service quality. Effective MWM can contribute to higher efficiency and increased customer satisfaction — both of which directly impact a company's brand reputation, ability to compete with other businesses, and bottom line profitability.

How is mobile workforce management different from field service management?

While mobile workforce management and field service management are related, they aren’t the same.

Mobile workforce management encompasses a broader range of activities and employees. It includes field service technicians as well as other types of mobile employees, such as outside sales reps, delivery personnel, and remote service agents. MWM focuses on coordinating and supporting all employees who work outside a traditional office environment, regardless of their roles or responsibilities.

Field service management focuses on managing workers who provide services at customer locations, such as maintenance, installations, and repairs. It involves scheduling, dispatching, and tracking these employees to make sure field service requests are handled efficiently.

Mobile workforce management offers several advantages that can significantly enhance your company's operations and service delivery.

The specific benefits of MWM include:

• Increased productivity: By automating scheduling and routine tasks, MWM reduces downtime and frees up employees to focus on work that requires critical thinking. Tools like enhanced scheduling and optimization for field service management remove the painstaking effort of manual scheduling, all while aligning with priorities and constraints.
• Improved communication: Mobile workforce management software provides communication tools that keep employees connected with their teams and managers, improving collaboration and information sharing. For example, Slack for Field Service instantly connects workers on the road with colleagues throughout the organization whenever they need help.
• Enhanced flexibility: MWM allows employees to work from anywhere, increasing flexibility and enabling businesses to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Better decision-making: Real-time data and analytics provided by mobile workforce management software help managers make informed decisions about resource allocation and task prioritization. For instance, managers can use the real-time data available in route optimization for field service management to quickly assess the impact of global or day-of optimization on travel time and resource usage.
• Cost savings: MWM reduces operational costs and minimizes waste by optimizing scheduling and resource allocation.
• Sustainability: By reducing unnecessary travel with optimized routing, companies can become more sustainable. This can increase customer trust and enhance brand reputation.

Challenges of mobile workforce management

Despite its benefits, mobile workforce management also presents some challenges. Managing a mobile workforce can be complex and requires careful planning and the right technology. From security concerns to technology adoption, there's a lot to consider to ensure your mobile workforce management system operates smoothly.

Some challenges of MWM include:

• Security concerns: Managing a mobile workforce comes with handling sensitive data and ensuring it's protected from unauthorized access. Be sure to put the right security measures in place, such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, secure access controls, regular security audits, and data backup protocols to protect employee and customer information. In addition, any AI tools you employ need to be trusted and secure.
• Technology adoption: Implementing a mobile workforce management system requires investing in technology and training employees to use it effectively. Some employees may resist adopting new tools and processes. To get your team on board, use change management and understand there’ll typically be a learning curve when it comes to using new software.
• Connectivity issues: Mobile employees rely on internet connectivity to access information and communicate with their teams remotely. Poor connectivity can create communication challenges for mobile teams, slowing down productivity. Choose an MWM solution that provides offline capabilities.
• Compliance: Mobile workforces must comply with labor laws, health and safety regulations, and data protection requirements. Businesses must stay informed about regulations and implement policies to ensure compliance.