Everybody is different; we all have our own ideas and values. Similarly, no two mobile management providers are ever the same. Although they may offer a broadly similar service, each will offer different capabilities and support packages.
No one wants to be locked into a restrictive contract with an unsuitable communications provider, or to be paying for functionality that is not required.
It is worth taking the time to consider all available providers, their partnering arrangements and the benefits they could bring. It is important to consider what each provider offers, in order to find the best fit.
Know where you are: requirements
Before approaching potential partners, knowing your own organisation’s requirements is key to a successful partnership. This involves not just a business analysis, but a full understanding of your network architecture and functionality.
This will enable you to successfully identify those providers offering packages that best match your organisation’s needs.
Know where you are going: scalability
Not only must you understand where you are, but also where you are going. Potential partners must be able to accommodate projected scalability, in terms of the network’s reach and depth, as well as having the appropriate flexibility to adjust to new and unexpected demands.
Just as a company grows, so too does the required capacity of its mobile network. Being locked into a partnership that does not have capacity to match growth can lead to restricted expansion, inhibiting returns upon investments.
Enterprise mobile management: user experience and reviews
Never jump blindly into a contract without conducting a thorough background check on any prospective provider. This could be as simple as checking reviews and ratings by previous clients.
Investigating a provider’s existing customer base can also indicate any potential issues. For example, if the potential partner has few long-term customers, this could indicate poor customer satisfaction.
Coverage
Ensuring a partner is able to provide adequate coverage for all regional operations is key. This includes not only geographical coverage, but also having the required processes in place to allow them to meet each region’s legislative requirements.
The recent paradigm shift in data protection polices, such as GDPR, has resulted in communication providers becoming far more responsible for network security. Not complying with data protection polices can leave organisations vulnerable to severe financial penalties and also impede data flow, due to data sharing agreements.
Enterprise mobile management: support and security
When everything is working, the provider becomes a silent partner. It is only when changes are required or unforeseen issues occur that you learn their true value. A good level of client support and suitable resilience measures will ensure that any downtime is limited and has minimal impact.
Likewise, a full understanding of the extents of the provider’s security measures, and how they interact with clients, is critical. Insufficient awareness of security boundaries can leave organisations vulnerable to certain threat vectors.
Extras and options
As mentioned before, no two providers are ever the same, with each offering slightly different services and packages.
The extras and add-on options are where organisations stand to gain the optimum returns on their investments, by finding a package that best suits their needs. Packages with unused features tend to operate at a loss, as organisations will be effectively paying for something they do not need.
Enterprise mobile management: synergising in partnership
The careful selection of mobile management provider can:
- enhance profits;
- improve growth;
- encourage customer satisfaction.
The right partner will synchronise with an organisation’s current needs, as well as having the capacity to expand in line with network infrastructure requirements.
