Adopt a mobile mindset to optimise workflows | Jul18 Newsletter
Consumer apps are central to how we connect with others, get our news, shop, entertain ourselves, and navigate. So, it’s no surprise that when government workers arrive at their desks, they expect the same convenience, functionality and ease-of-use their ‘civilian’ apps provide.
It’s a reasonable expectation, and smart IT departments are taking advantage of the opportunity to improve and optimise workflows in response.
IT: leading the transformation
The Dell Global Technology Adoption Index shows improved efficiency and employee productivity are two of mobile technology’s biggest benefits. But realising these benefits requires understanding the difference between simply making a mobile app that reproduces or replaces an existing application and using a mobile app to transform a workflow. Adopting a ‘mobile mindset’ is the key; here’s how:
Making a mobile mind
The mobile mindset is all about embracing the benefits we see from consumer apps: connectivity, convenience and functionality. It requires a user-centric approach to all aspects of design, development and deployment.
1. Understand the business case
For any app or workflow, the first step is to understand the organisation’s objectives in the context of its strategy. Think about who the end users are, how they work, what they need to accomplish, and the business results that will define success. To do this, create use cases that include all touchpoints, and socialise these with stakeholders across the business and IT department.
2. Create the user experience
User involvement from the beginning is critical to ensure adoption and, ultimately, business value. Hold focus groups and share designs to ensure users get the ease of use and experience they need to be productive. Bring in UX (user experience) expertise if needed; a design-led approach is fundamental to satisfying stakeholders and to avoid wasting time and money creating apps no one will use.
3. Embed security, distribution, and maintenance
Effective security, distribution, and maintenance have a big impact on any app’s success, so they should be central to the development process:
- Build security directly into the app to make it as easy to use as possible.
- Create sound policies so users know how to access and use apps and managers know how to administer them in a secure way.
- Establish support and maintenance programs to eliminate downtime, increase productivity, and help ensure everyone is using the latest version.
If you understand your goals, design with a user-first approach, and integrate post-launch support features into your app, you’ll be able to create a new workflow that streamlines existing processes, engages users and delivers benefits across the organisation.