MTN Business has announced the addition of two tools to its Mobile Application Solutions, which are targeted at large corporations, as well as the public sector. These tools further compliment the company’s existing range of applications, specifically designed for organisations looking to empower their mobile workforce and increase collaborative mobile efficiencies.

Mobile Forms

Mobile Forms is a specialised application developed specifically for the mobile worker, with the aim of simplifying their business life. This tool is particularly suited to mobile field researchers, as it supports the delivery of accurate information via an employee’s chosen mobile phone. This enables them to convey information and data collected ‘in the field’, back to the source in a timely and straightforward manner.

The forms application allows instant access to a range of templates while an employee is ‘on the move’ and is built with intelligent validation software. This means that the form actually guides the field workers to the sections that are compulsory to complete, as well as what information is required for improved workflow integration.

In addition, it provides a simple set-up that also incorporates rich data sources including GPS and photography in data capturing, without needing to switch applications, all while having the ability to work online or offline. This provides mobile workers with far more flexibility, as they are often out of reach of cellular tower coverage.

“Businesses can now expect a reduction in the risk of data loss, improved data security and workflow integration, managed largely by a sophisticated integrated backend system,” said Tebogo Mogapi, chief business sales and services officer at MTN SA.

“This is accomplished through a secure and central cloud distribution centre which pushes data into one or many backend processes via the most relevant communication mediums such as SMS or e-mail, allowing for increased productivity and high level data efficiency.”

Data Management

The second app MTN has lined-up is all about Data Management. This app is a data spend tracker, providing a solution that can be easily implemented across a variety of applications. It provides businesses with the ability to manage and control data spend, as it identifies any areas that result in data misuse, improve service delivery; or could increase productivity and greater customer satisfaction.

This gives business owners the power to grow and expand their operations, whilst being able to easily manage typically abused commodities the likes of bandwidth more efficiently.

“It’s obvious that we are living in an ‘I work where I am’ age, and as the mobile workforce continues to proliferate, what is becoming essentially important is the business owners’ and shareholders’ views towards obtaining a healthy balance between mobile worker efficiency and business control,” added Mogapi. “The two can work hand in hand without a feeling of relinquishing control.”

“We are constantly searching for ways to simplify, streamline and add value to our clients’ businesses and these additional Mobile Application Solutions not only do this, but allow this healthy balance to materialise. The industry can look forward to many more solutions that drive mobility, and its positive economic impact going forward,” concluded Mogapi.

Since these apps are targeted at enterprises including those in the public sector, they are not available to the public via an app store such as Apple’s App Store or Google’s Android Market. They are built to the specifications of individual corporates, after an extensive period of consultation and as such, the price of these apps will also vary based on the the corporation’s specific needs.  

 

MTN Business is also looking to provide the small business market with similar application offerings in the first half of 2012. For more information visit to the MTN Business website.

 

In related news, MTN also recently launched a Long Term Evolution (LTE) pilot in five clusters around Gauteng, that it hopes will dramatically change local broadband services.