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If designed, developed, and delivered effectively, mobility solutions provide unparalleled convenience, speed, and ease of use. However, having a mobile mindset is a prerequisite if we want to drive growth and profitability.
In its simplest and purest form, I define “mobile mindset” as a framework that enables organizations of all sizes to unleash the power of mobile technology by using innovative mobility solutions and without adversely disrupting our existing business or our customer’s user experience.
Here are the four tenets of the mobile mindset that should apply to all facets of user interactions and be embraced by everyone involved—from developers to senior leadership.
A mobile mindset starts with mobile thinking
When we think about mobile design, we are looking to maximize the fundamental value of individual mobile touch points that are packaged in smart and integrated solutions.
Each part plays a role in completing the mobile user experience as a whole. At the same time, we want to avoid building fragmented pieces that just make up a mobile or mobility stack.
How we exploit design thinking for the new digital era directly influences our success with user adoption, which is still a key metric of success. At its core lies the empathy principle, which allows us to design mobile solutions inside-out—rather than outside-in. As a result, a mobile mindset demands that we not only leverage the strengths of mobile technology, but also clearly understand its weaknesses as a whole before we write a single line of code.
A mobile mindset requires a mobile value proposition
A mobile mindset demands that we don’t take the existing value proposition for granted and that we reconsider it to refine or redefine it without ambiguity. What is the “mobile” purpose of our solution? This simple, yet often over-looked, question is critical when articulating our unique mobile value proposition because it validates a clear link to the business strategy that should already exist.
The value-proposition question is not particularly special to mobile projects only. However, putting it under the mobile and mobility spotlight drives a fundamental point: The mobile or mobility label alone can’t promise results, even though the potential of the technology is undeniable.
Ask yourself: Does partially duplicating PC-based access on a mobile device provide the greatest benefit? Or does it frustrate the user and diminish its intended or potential value? What is the projected value of delivering data snapshots if performance lags, navigation is clumsy, and the search function is limited or unreliable?
On the flip side, consider, for example, the impact of timely mobile alerts when delivering actionable insight or notifications that would have otherwise required PC-based access, use of traditional channels of communication, or no communication at all.
A mobile mindset needs the right kind of leadership
Even the best mobile technology won’t take you far without the right kind of leadership in place. Regardless of an organization’s size, success in our mobile journeys depends on executive leadership the most because leadership means ownership—not just sponsorship. This is why having leadership only on paper isn’t good enough anymore. We need business and technology leaders who will champion mobility and become committed users of these mobile solutions.
If you study successful mobility initiatives, you will find that, in many cases, executive leadership is one of the most active consumers of these solutions. And why not? They can run their business and realize the ultimate value of mobile technology and mobility solutions. Their wholehearted adoption demonstrates firsthand the mobile mindset that sets an example for the rest of the organization to follow.
A mobile mindset equals passion for mobile innovation and mobility
This last one is closest to my heart because it often reminds me of a quote from Steve Jobs:
“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.”
A mobile mindset requires a burning passion for pushing forward, despite any challenges we will certainly face and limited resources available to overcome them. When we consider talent for these mobility initiatives, we need to look beyond just raw technical skills.
Sure, there are best practices that can be applied. But in many cases, our teams will be forced to solve unique business problems that cannot be addressed through standard technology solutions or templates. Technical know-how alone will not guarantee a successful outcome or adoption of these mobility solutions. It’s our teams’ talent, ingenuity, and dedication born out of their passion that will ultimately make a difference in our mobile journey.
This article originally appeared on turnali.com.
