Mobile tech investment ‘a priority’ for 60% of Asia-Pacific firms

The findings come from a recent study on the “Future of Field Operations” conducted by the company, which manufactures data devices and services designed to give businesses a performance edge.
The study results indicate a trend of rising investment in disruptive technologies and mobile devices to enhance worker productivity and customer satisfaction in field operations including fleet management, field services, proof of delivery and store delivery workflows.
The online survey interviewed 2,075 mobility decision makers from 20 countries – the  US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Tan Aik Jin of Zebra Technologies reported the headline findings as follows: 
* 44 per cent of respondents consider truck loading automation will be among one of the most disruptive technologies, compared to 28 per cent globally.
Emerging technologies and faster networks are disrupting field operations.
* Mobile-first organisations in Asia-Pacific tend to be early adopters of emerging efficiency-boosting field operations technologies. 
* Use of sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID) and intelligent labels is expected to grow from the current 76 per cent of mobile-first companies to 98 per cent by 2023.
* Use of augmented reality applications will grow from 68 per cent to 95 per cent by 2023, making detail-oriented workflows such as merchandising much more efficient.
* Use of blockchain forecast to rise from 68 to 96 per cent by 2023, to track goods’ chains of custody or documents via multiple firms.
“Driven by the acceleration of e-commerce along with customer’s heightened expectations and more focus within companies on differentiating service levels, the field operations industry is rapidly adapting the way it looks at its mobile technology investments,” said Jin.
The study also found that up to 44 per cent of Asia-Pacific organisations view mobility investment as a top priority.
* 58 per cent of Asia-Pacific organisations are expanding mobile technology to enterprise-wide use – reaching 97 per cent by 2023.
* From 2018 to 2023, the use of handheld mobile computers with built-in barcode scanners in Asia-Pacific is forecast to grow by 41 per cent, mobile printers by 60 per cent and rugged tablets by 57 per cent. The higher levels of inventory, shipment and asset accuracy provided by using these devices is expected to increase business revenues.
* Mobile-first organisations in Asia-Pacific are conducting total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis prior to major expenditure on mobile technology up to 83 per cent of the time.
* Only 34 per cent of the survey respondents believe that consumer smartphones have better TCO than rugged specialised devices.