Wireless expense management key for retailers when going mobile

Looking to join the ranks of mobile enterprises, many retailers around the country have been beefing up their wireless presence by equipping employees with smartphones and tablets, as well as taking steps to enhance the experience for customers. When doing so, a recent Retail Info Systems News report stated, these companies should also be focused on wireless expense management.

Enterprise mobility can come with a hefty price tag - when factoring in devices, mobile applications and wireless contracts - which is why it's necessary to track every dollar spent on a program. That's where WEM comes in, according to the news provider.

Retail Info Systems News also identified several steps companies should take to ensure that a deployment of mobile technology runs smoothly and remains in line with budgetary goals.

1. Put a policy in place

Even before smartphones and tablets are placed in the hands of employees, a retailer should draft and communicate a mobility policy. And the document should cover all areas, including data usage restrictions, appropriate use guidelines, who within the company will receive a device and security controls. Doing so ahead of time will better prepare the organization to deal with issues.

2. Be prepared at the negotiating table

When signing a wireless contract for the first time - or re-upping for a new year - companies can negotiate for better services and pricing. When it's time for these discussions to be held, the news provider said, the company will want to prepare an effective argument. With a WEM solution, an organization can identify certain areas where money can be saved and use that information at the negotiation table.

3. Leverage power in numbers

Group plans can be extremely beneficial in an enterprise mobility setting, according to the report. Placing employees with similar usage habits - in terms of both minutes and data - in group plans will help an organization maximize its services and avoid having to pay costly overage charges for the most mobile of employees.

Last month, a report on IT spending in 2012 from research firm IDC suggested that wireless expense management will become increasingly important for organizations as they increase mobility investments. Overall, the report predicted, IT spending is expected to reach $1.8 trillion globally this year, with 20 percent of that total allocated for smartphones, tablets, mobile networks, social networking and big data analytics.