Keeping your mobile workforce equipped presents major challenges when it comes to managing the process of purchasing devices and applications. Even smaller organizations may find themselves wrangling a rodeo of laptops, tablet PCs, ruggedized handhelds or laptops, and smartphones. Good purchase control requires striking the proper balance between corporate control and end-user flexibility. Among the factors adding to mobile purchasing challenges are:

• Employees who purchase handheld devices directly, often circumventing corporate procedures.
• Devices that make it easy for individuals to add software, with potentially costly consequences for the enterprise.
• Corporate departments that may require unique mobile applications that work only for their specific needs and don’t apply to the rest of the organization.
• And, of course, carrier service fees for voice and data communication.

Here’s what end users interviewed advise about managing mobile purchasing expenses in your enterprise.

• Identify who within the organization really needs the software application on their mobile device.
• Discuss mobility needs with department managers and make a list of appropriate devices.
• Implement direct billing to individual departments within the
• corporation.
• Limit the number of wireless carriers that I.T. will support.
• Factor in how you’re going to deal with accessories, repairs and spare parts for every device your enterprise is supporting.
• Be prepared for additional costs thatwill be incurred when extending desktop applications to mobile devices.
• Set voice and data contracts with carriers for as short a term as possible to give you the flexibility to keep up with rapidly changing technology.