Mobile technologies have improved the speed at which life science companies innovate. The R&D process, the supply chain, and clinical tests can all run more efficiently and effectively thanks to the competitive advantages mobile technologies offer. That being said, mobile technologies are not without their challenges. Security and compliance are two examples of obstacles life science companies face. However, implementing a set of best practices regarding mobile technologies will enable life science firms to utilize them effectively and safely.
Developing a Mobile Strategy
There are a wide range of mobile technologies currently in use in the enterprise. That fact should come as no surprise, given their ease of use and convenience. What is remarkable (and actually rather shocking) is that many companies do not have any sort of strategy for how to harness the power of mobile technologies to benefit their business.
Developing a mobile strategy is imperative. A mobile strategy has two prongs: an internal aspect, which deals with how mobile technologies will be used within the company, and an external asset, which specifies how the firm will use mobile technologies to connect to its customers. Both are important, though, for some businesses, it makes more sense to figure out how they will use mobile technologies internally before they begin exploring external implementations.
User Experience, Compliance and Security
When developing a mobile strategy, there are three important factors to keep in mind: user experience, compliance, and security. Why are these three things crucial?
The term “user experience” is self-explanatory – it refers to how an end-user interacts with a product or service. If a user experience is poor (the person encounters a number of glitches, the product or service won’t let the person complete a task, the interface is frustrating and non-intuitive, etc.), he or she won’t want to continue using that product or service. How does user experience relate to compliance and security?
In order to comply with FDA regulations, life science companies must implement security procedures to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data. Sometimes, security procedures can negatively impact user experience. When that happens, end-users find workaround solutions to corporate security measures. Their workarounds may make it easier for them to complete work assignments, but they jeopardize the security of confidential information. Employees’ actions could lead to significant penalties levied by the FDA against the company.
The Human Touch
Implementing technological solutions is only one part of the best practices picture. A mobile device management solution can only go so far when employees (at all levels of the company hierarchy) don’t understand why it’s necessary in the first place.
Life science companies must educate employees from the C-suite onwards about the importance of using mobile devices in a secure and responsible manner. When they don’t understand the consequences of their actions (sharing confidential data, posting inappropriate comments on social media, “jailbreaking” corporate devices), they will continue to perform them. Everyone at the firm must appreciate why security and compliance with FDA regulations matters, and it is the business’ job to explain it to them.
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