We are not talking about tire replacements for a NASCAR race, although it’s certainly the case that hot spare mobile devices may be used in that environment as well. A hot spare replacement program is a mobile device backup process to ensure a replacement device is ready if a user’s mobile phone fails for whatever reason.
These programs are designed to mitigate risk for organizations where mobile communications are critical to an organization’s ability to function and where mobile communications disruptions would be highly undesirable.
A good example includes government entities such as the FBI, police, and fire departments. Many enterprises also engage in work where mobile communications are critical and therefore utilize hot spare replacement programs.
Keeping mobile communications running smoothly and uninterrupted to the greatest degree possible – no matter the issues – is the core reason to implement a hot spare program.
In this article, we will focus on four primary ways that mobile hot spare / replacement programs guard against device failures and breakdowns in mobile communications.
This will prevent your organization from going silent when communications are most critical. Stark examples include emergency responders and health organizations, where lives may be on the line.
4 Ways Mobile Hot Spare Replacement Keeps Your Organization Reliably Communicating
1. Mobile device inventory management provides mobile communications stability
Organizations that invest in strong inventory management set themselves up for success. This is true in general, and certainly the case here.
It’s imperative that mobile expense management teams know exactly what they have so they can effectively manage both the present situation and any potential future contingencies. This will help ensure that sufficient backup devices are kept in stock so readily available when needed.
A mobile inventory housed within a technology platform designed specifically to accommodate such data will be able to track each device, its attributes, as well as any relevant statuses relevant to operational readiness that management will need to know to maintain continuous mobile communications.
2. Mobile device transition processes expedite new device use
It’s not enough that organizations maintain effective mobile communications operational readiness with mobile spares on hand, they also need to be able to respond swiftly and effectively to close any gaps in mobile communications when problems inevitably arise.
A well-run mobile hot spare program will have backup devices preconfigured with all necessary applications, preferred settings, security provisions, and features, and be set to organizational standards so users enjoy a painless exchange from one device to another.
3. Mobile device maintenance and repair support facilitate overall mobile lifecycle management
When mobile devices are replaced, the problematic mobile phone will need to be put into a repair process for refurbishment. Some organizations have their own technical staff to address this or partner with outside support to satisfy this need.
If leveraging outside help, 3rd party TEM/MMS providers with hot spare mobile replacement programs will have a process for managing maintenance and ongoing support needs. (This is the case with Tellennium.)
In any discovery process discussions around hot spare programs, inquire about the approach of the TEM/MMS provider offering this service if you are going this route. Just be sure that you are comfortable with the response and approach of the provider.
4. Mobile device inventory replacement practices maintain organizational readiness
Primary devices will inevitably incur problems, and they will need to be replaced by mobile devices that are at the ready and supported by a well-run hot spare program as discussed.
This area of risk mitigation for device replacement gets less attention given that it’s related to inventory management, which often is under-appreciated by many organizations. Nonetheless, it’s important to make it clear that organizations that execute their hot spare program well also do not forget to reconstitute their mobile spare inventory.
Once a primary mobile phone is replaced by a hot spare mobile backup device, the mobile phone spare itself needs expedited replacement to ensure mobile device backup capabilities are maintained at 100% operational readiness.
All well-run mobile hot spare programs should wrap strong processes around this area as well. Again, don’t be shy in inquiring about these areas in discovery conversations. It could save you significant “mobile heartburn” in the future, especially if your business is the kind that would benefit from this type of program.
Closing Thoughts on Mobile Hot Spare Replacement Programs
It’s all fun and games until someone either loses or breaks their mobile phone. We all know what this means to everyone nowadays, it’s like losing a human sense at this point, given how reliant – and addicted for that matter – everyone has become to their mobile phone.
So, this is certainly no joke, and maintaining mobile communications is a top priority for everyone at this point, especially for organizations who deem it important enough to have mobile hot spare programs.
For those organizations where mobility communications do rise to a more elevated level of importance, we hope this helps shine a light on the value of this type of program.
If you’d like to consider Tellennium in your TEM vendor comparisons, contact us to schedule a brief demo of our solution.
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