Establishing wired business processes across multiple organizations is a challenging task which involves several inefficiencies including incompatible technologies, operating systems, protocols and so on. Moreover, even if the implementation challenges are overcome by shifting from a wired business process to wireless process, it will be a highly cost intensive task. The article discusses how Indian organizations can learn from the experiences of wired companies in developed economies. It also explains about the potential impact of wireless technologies on the supply chain of Indian firms.

A firm and its supply chain are organized to source raw materials, manufacture and distribute finished products to the consumerindustrial or individual. Traditional Supply Chain Management (SCM) technologies to support the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution functions have their roots in classical Operations Research theory. The primary goal is one of optimum utilization of capital investments in property, plant and equipment. Secondary goals include efficient use of working capitalreflected in inventory turns, holding costs and transportation/logistics.

Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) efforts within firms during the past few decades in mature economies have reduced waste and improved operating efficiencies significantly. Firms in the mature economies are now shifting focus externally towards their supporting supply chains for cost reductions and operating efficiencies. Internally, some of these firms are outsourcing non-core business functions for cost reduction and to maintain competitive agility. Functions such as payroll processing, third party logistics management, and claims processing are a few examples of internal functions being outsourced. Indian firms can adopt best practices developed in mature economies for deploying efficient and agile supply chains without having to go through a legacy technology cycle.

E-CRM, Mobile CRM, Mobile technologies, CRM solutions, business processes, multiple organizations, raw materials, Supply Chain Management (SCM), classical Operations Research theory, capital investments, working capitalreflected, inventory turns, transportation/logistics, non-core business functions, logistics management, payroll processing.