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Useful Advice on How to Succeed with Mobile Solutions

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Mikael Nilebacke is Managing Director and co-founder of Erisma Technologies
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Mobile solutions have a huge potential to drastically increase the efficiency of field workers and save big money for companies in a range of industries.

However, the implementation of mobile solutions is filled with pitfalls.

Industry veteran Mikael Nilebacke, managing director of Erisma Technologies, gives his best advice on how to succeed.

 Mobile solutions, i.e. software for PDAs and smartphones, have an enormous potential to improve efficiency and save big money for companies that today rely on time-consuming paper-based solutions.

Industries such as fire safety, security, electrical, telecom, data, energy, power, construction, logistics, and heating/ventilation/cooling, have much to gain by adapting modern mobile business solutions for their work forces.

However, the transition from paper-based/manual/traditional solutions to advanced mobile solutions is filled with pitfalls.

Many things can go wrong that can leave you with an inadequate, or in worst case, non-functioning solution.

Mobile business solution expert Nilebacke of Erisma Technologies with more than 15 years of industry experience, shares his top ten advice on how to succeed with the implementation of mobile solutions:

1. Conduct a Needs Analysis
Why do you need a mobile system? Do you want to be more effective? Do the clients demand more access to information?

The answers will help you identify the specific functions you require in your mobile solutions.

Prioritize functions that are really useful. Decide who will use the system and how much the system may cost. If you skip this step, there is a risk that the supplier’s sale team gains control over the process and create mneeds that do not really exist.

2. Engage and Involve Your Employees in the Process
Try to engage and involve your staff in the process of implementing a mobile system as early as possible.

Lead your employees through the entire procurement process and utilize the competence, experience and knowledge they possess.

Engaging the staff from an early stage will make them motivated to implement the system/solution and showcase the benefits of a mobile solution.

3. Carefully Choose a System and a Supplier
Usually, the important choice will be between a standard system and a customized system.

I strongly recommend using standardized systems. The development of mobile technology is evolving very rapidly, which makes the standardized system more future-proof and flexible than the customize system.

Choose a supplier that is of “the right size”: not small enough for you to risk ending up with a system that will disappear or cease to be updated, and not too big for the supplier to lose interest in you when you are no longer a key customer.

4. Contact all the References that you can find
When contacting a reference that your supplier has given you – always try to read between the lines. Learn from how they use the system and think about ways your organization can benefit from this knowledge.

Try to find your own references, at least three of them, and do not settle for just one. This will minimize the risk of spending time and money on the wrong system.

5. Keep the Option to Cancel the Order
Not all suppliers have sufficient knowledge and experience to deliver and implement their systems correctly.

Try to negotiate an evaluation period with the option to cancel the order should you discover that the system is not right for you and your organization.

You must be prepared to let go of the system if it does not deliver and solve the problems and/or fulfill the list of demands you created during your earlier needs analysis.

6. Listen to the Supplier
Once a supplier is chosen – stick to your choice. Let them know what you want to achieve and be all ears to any good advice and feedback that the supplier can give you.

Do not try to control the supplier too much – if you are unsure of the plan, ask them to explain.

7. One step at a time
Avoid trying to do everything at once. Running several projects simultaneously will increase the complexity and can lead to devastating consequences.

Instead, create a plan with a chain of smaller activities that you can each finish before starting the next one.

8. Do not cut back on the wrong things
Do not try to cut back on consultation or education – and be generous when setting a deadline.

Be prepared to adjust the deadline along the way if you feel that your needs and demands have changed – this is normal.

Always try to assign the most suitable person to a specific task. It could be you, an employee, or one of the supplier’s consultants.

The question is not whether you are able to do something yourself – but rather if you should.

9. Realize that a mobile system won’t solve all your problems
A mobile system will in most cases help you to gain more control over your organization and save you heaps of time and money.

But remember – a mobile system is not the solution to all of your problems.

Have a reasonable level of ambition and expectation, and accept that you will have to work with other problems.

10. Plan for the future
Invest in a solution that can be developed along with the development of your company.

The world is changing and we cannot predict what the future holds – you might need to change some things within your company, and mobile solutions technologies are developing fast.

This makes it crucial to choose the right system for your company.

A good advice is to avoid customized systems as much and as long as possible.

Mikael Nilebacke is Managing Director and co-founder of Erisma Technologies, a leading mobile business solutions company based in Scandinavia. 

The core business of Erisma is Mobigo, a mobile solution for mobile field service management, time tracking, log books, check lists and inspections etc. that makes reporting and other tasks more efficient.

Nilebacke has more than 15 years of experience in the field of mobile solutions.
 


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Telecom

Telcos: How and Why Network Services have Been Poor

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Telecommunications operators (telcos) in Nigeria have explained that the recent poor quality of network services experienced across the country is largely due to the widespread vandalism and theft of critical telecom infrastructure, not a failure on their part.

Telcos: How and Why Network Services have Been Poor

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON

The operators, under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said their efforts to improve services through massive investments and network upgrades are being undermined by unchecked sabotage and the lack of sufficient protection from security agencies.

They warned that unless urgent action is taken, the situation could worsen in the coming days, affecting not just voice and data services but also key sectors like banking, education, healthcare, and national security that rely on stable telecommunications.

A top official from one of the major mobile network providers, who spoke anonymously, said operators had kept their promise to enhance service quality following a recent tariff adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), but their efforts are being eroded by relentless vandalism.

“At the wake of the marginal price adjustment that the NCC approved for the sector, we promised to optimize our networks to give Nigerians a very robust service,” the official said

“But what we are seeing after making such huge investments is that vandals are carting away our facilities without a challenge and selling them in open markets. That’s why services are a bit poor and that is why if nothing is done urgently, it will get worse.

In a statement jointly signed by Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, and Damian Udeh, publicity secretary, ALTON expressed deep concern over the scale and spread of infrastructure sabotage across the country.

“Since the Federal Government’s decisive interventions earlier this year to support industry sustainability, our members have committed unprecedented levels of investment in network optimization and capacity upgrades,” the statement read.

“New systems are being deployed, transmission equipment modernized, power systems overhauled, and thousands of kilometers of fiber optic networks currently being laid and expanded. Our industry has not seen this scale of investment in recent years. We are working round the clock to improve the quality of service nationwide and we cannot afford these setbacks.”

Between May and July 2025, the association recorded numerous cases of vandalism at telecom sites across Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, and several other states, resulting in widespread outages and degraded service quality for millions of subscribers.

Stolen assets include power cables, rectifiers, fiber optic and feeder cables, diesel generators, batteries, and solar panels, all vital for maintaining consistent network availability.

“These are not mere materials, but the backbone of our digital economy, security systems, and national communications grid,” ALTON said. “We are alarmed at the frequency, intensity, and geographical spread of these incidents.”

Telcos on poor network services also raised alarm over a thriving black market for stolen telecom equipment.

“Batteries are being resold for household and office inverters, solar panels are stripped from sites and traded to unsuspecting buyers, while diesel meant for powering telecom base stations is routinely siphoned and sold.”

In addition to vandalism, ALTON cited damage caused by road construction and civil engineering projects, which frequently destroy underground fiber optic cables, leading to unplanned service disruptions and financial losses.

The group has called on key security stakeholders, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Inspector General of Police, the DSS, and the NSCDC to urgently step in and protect telecom assets nationwide.

 

 

 

 


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Glo Launches Nigeria’s First-of-its-kind Device Protection Plan

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Technology Company, Globacom, is making mobile phone protection accessible and affordable for its subscribers with the launch of its new Device Protection service, a pioneering initiative in Nigeria.

The innovative offering enables both new and existing Glo subscribers to protect their mobile devices against screen and water damage for a small premium.

In partnership with Cubecover, this service allows new and existing Glo customers to protect their mobile devices against common screen and water damage. Mojeed Aluko, Globacom’s Head of Value Added Service (VAS) explained that a minimal daily premium of just ₦50, or ₦300 weekly, and ₦600 monthly ensures that a customer’s device can be covered.

He stated that the micro-protection plan offers up to ₦50,000 for screen repairs or replacement once the device has maintained an active subscription for one month.

“As a responsive and innovative network, we are leveraging this opportunity to provide meaningful protection to our customers, helping them stay connected even in the event of accidental damage”, said Aluko, highlighting Glo’s commitment to innovation and customer support.

Subscribers who wish to enjoy the service should dial *7013*1# to enroll via USSD. They will then select a preferred daily, weekly, or monthly package. Payments are debited directly from customers’ Glo airtime. After payment, a link will be sent for a quick screen integrity test. After passing the test, the device’s IMEI is registered with Cubecover, thus securing coverage.

Deji Macaulay, Managing Director of Cubecover, highlighted that this collaboration with Globacom will reduce anxiety for users regarding accidental phone damage and repair costs.

“The device protection service is unique because of its simple enrolment process via mobile phones and its affordable micro-premiums. It is also fast as its tech-driven verification process eliminates delays and paper works. It also provides peace of mind for millions of Nigerians using smartphones daily”, Globacom added.

New customers without Glo SIMs can walk into any Gloworld shop across the country, purchase a SIM and any phone device of their choice and subscribe to the device protection instantly.

 


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MTN Executive Adeola Oduntan Emerges as Africa’s Supply Chain Leader of 2025

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L-R: Victor Esemezie, Senior Manager, Sourcing & SRM, MTN Nigeria; Olufunmilayo Jegede, Senior Manager, Facilities and Fleet, MTN Nigeria; Akin Naphtal, Group CEO, InstinctWave and CEO of Africa Procurement Summit Group; Adeola Oduntan, General Manager, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management, MTN Nigeria and Olademeji Shonubi, Senior Manager, Planning and Fulfillment, MTN Nigeria, during the 7th Africa Procurement & Supply Chain Awards where MTN Nigeria won 5 awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
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Adeola Oduntan, General Manager, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management at MTN Nigeria, has been recognised as Strategic Supply Chain Leader of the Year at the 7th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards, highlighting individual excellence within the company’s broader operational success.

L-R: Victor Esemezie, Senior Manager, Sourcing & SRM, MTN Nigeria; Olufunmilayo Jegede, Senior Manager, Facilities and Fleet, MTN Nigeria; Akin Naphtal, Group CEO, InstinctWave and CEO of Africa Procurement Summit Group; Adeola Oduntan, General Manager, Global Sourcing & Supply Chain Management, MTN Nigeria and Olademeji Shonubi, Senior Manager, Planning and Fulfillment, MTN Nigeria, during the 7th Africa Procurement & Supply Chain Awards where MTN Nigeria won 5 awards, held at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

The award, presented at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, recognises Oduntan’s role in transforming MTN Nigeria’s supply chain operations through digital innovation and strategic sourcing. His leadership has been instrumental in driving the company’s strong business performance, reflected in MTN Nigeria’s comprehensive local procurement framework that prioritises suppliers with genuine local value creation. Under Oduntan’s strategic guidance, the company has implemented sophisticated procurement evaluation criteria that allocates up to 25% weightage for local supplier participation, while conducting rigorous assessments to ensure local partners aren’t merely “trading entities” for foreign suppliers.

The connection between supply chain excellence and business results is evident in MTN Nigeria’s expanding customer base, with the recent landmark three-year national roaming agreement with 9Mobile, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in July 2025. This groundbreaking partnership, which enables 9Mobile subscribers to access MTN’s network infrastructure nationwide, exemplifies Oduntan’s strategic approach to infrastructure optimisation and collaborative partnerships that enhance service availability while maximising asset utilisation across the telecommunications sector.

“APSCHA has become far more than ceremony, it is now a strategic platform that amplifies the critical contribution of procurement and supply chain professionals not just within the organisation, but across the broader African development agenda,” said Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave.

Oduntan’s individual triumph formed part of MTN Nigeria’s performance at the awards, where the company secured five awards including Digital Supply Chain Innovation of the Year, Excellence in Strategic Sourcing, Sustainability and Local Content Champion of the Year, and Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year. This success reinforces the telecommunications company’s position as a leader in supply chain transformation across Africa’s business landscape.

The recognition comes at a time when supply chain leadership plays an increasingly strategic role in driving operational excellence and competitiveness across Africa’s telecommunications sector.


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