This is the make or break component of your mobile experience. Software comes in the form of your host system, middleware, and the actual mobile application. Get any of those components wrong and your mobile experience goes south quickly.

So to save time and money on new middleware and a specific mobile app, many companies hope to use remote desktop, VPN, or re-sized host screens from their current system to satisfy mobile users. The fact that devices today have so many capabilities, not getting specialized mobile software means not using as much as 80% of the device's capabilities. Devices today come equipped with a GPS, camera, bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G. This means dramatic cost savings in wireless if a device's software application switches over to WiFi when this network is available. Also the camera can scan a barcode, capture a picture of a returned item, or OCR an important document. And the GPS can be used to track the location of not just the worker but also an expensive asset like the tractor of an 18-wheeler. All tremendous capabilities but if you're using host software adapted for the small screen you're likely missing out on these great labor saving features.

The best way is to get mobile software that specializes in your vertical. Many times the product has out of the box integration to your current ERP system or supports many of the open standards such as web services so integration isn't as hard as it used to be.