As concluded by Zendesk, 66 percent of consumers state that a bad interaction with a customer service desk can ruin their day. It’s no wonder, then, that companies that strive to improve their employees’ experience ultimately create a better one for customers, which in turn leads to loyalty and increased revenue. But how do B2E apps play into that, and how do they affect organizational processes?

B2E apps are the digital tools that support employees in their daily tasks. In contrast to apps created for consumers (B2C) or other businesses (B2B), B2E apps focus on internal business processes, providing the employees with the necessary tools, information, and support, which are crucial in their daily work.

The invisible driving force behind modern businesses

Optimizing how an organization functions is a multifaceted process – from human resources management and logistics to quality assurance and customer service. B2E apps play a crucial role in each of these fields, providing tools that help employees complete their tasks faster and more effectively.

1. Process and task management: process automatization and easy access to information allow employees to focus on their priorities and avoid making mistakes caused by manual input.
2. Internal communication improvement: integration of various communication channels, such as emails, communicators or project management systems, enables prompt and effective sharing of information.
3. Trainings and employee development: apps provide training resources, monitor progress and suggest career paths, which lead to higher competencies and engagement.
4. Data management and reporting: in the world of big data, proper analysis and data management are crucial. B2E apps automate these processes by generating reports, which help managers make the right decisions.
5. Logistic process improvement: the B2E tools are invaluable in logistics, allowing to track merchandise in real-time, monitor stock levels, and better manage resources.

Optimizing costs and operations thanks to Asystent Żabka

One of the examples of how a B2E app can be used is Asystent Żabka. Żabka Poland, a convenience store chain, invested in the development of this complex app to support their franchisees in their daily work. It was a crucial step in the whole chain’s optimization process, since right now, Żabka has more than 10,500 stores all over Poland, for which 9,000 franchisees are responsible for running business operations with over 50,000 employees.

Asystent Żabka, one of the digital products built by Future Mind as part of a comprehensive business collaboration with the Żabka chain, is a tool based on artificial intelligence. It combines store management functionalities with quick access to product information and technical support. Thanks to the app, the cashiers can finish their tasks quicker by getting real-time recommendations on, for example, lowering the prices for products with short expiry dates, which helps reduce food waste. Additionally, the tool automates many tasks, lowering dependency on human labor and reducing the number of mistakes.

Although Asystent Żabka is a highly specific example, it shows how B2E apps can be designed to satisfy the unique needs of employees and, in turn, of the whole organization. The app supports the people working in each location – automates many tasks, simplifies daily responsibilities and facilitates communication between teams and management. Thanks to that, the work becomes better organized and less stressful. This is confirmed by 98 percent of stores’ teams using the app every day, which proves its high effectiveness.

B2E in action – the global market

Fleetio Go, an app developed by the Fleetio company from Birmingham, allows businesses to monitor vehicles, analyze their parameters, request management, inspections, and graphics. Examples of business results from case studies show that using Fleetio Go helps save time and reduce operational costs. An American cleaning company, Stanley Steemer, shortened the time of vehicle control from one hour to 10 minutes by implementing Fleetio Go, which generated huge savings with 3000 vehicles onboard. Another example: the SmartWatt brand noted 48 percent in savings on maintenance costs for two years after implementing this tool.

The American business giant Walmart has long been investing in digital solutions that support employees. Their apps Me@Campus and My Assistant are tools that help minimize food waste and improve operational effectiveness – thanks to them, the time spent on restocking, which previously took two hours for the employees, now only takes a few minutes.

B2E apps are more and more often used in the catering industry as well, like in the Restaurant365 software. This system allows restaurant chains to manage many of their operational aspects, from resources to accounting, thanks to which managers can make decisions faster and based on real data. For the Taco John’s franchise, the implementation of Restaurant365 brought savings on the 2.5 percent level of food purchase costs in the first year, which significantly influenced the financial results of the company. On top of that, restaurant managers save even 30 hours of work per month thanks to automated accounting processes.

What are the possible roadblocks?

Despite many benefits, the implementation of the B2E app isn’t without its challenges. The biggest problem is ensuring that employees will want to learn and use the app. Many businesses face resistance from their employees, who dread any changes or don’t feel comfortable with new technologies. That’s why it’s so important for companies to invest in not only the app itself, but also in proper training and support for employees facing changes on the operational level.

It’s also important to keep in mind another significant matter, which is the integration of the B2E app with already existing IT systems in the given organization. Companies use many operational systems, which aren’t always compatible with each other. Integrating new apps with this software can be time-consuming and costly, but it is essential to ensure the smooth workings of the whole IT infrastructure.

Data safety shouldn’t be scoffed at, either. B2E apps process sensitive information regularly, from employees’ personal data to financial information. Companies have to ensure that all that data is properly protected from unauthorized access and cyberattacks.

The future of B2E in the light of digital transformation

Looking to the future, we can expect that B2E apps will play an increasingly crucial role in the optimization of business operations. As long as technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and IoT continue to grow, B2E mobile solutions will become more and more complex and tailored to employees’ specific needs.

B2E apps are fundamental to modern strategies of human resource management and optimization of business operations. The example of the Asystent Żabka shows how such tools can be effectively implemented to support employees and increase the efficacy of the whole organization.