Some companies use a start date of solution deployment, but this doesn't take into account the amount of planning and pre-installation work that usually needs to be done prior to installation of the mobile solution. The costs of employee training, installation and testing should also be considered as a factor. A project that takes 12 months to go live will not have a payback period that is less than one year.

NPV (Net Present Value) is a financial term for the value of a series of yearly cash flows, discounted back to today's dollars, by removing the effects of inflation. NPV is useful when calculating ROI, as it can be applied to the net yearly benefits associated with your offering.

Ok, that's it! The pain has subsided. Now let's talk about how to approach ROI assessments.

Handhelds are chameleons
There is no standard, off-the-shelf, ROI calculator for a "mobile solution". It's simply not feasible and, if such a tool does exist, it can't possibly be accurate. While the cost drivers that comprise the investment side of a mobile solution are consistent, the benefit drivers of the mobile solution are completely dictated by the type of mobile solution and the industry that's using it. One size does not fit all!

Let's look at a couple of examples to illustrate this point. First, let's look at a retailer that's invested in a mobile solution to improve inventory and fulfillment management. Every member of the inventory and fulfillment team is now equipped with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)-enabled handheld. Here are some of the possible benefits to examine:

• More inventory turns per year, leading to less cash tied up in inventory capital. This could lead to lower interest paid out on money borrowed, or greater interest earned on invested funds -- funds that are in the bank and not tied up in physical goods in the warehouse.

• Better inventory accuracy and increased inventory turns also mean the enterprise can plan better. There's a lower risk of being stuck with obsolete goods that need to be written off. In turn, better planning also enables enterprises to purchase more strategically to leverage vendor pricing and get the best terms.

• Thanks to the integrated RFID capability, the fulfillment staff can quickly find goods and fulfill orders. More goods ship monthly, and there's more revenue.

• Fulfillment and shipment errors decline. The enterprise sees a decrease in order returns. The business grows, but the customer service staffing growth is stayed because there are simply less problems to deal with. The cost of processing return shipments is almost entirely avoided.

• And because orders are fulfilled quicker and more accurately, customers are happier doing business with the enterprise. There is direct up-tick in repeat sales.

Now let's look at another mobile solution.

An enterprise of manufactured goods deploys handhelds to its entire driver fleet, each configured with a mobile printer. Now, at time of delivery, the driver whips out the handheld to validate credit card and check payments. Purchase orders are processed at the time of delivery, with invoices and customer receipts being printed in the cab of the truck.