1. A method for contextual operation of a mobile device in a process control environment, the method including: acquiring at the mobile device information to identify a process entity in the process control environment; determining a proximity of the mobile device to the process entity; identifying at the mobile device work item data associated with the process entity, the work item data including information regarding a target function associated with the process entity; and automatically triggering an event at the mobile device to facilitate implementing the target function associated with the process entity in response to the acquired information and the identified work item data.