50 Questions about Deploying Mobile Solutions

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50 Questions About Deploying Mobile Solutions

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1001 Ringtones Developed by MobileDataforce is #3 Top Selling App on iTunes and #2 Under Free Utilities!

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TephSeal Auto Appearance – Saves $1,000,000 in labor alone in first year of using handheld solution developed my MobileDataforce

“The automation capabilities of our handheld solution have allowed us to cut labor costs by 10% to 15%. With our labor costs exceeding $1 million a month, this solution has saved us more than $1 million in labor alone in its first year of use. The solution also enables us to receive 85% of our billing data the same day the service is performed as opposed to waiting weeks for service paperwork under our old method. Faster access to data enables us to bill customers in a more timely fashion, which improves our cash flow.” John Tricoli, President, Teph Seal

“Because human error has been eliminated from the process, we have been able to achieve 100% billing accuracy.” John Tricoli, President, Teph Seal

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Teph Seal Auto Appearance

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Going Mobile in 2009

Free online screencasting tool

What does a Mobilized Work Order System Look Like?

What does an automated and "mobilized" work order system or service ticket dispatch and management system look like?  Here is a scenario - A customer calls in to report a broken heating system. The office staff takes the phone call, enters the relevant information into the work order application on the desktop computer which then creates a unique work order and number.

The work order database application, with GIS integration, can compare the location of each service technician to determine which service technician is closest to the work location. The dispatch system can also look at the estimated time the nearby service technicians are committed to completing their existing assignments. Once the appropriate service technician is identified, the work order is dispatched to the handheld computer used by the service technician. Included in the electronic work order is driving directions from his/her current location to the next job location. In addition to the work order information, warranty, repair, users manual, maintenance history and product information on file can also be dispatched to the handheld computer for reference and parts inventory management.

Once the service technician arrives at the location, he opens the work order on the handheld computer. Opening the work order automatically captures the service technician's name, the date/time stamp and the GPS coordinates of the jobsite and enters them into the mobile application’s work order.

Next the service technician examines the broken heating system and determines which parts need replaced. He can pull out his handheld computer and check whether he has the needed parts in his vehicle inventory, if not, it can automatically search for nearby service vehicles that may contain the part (GPS tracking enables this). If another nearby service vehicle is determined to have the required part, then driving directions can be sent.

When the service technician arrives at the service vehicle with the needed part, then the part is scanned using a bar code scanner in the handheld computer to log its removal from the vehicle's inventory and assigns it to the appropriate work order number.

Back at the work site, the service technician runs into a challenge. He has never worked on this model before and needs advice. He snaps a digital photo of the equipment and synchronizes it back to the office. His supervisor reviews the photo and calls him with advice.

Once the work is completed, the service technician signs his name on the handheld computer screen, and has the customer sign the work order screen as well. The service technician prints an invoice on a mobile printer and collects the payment or swipes the customer’s credit or debit card. The collection is noted on the mobile work order and synchronized back to the office.

As soon as the work order is completed and synchronized, the mobile application reminds the service technician to promote a 2 year service contract. The service technician reviews the details with the customer and signs them up for a 2 year service contract. Next, the work order system reviews job locations and priorities and assigns the next optimized work order to the field service technician.

Slow economic times motive each of us to become more efficient. Self-evaluation can help us understand how we can become smarter business owners. Mobile solutions can be purchased, leased, subscribed to on a monthly basis, or customized specifically for your needs. The ROI (return on investment) is quickly realized and quantifiable.

12 Steps to a Successful Mobile Software Deployment

Companies around the globe are looking for ways to do more with less. Many recognize that their mobile workforce is being managed inefficiently and extending business process automation to mobile field workers is becoming a priority. The following 12 steps identify how you can get started automating and mobilizing these business processes.

Step 1 – Understand the ROI/Scope of the Project and Plan Ahead
What are some of the key challenges with a mobile software development project? Many companies don’t put enough thought into what they need, and what the anticipated ROI will be. Others don’t assign and schedule testing resources. Some finish the development but have no deployment strategy. Still others buy incompatible handheld PDAs before they start development and find out they don’t meet the requirements of the field user. The results of these deficiencies are project scope creep, cost overruns, missed deadlines and dissatisfied end users.

Step 2 – Build a Team and Include the Field User
Make sure the members of your team have the right roles and responsibilities to help the mobility project succeed. Mobile solutions usually tie into other corporate IT assets and business processes, therefore impact other IT departments and business units. In addition, a representative mobile field worker(s) should be included on the project team to provide valuable “real-world” insight.

Step 3 – Select the Right Mobile Solution and Advisers
Performing successful data synchronization from mobile computing devices can be a challenging and complex task. There are many variables that can determine the success of a mobile development project. Make sure you have experienced mobility experts to advise you and select a proven mobile middleware solution as the foundation for your solution.

Step 4 – Know Your Target Users and Their Environment
During the planning and scoping phase of your mobile project, take the time to experience the working environment of your mobile field workers and observe the business processes in action. Focus on how the information is collected and exchanged between the office and the mobile workers. These observations can significantly impact the design, development and deployment of a successful project! Evaluate the physical environment of the work. How do moist, cold and dirty environments impact the mobile devices? How does low light or bright sunlight affect visibility of the screen? Can workers read the small text on the PDA screen, or does the text need to be larger?

Step 5 – Decide Who will Develop the Mobile Solution
Do you have an IT department with software developers that are available for a new development project? Do they have experience developing custom mobile software solutions? Are they knowledgeable with mobile data synchronization issues? Will they be able to dedicate the time to finishing the application in the necessary time frame? Do you have the risk tolerance for letting an inexperienced internal development team attempt the project, or is the ROI sufficient to justify contracting with mobility experts to develop the custom application?

Step 6 – Do You Start with a Mobile Software Platform or Build from Scratch?
Do you start developing your mobile software project with a blank computer screen, or do you start with a packaged mobile middleware solution that has a development environment included like the PointSync Mobility Platform from MobileDataforce? Again, your success is heavily reliant on your expertise in custom mobile application design and development. If you have experience developing mobile middleware applications and custom mobile software applications, then using a packaged application is less important. If you don’t have experience and are working with a limited budget and time frame, then it is crucial that you select a mobile application development solution to expedite the project.

Step 7 – Understand How to Re-engineer Business Processes for Mobility
Mobile solutions can provide bar code scanning, digital images, GPS, RFID, data synchronization, enterprise database queries, integration with inventory, scheduling, work order, accounting and many other enterprise software applications. How will these capabilities change the way the field user works?

Step 8 – Build in Phases
Most successful projects involve a series of phased implementations. Each phase can be developed, tested and implemented in an orderly manner. Once a phase is deployed and proven, additional phases can be layered on top that include more features and added complexity. Remember, the more data requirements that you add the more data you must synchronize, and the longer each synchronization session will take. Only synchronize data that your remote users require in the field. Be aware that most mobile devices don’t have the same CPU power or memory as a PC/laptop, so understand the performance of your application on mobile devices before designing the solution.

Step 9 – Evaluate Your Hardware and Connectivity Needs
The term “mobile devices” can have many different interpretations. Today, laptops, Tablet PC’s, UMPCs, PDAs and Smart phones are all identified with this term. When determining the best mobile device for your project you will want to consider screen size, data storage capacity, security, physical working environment, required hardware accessories such as barcode scanners, GPS, digital cameras, RFID, and the ability to upgrade the device with updated hardware and software components.

How do you connect your mobile device to your enterprise database applications? You have many options including cradle, WiFi, satellite, Bluetooth, wireless, dial-up modems and satellite uplinks to name a few. The method(s) you choose will be affected by how often your mobile workers need to send/receive data. How much data will be transmitted and will they always have connectivity. Study each option, your working environment and consult your mobility partner to make the best selections.

Step 10 – Deploy, Evaluate and Improve
Once you have completed the first phase of your mobile solution and you are ready to deploy in the real world, roll out your solution to a group of trusted and motivated field users. Define a specific period of time to evaluate the solution, document the results and identify any required changes and improvements. The result of this evaluation should be an improved mobile solution that is ready for a wider deployment.

Step 11 – Set and Enforce Hardware and Security Policies
Mobile devices are small computers with the ability to store sensitive corporate data, communicate this data over the Internet and even catch viruses. You must clearly communicate how mobile devices are to be used and for what purpose. Establish and publish guidelines for using mobile devices.

Step 12 – Provide Full Support for Mobile Users
Mobile devices are guaranteed to break. What is your plan for keeping a mobile worker productive and communicating business critical information when their mobile device ceases to function or gets misplaced? These are inevitable issues that are best planned for in advance. Have a plan and a documented back up process.

For more information on MobileDataforce's PointSync Mobility Platform please visit our website, email us or call us at USA 208-384-1200.

Building Businesses with PDAs and Mobile Software Solutions

I have written a great deal on the value of specific mobile solutions like the following:

• Mobile Work/Service Orders
• Mobile Inspections
• Mobile Job Estimates
• Mobile Asset Tracking
• Mobile Delivery Solutions

Today I want to focus on some key problems businesses face, and how mobile solutions can help solve these problems. When a company expands beyond the capabilities of the owner/manager, new employees or contractors must be added. This can often introduce the following kinds of problems:

• Inexperienced workers
• Unreliable workers
• Irresponsible workers
• Uncommitted workers
• Forgetful workers
• Thieves and felons on the payroll

These problems can lead to the following set of issues:

• Unhappy customers
• Cost overruns
• Incomplete and/or incorrect paperwork
• Inaccurate job estimates
• Work quality issues
• Slow work production
• Lost tools and equipment
• Management headaches

Believe it or not - many of these issues can be improved and corrected by using mobile software applications on handheld computers to help ensure the best work in the field. Handheld computers can help the owner/manager keep better tabs on the work and equipment in the field, ensure completed and correct paperwork, monitor customer satisfaction, and get real time notification if the job is taking longer than anticipated.

For more information on mobile solutions that can help in these areas please visit our website.

New Release - PointSync .NET Plugin – Video

iconsoft.com – PhonEx – Awesome New UI for Windows Mobile

I Just came across this group online with a new product called PhonEx by iconsoft.com and installed their 15day free trial.  So far I am very impressed with their approach,  1 handed operations are now a bit easier to manage on my Treo Pro, making it less of a hassle to sort through my large contacts list, and look up history.

My personal favorite is the Today tool bar providing some very useful and missing functionality from you today screen on my treo pro. I can now access my

1. Favorites
2. Messaging (SMS, MMS, Email)
3. Phone Dial Pad
4. Communication Settings (Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.)
5. Ringer Options (Loud, Lower, Vibrate, etc.)

 

I’m also a big fan of the dial pad interface, they’ve made it easy to use a smart phone again, the keys vibrate every time you hit a number and it displays on the screen so you know you’ve got it right.

Link to their site - iconsoft.com

MobileDataforce Launches the Microsoft .NET Plug-in for PointSync Pro 3.0 Mobility Platform

MobileDataforce Launches the Microsoft .NET Plug-in for PointSync Pro 3.0 Mobility Platform

Boise, Idaho – July 14, 2009 MobileDataforce®, a leading provider of business critical mobile software applications, today announced the release of the PointSync Professional .NET plug-in. This release represents a significant addition to the company’s proven application development platform.

"Adding the .NET plug-in to our already successful platform is a big step in our product strategy. We now offer a multitude of avenues for our development partners and Professional Services group to produce everything from custom solutions to simple off-the-shelf software. This includes enterprise class, large scale and integrated solutions for corporations who need to mobilize various segments of their workforce," said Dave Wasden, VP of Product Management at MobileDataforce. "We're committed to providing and utilizing the best technologies that will enable our customers to successfully develop and manage mobile software solutions. That list of technology continues to grow as we continue to improve our platform."

The .NET plug-in will allow a software developer to use the Visual Studio environment to develop mobile applications in .NET. The PointSync Server then provides those applications with bi-directional synchronization, connectivity, security and enterprise database integration.

"Primarily this technology will allow for a significantly faster ramp-up time for .NET developers using our PointSync Platform," said Eric Shankel, Professional Services Manager at MobileDataforce. "In order to better utilize the experienced .NET developers in our Professional Services group, it made perfect sense to utilize Microsoft's feature rich development tool to build solutions for our clients. We will continue to utilize the PointSync Developer tool, but this simply gives us an option to utilize Microsoft .NET Framework Mobile Development without giving up our stable and proven PointSync Mobility platform."

If you’re interested in more information on the .NET plug-in, schedule a working demo by contacting MobileDataforce directly by sending an email to sales2@mobiledataforce.com.

About MobileDataforce®

MobileDataforce® is a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions for use on mobile computers including Smart Phones, Handhelds, PDAs, Tablet PCs and laptops. MobileDataforce has sales offices in Europe, North America and in Australia to support their expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000. For more information, please visit their website at www.mobiledataforce.com.

Mobility is a Process and not just a product

Building a mobility strategy from the ground up often includes much more than just selecting a product and getting it deployed. Businesses who have adopted mobile technology have been able to reap benefits in the following areas.

• Improved Technician Utilization
• Improved Asset Utilization
• Better Customer Server
• A Reduction in Accounts Payable
• Increase in sales
• Better Inventory control
• Plus Many more

Allowing for a single source service provider to tell you what your mobile strategy should include is a recipe for disaster. Understanding what kinds of information need to be at the point of interaction to enable technicians to interact with your customers more effectively, efficiently, and profitably needs to be the focus. Then understanding your internal business process and associated paper bottlenecks is the next step.

Here are a couple of questions to think about:
What is the most annoying part of your field technicians day? (Ask Them)
What are they not doing today that you want them to be doing?
What process is taking the most time away from productive, profitable work?
What can be done to increase performance inside the office?
How many people are really managing paper all day?

Mobility is about adopting a more efficient operating process, and executing against a carefully designed workflow, thereby providing key decision makers, and customers the information they need to be successful. I'm not saying that just implementing a product without an associated strategy isn't going to provide a return, but it will NEVER provide the kinds of returns that are possible if a mobile strategy is coupled to a product set.

THE LESSON: Partner with a company and provider that is interested in more than just selling a product or a service, look for an organization that is willing to invest in helping you understand you own process, and allow for them to work collaboratively with your organization to come up with a solution.

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HandHeld PDA’s – More than Just Data Collectors

When some people think about replacing paper forms with handheld computers - they are only thinking about collecting data and sending it wirelessly back to the office. However, simply collecting, storing and moving data would be a misuse of a powerful handheld computer. A computer should compute. By that I mean - a computer should analyze the data collected and take action based upon the data.

Here is an example:
Your house is on fire. You can take out a handheld computer and enter data that says, "my house is on fire," and store it as the house collapses around you, or you can program your handheld to automatically call 911, turn on the sprinklers, call your work to report you will be in late, order new carpet and cancel the evening poker game, and provide a damage estimate.

OK - so that is a silly example but the point is a computer can analyze the data you enter, and be programmed to take action. Computers should do the following:

• Allow you to enter information/data
• Store it
• Synchronize it with a distant software application
• Take action based upon the information
• Alert people or other computers about the data
• Analyze the data and make predictions
• Activate other computer programs to take action
• Decrease inventory numbers
• Close work orders
• Enter a new customer order
• Replace inventory with a new order
• Track packages
• Call your customers
• Reschedule an appointment
• Estimate the closest service technician
• Predict the fastest route to drive
• Analyze the accuracy of job estimates
• Conduct time tracking
• Copy and send the data to multiple destination
• Perform mathematical computations and take action based upon the result
• Activate mechanical equipment to take action based upon the information
• Turn on and off electronics

All of these actions can be programmed to take place based upon the data you enter into a handheld computer. At MobileDataforce we work with customers on these kinds of issues daily

iPhone Development Services in Idaho

MobileDataforce was one of early adopters to partner with Apple and begin iPhone application development. (Check out our first press release: iPhone Press Release) Our extensive mobility experience provided the insight to recognize that the iPhone platform was going to take the market by storm. We started by releasing several games and novelty applications, and then started combining that expertise with our extensive business solutions knowledge. Since then we’ve been diligently working with our clients to deliver valuable mobile business solutions and engaging, interactive games. Many of the applications developed with our clients have become instant favorites with some being downloaded more than a million times.

Our talented software development team has expertise in iPhone SDK, Cocoa Touch, Objective C, Xcode IDE, Soap and Ruby. And with iPhone development, it's not just about developing the application; we also have
extensive experience navigating Apple's strict development guidelines
which are key to getting an application released into the AppStore.

As Apple continues to drive the market with new hardware capabilities and software features, we're making it our business to stay astride the iPhone market to ensure we can deliver the highest value and widest feature offering to our clients. Feel free to engage us at any time in your project cycle. Whether you have an amazing idea you'd like to run buy a team that's successfully pushed over 30 applications to the AppStore or you have an application that’s been developed and is caught up in what can be an uncomfortably long Apple approval process. We’ve been through the entire process enough times, we can assist you at any point.

MobileDataforce Releases PointSync Professional 2.1 Mobility Platform Update

Boise, Idaho – June 16, 2009 MobileDataforce®, a leading provider of business critical mobile software applications, today announced the release of the PointSync Professional 2.1.2 Mobility Platform update. This release represents a minor upgrade to the company’s award-winning rapid application development solution.

“With an extensive install base of our mobile runtime engine and synchronization technology, we are constantly getting feedback on ways to improve the platform and how to better meet the needs of our customers,” explained Dave Wasden, VP of Product Development at MobileDataforce. “This minor release resolves issues found in previous versions and also provides improved overall stability. Our partners in the United States, Europe and Australia have already taken advantage of this stability in their mobile application development and implementations.”

The PointSync platform allows companies to eliminate current “clipboard and paper” processes or legacy mobile applications, and move them to newer mobile computers, or devices. By moving from paper to electronic format, companies can typically see a return on their investment within 6 months. These benefits come from reduced data entry errors, eliminated re-keying of data, reduced driving and better field process management.

Some of the features of the PointSync Professional Platform are:

• Wireless transfer of data to and from mobile computers using cellular Internet connections
• Controls for use in mobile application development
- Signature Capture
- Menus
- Multi-Line Grid
- Data-bound Smart List
- Tabs
• Device deployment tools

As experts in mobility, MobileDataforce can cater to the specific needs of each customer by offering various solution methodologies. Customers can purchase the platform and utilize the tools to create their own mobility solutions. Customers can also contract with MobileDataforce’s Professional Services Organization to build a custom mobile solution. Finally, customers can purchase one of our turn-key solutions, either as a stand-alone application or as a hosted software as a service (SaaS) solution.

About MobileDataforce®

MobileDataforce® is a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions for use on mobile computers including Smart Phones, Handhelds, PDAs, Tablet PCs and Laptops. MobileDataforce has sales offices in Europe, North America and Australia to support their expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000. For more information, please visit our website at www.mobiledataforce.com.

MWI Veterinary Supply Selects MobileDataforce’s Professional Services Group

Boise ID, - March 1, 2009 MobileDataforce (www.mobiledataforce.com), a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions, announces that MWI Veterinary Supply Inc., a leading national distributor of animal health products, has selected MobileDataforce’s Professional Services Group to co-develop a mobile solution.

“MobileDataforce was a great fit to work with our internal IT group based on their Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status and their extensive knowledge of mobile solutions.” said Jim Hay, VP & CIO of MWI. “We also saw this as a great opportunity to work together with a Boise-based company in an effort to support the local economy.

The solution is an inventory application that is provided by MWI to their customers to assist them in inventory tracking and enable them to easily build their orders for veterinary supplies. The solution was originally written on a platform that will soon be phased out and needed to be enhanced for better integration with an advanced web store that has been developed by MWI. With the help of MobileDataforce, the mobile application will be redesigned making the user experience simpler and more streamlined.

“Our flexible project process allows us to engage with our clients using a style that makes sense for their business. Depending on the customer and on the project, we have the ability to solve their problem using multiple technologies and a wide range of engagement models,” stated Eric Shankel, Professional Services Manager for MobileDataforce. “In the case of MWI, we are planning to utilize a mix of project and staffing models. Since the project involves replacing an existing solution, a co-development effort with the MWI IT organization made the most sense. We plan to place a Senior Developer onsite at MWI to generate the kind of collaborative development environment that we strive for on all of our projects. MWI’s development team is clearly talented and we’re excited about what this team can produce together.”

About MobileDataforce®
MobileDataforce® is a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions for use on mobile computers including Smart Phones, Handhelds, PDAs, Tablet PCs and laptops. MobileDataforce has sales offices in Europe, North America and in Australia to support their expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000. For more information, please visit our website at www.mobiledataforce.com.

About MWI Veterinary Supply
MWI is a leading distributor of animal health products to veterinarians across the United States of America. Products MWI sells include pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, capital equipment, supplies, veterinary pet food and nutritional products. We market these products to veterinarians in both the companion animal and production animal markets. For more information about MWI, please visit our website at www.mwivet.com.

Design Comfort Inc. Has Selected MobileDataforce’s PointSync Pro, As Its Mobility Platform for Their Mobile Application Development.

Boise ID, - February 17, 2009 MobileDataforce (www.mobiledataforce.com), a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions, announces that Design Comfort Inc. , a leading HVAC Services company, has selected MobileDataforce’s PointSync Pro Mobility Platform to automate all field data collection for their entire services division.

MobileDataforce's platform allowed Design Comfort to quickly develop custom applications that map directly to the internal business processes and using the proven PointSync platform to handle synchronization, device configuration and management, and remote software updates. MobileDataforce's PointSync platform significantly streamlines mobile application development, deployment, and administration. Data collected in the field is stored locally on an encrypted handheld database and then automatically synchronized to the central office when wireless or wired access becomes available. MobileDataforce's PointSync platform can be deployed simultaneously in any language, on any Microsoft based handheld computing devices, including Pocket PC PDA's, Tablet PC's and Laptops.

"Design Comfort is already getting significant return on replacing our old mobile application.” said Jerry Phillips, Design Comfort’s Owner. "I had actually spent some time working with several different mobile technologies before I found MobileDataforce. Their knowledge around the sync technology and device/server database management is extensive and invaluable. Fundamentally it allows even a small IT department to quickly develop, deploy and manage field service applications. They even took the time to sit down and develop high-level mobility plan that I can use as a roadmap for design and planning. I also spent time working directly with their Professional Services team to expedite my training. Overall I’m very impressed with the dedication and hard work that this company provides to small businesses like mine.”

About MobileDataforce®
MobileDataforce® is a leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions for use on mobile computers including Smart Phones, Handhelds, PDAs, Tablet PCs and laptops. MobileDataforce has sales offices in Europe, North America and in Australia to support their expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000. For more information, please visit our website at www.mobiledataforce.com.

About Design Comfort
Design Comfort, based in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, is the recognized leader in providing superior design, application and implementation of heating and air conditioning solutions. Design Comfort has been providing top quality heating and air conditioning solutions since 1982. Over 80% of Design Comfort's business is by referral. Our focus has been and always will be to deliver uncompromising service to our loyal customer base. Through commitment, experience, and expertise Design Comfort has established a business relationship with their customers that will last a lifetime!

Mobile Development Tools – PointSync Professional

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – Bailout!

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

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Hardware Selection – FieldSync Automotive

Recently I’ve been lucky enough to meet with quite a few Automotive Reconditioning companies that have been interested in going paperless, and I’ve noticed that one glaring question comes to the forefront of each and every conversation “What device do you recommend that can scan a VIN?”

In an attempt to provide some education around that topic I've decided to write this post.

Here are some things to consider

1. (Under the Obvious Category) Will you be scanning VINS, do you service a high volume of cars with a need to capture the VIN accurately?
2. Will the device be exposed to the elements?
3. Do you work on GM vehicles?
4. What is your budget?
5. Wireless Service Provider

All of these thing play an important role when considering device selection. Most importantly is the need to capture the VIN accurately, and your budget. Just like our Product Manager Rod Puzey said when he worked at a performance automotive shop “How much money do you have, and how fast do you want to go?”

Here are some of the most common consumer grade and rugged devices we’ve deployed on.

Device	Manufacturer	Link	Type	Carrier
HP Ipaq 111	Hewlett Packard	http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/handheld/PC/1/storefronts/FA979AA%2523ABA	Consumer Grade	NONE
Dolphin 7600	Honeywell	http://www.handheld.com/Site.aspx/eu/en/product_center/hardware/?product=246	Rugged	GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile, or NONE)
Workabout Pro G2	Psion Teklogix	http://www.psionteklogix.com/products/handheld/workaboutpro.htm	Rugged	GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile, or NONE)
IKON	Psion Teklogix	http://www.psionteklogix.com/products/handheld/ikon.htm	Rugged	GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile, or NONE)

Check out our Downloads Section of to receive your free guide to selecting the proper Handheld Computers. http://www.mobiledataforce.com/downloadrequest/download.stm

FieldSync Automotive with QuickBooks Integration

I was thinking today that it has been a while since I’ve posted anything related to FieldSync Automotive and wanted to keep everyone in the loop of what we’ve been working on. While integration with QuickBooks has certainly been available in previous releases, it hasn't been as easy to configure or install as we would like. We’re very pleased to announce that in the new release of FieldSync Automotive 3.0 we have completely re-engineered the way we are connecting to QuickBooks.

We are currently supporting the following versions of QuickBooks:

· QuickBooks Profession 2005 or Better

· QuickBooks Accountants Edition

· QuickBooks Premier Editions

We’ve also built out the functionality to include the use of Sales Orders in Accountant and Premier Editions!

From FieldSync Into QuickBooks

The best part is you don’t have to do anything, once the system is configured you approve invoices to be sent to QuickBooks and your work is done.

If you would like to see the software in action please email us @ Sales2@mobiledataforce.com or call (208) 384-1200.

The Evolution of a Mobile Solution

Our customers often follow an evolutionary path when it comes to mobilizing their business. Let me identify several common steps on this path:

1. Mobile forms - replace paper forms with electronic forms on handheld computers, Tablet PCs or laptops and download data to a spreadsheet.
2. Integrate Mobile Forms with enterprise databases.
3. Evolve Mobile Form into a full Mobile Database Application with all the power of a relational database software application on a mobile device.
4. Extend business processes out from the enterprise and into the mobile database applications.
5. Replace many traditional communication methods (phone calls, faxes, web queries) with real time enterprise database queries from mobile database applications.

Let me walk you through a scenario -

1. Step 1 - Company M wants to replace paper service orders with electronic service orders on a ruggedized handheld computer. In step 1, they are content to pick up the handheld in the morning with pre-loaded service orders, and return the handheld device at night to synchronize the work they accomplished during the day. This saves a great deal of data input and mistakes by the office staff. It is a simple mobile forms application.
2. Step 2 - Company M decides they would gain efficiencies if they could dispatch service orders directly to the handheld computers during the day, and synchronize the completed and/or pending service orders directly to the central work order dispatch system in real-time. This model requires a database application to run on the handheld for data storage and database synchronization. It also requires a wireless network card so you can synchronize data over the mobile phone networks, and a synchronization server to keep all handhelds synchronized with your internal enterprise databases.
3. Step 3 - Extend business processes out to the mobile handheld device. Company M now wants to attach an inventory tracking process to their mobile service order application. When parts get used on a service call, they want the parts to be automatically removed from the inventory tracking software application in the office. This can easily be added to their mobile database application.
4. Step 4 - Digital signatures are added to the service order application on the mobile device. Scheduling additional service calls can be added to the mobile device. Querying customer history, credit card processing and mobile printing can be added to the mobile application....plus much more.

In summary, most companies don't jump in and do everything that is possible in the first deployment of a mobile solution. There are phases, and an evolution of a mobile solution.

By: Kevin Benedict

A Blast from the Past - XML Based form Builders – Nick Kugelman

I was playing around yesterday and came across our first development environment called Intercue, it's was XML based forms builder that is easy to use, deploy, and manage. It hasn't been officially supported for several years, in favor of the more robust development environment of PointSync.  Here is a comparison of the old vs. the new.

Intercue:

 

PointSync:

.NET Web Application – Reporting

Pretty good example of a custom built reporting interface using Microsoft Silverlight

Getting Back to Basics, cutting through the Enterprise Mobility Marketing Mess – By: Nick Kugelman

I have been conducting a ton of mobile technology seminars recently, and was recently asked an interesting question by a concerned customer, he said “Nick, I know that everyone is talking about mobile technology, devices, platforms, implications, and strategies; but what does that mean to me and my technicians?” I was happy to hear this question, it really got me thinking about what, why, and how organizations adopt mobile technology. My answer was pretty simple; we are trying to improve the status quo of your technicians in the field, by enabling them to work smarter with more information, while providing you the kinds of information you need to make better decisions quicker. Mobility isn’t about ripping out a tried and true business process and rebuilding it; it is all about incremental business process changes over time. Finding out what works and what doesn’t work is part of any mobile software technology implementation. Many organizations with successful deployed mobile applications are always thinking of ways of keeping customer and technician satisfaction high. One of the many ways they do this is a focus on application usability, and training. It doesn’t matter how many things a mobile application can do if the technician in the field can’t use the system. Ensuring the application is easy to use, gathering feedback, and providing plenty of training is the recipe for success. The moral of the story is that, no matter how complicated things can get, from back end integration, device selection, mobile platform implications, mobile security, device management, etc., the key to ANY mobility project, is ensuring that the key decision makers are focused on application usability, training, and committed to finding the right recipe for success.

-Nick Kugelman

Tools, Parts & Mobile Work Order Solutions on Handheld PDAs

We have had several requests recently to combine mobile work order solutions with inventory and asset tracking applications for use on mobile handheld PDAs. This is not unusual, it just points out the fact that companies are recognizing a great deal of value from mobilizing business processes. Here is an example:
The company wants to track any employees that enter the stockroom where both inventory and tools are kept, and track anything that is removed by them. They would do this by matching the employee's ID cards, with the customer's work order and any inventory or tools that are used on the work order.
This solution would better control the use of tools and inventory, and ensure they are appropriately billed to the customer's work order. This system would provide the following ROI:

1. Reduce missing inventory
2. Bill the customer appropriately for inventory usage
3. Bill the customer appropriately for the use of tools 
4. Track the tools and who has them (asset tracking)
5. Assign inventory and tools to an employee for accountability
6. Reduce the labor needed to manage inventory, billing, and assets

By - Kevin Benedict

Is the iPhone ready for the Enterprise - Mobile Technology WebCast

Simply stated the iPhone phenomenon can not be ignored. We are hosting a mobile technology webcast to deliver our insights into the new iPhone 3.0 OS update, and its implications on Mobility within the Enterprise. We also plan to cover emerging enterprise mobility trends, and will deliver a road map, for helping your organization craft a mobile strategy.

Don't miss this opportunity to educate yourself on Enterprise mobility trends.

WebCast Dates:
April 29th at 11:00am MST & 1:00pm MST
May 6th at 11:00am MST & 2:00pm MST
May 15th at 9:00am MST & 4:-- pm MST

Please send an email to Nick@Mobiledataforce.com if you'd like to attend one of these events.

iPhone Development Examples - jlcmobile.com
Mobility Blog - fieldsyncmobile.blogspot.com
Follow us on twitter - www.twitter.com/mobiledataforce

FieldSync Automotive - New Updates

This week we have added several new features to the FieldSync Automotive System

• Estimate Searching
• Etimate Sorting
• Estimate Printing (From Within the Office Component)
• Partial VIN search, instead of requiring the full VIN
• Configurable Work Order Email Notification

We also have our first product review by Mobile Auto Recon expert Daniel Gromm. See Below

Custom Mobile Software Applications for Handheld PDAs - Don't Start from Scratch

As fun as it may sound to build a custom mobile software application from scratch, I would invite you to consider the merits of using a mobile application development tool kit before you start.

The concept of a mobile application development tool kit, for developing mobile software for handheld PDAs, in this discussion means a software application that has many pre-built functions and supports many mobile project requirements out-of-the box. Many components of a mobile software application should be provided pre-developed in a tool kit, so you can configure not develop them from scratch. Components and functions such as:

• support for GPS
  
• support for multiple screen sizes
  
• support for storing and synchronizing digital imagessupport for synchronization of data between a mobile device and an enterprise database
  
• support for RFID
  
• support for various button configurations on different models of handheld devices and Smart phones
  
• support for various security configurations
  
• support for bluetooth
  
• support for disconnected applications
  support for a wide range of Tablet PCs, laptops, Windows CE.NET, Windows Mobile etc.
  
• support for audio memo capture
  
• support for various bar code scanners
  
• support for new versions of popular operating systems and their new features
  
• support for odbc database integration
  
• support for data validations on the mobile devices
  
• support for various business logic and business rules requirements
  Mobile screen design tools
  
• much more...
  

Again the above components and functions need not be developed new for every project. They should be provided pre-developed by your mobile software development tool kit vendor. They are pre-developed, assumed-to-be debugged and tested, added to the tool kit library, improved over time and expanded so all developers can take advantage of them. There is no value added by your internal software development team building what is already available and market tested for less costs than developing in-house.

Many systems integrators and IT consultants have told me they can not profitably run a mobile application practice if they develop custom mobile applications from scratch. They want to configure mobile solutions, not design and program every possible custom scenario.
MobileDataforce is the developer of a mobile software development tool kit called PointSync.

Labels: handheld, handhelds, mobile software, pda, pdas

Author Kevin Benedict

FieldSync Automotive Work Order Demo

Mobiledataforce’s own Nick Hession-Kugelman, West Coast Business Development Manager has just added an instructional video on how the new FieldSync Automotive 3.0 works. The online demo goes through a simple day in the life of an automotive specialist's work order. Check the video out FieldSync Automotive Demo, This demo will give businesses a better idea on how the FieldSync Automotive is going to revolutionize the automotive industry

Going Green at NASPO

MobileDataForce with be attending a two day conference with NASPO held on March 23rd and 24th in the Windy City, Chicago. Ron Pharis, Government Development Manager and Jody Sedrick, National Sales Manager will introduce mobility to state agencies attending the conference with the key focus on going green with mobile technologies. The key factors that will be stressed are

• Elimination of paper by having work orders, timesheets, and inspections all processed electronically
  
• Reducing fuel cost by cutting travel time – no more last minute trip to the office just to drop off a report.
  
• Mobile dispatch and route optimization offering further fuel savings
  
• Long term strategies of reducing company infrastructure requirements by empowering employees to make decisions in the field enabling them to truly work remotely.
  

MobileDataForce has high hopes to strike state interest into going green with mobile technologies.

For your information the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is a non-profit association dedicated to strengthening the procurement community through education, research, and communication. They encourage cooperative purchasing among government agencies and different jurisdictions and honors important public-sector procurement initiatives.

MobileDataForce Introduces Off The Shelf FieldSync Automotive

MobileDataforce has just announced the new, off the shelf FieldSync Automotive 3.0. This new version of field sync has introduced new features that have helped increase efficiencies and customer satisfaction.

FieldSync Automotive is a software solution designed for businesses that perform automotive-based services in the field. The solution uses proven wireless and mobile technology to communicate work order information quickly and accurately, significantly reducing paper-based work, redundant data entry, duplicate work and delays in the billing process.

In the office, managers use FieldSync Automotive Manager to dispatch work orders, generate reports, manage customers, maintain the parts/services list, complete payroll, download new VIN updates and manage settings, including integration with QuickBooks Accounting. In the Field, mobile technicians use FieldSync Automotive Mobile on a handheld device to create estimates, manage their work order list, collect payments, add new customers, sell additional parts and services. FieldSync Automotive is designed to fit an individual company or franchise model and can be configured for most types of mobile automotive services businesses including paintless dent repair, windshield repair, bumper repair, lot washes, detailing, new/used car prep, mobile tire service, upholstery/fabric repairs and more.
A few of the new features of FieldSync Automotive 3.0 include:

· PDR Matrix on the mobile
· Creation of printable estimates and work orders from within the mobile application
· Conversion of Mobile Estimates into Work Orders with Customer History
· Dynamic Splat Markup / Quick Locator with printing on mobile estimates and work orders

· % Markup based on service
· Payment types include invoice (PO/RO#), cash, check or credit card
· Price override
· VIN Duplicate Detection, prevents double-billing

If you are interested in FieldSync Automotive, MobileDataforceis now offering a special promotion during the month of March.

This new version of FieldSync Automotive will be a great addition to any automotive company looking to increase efficiencies.

Labels: handheld, Handheld PDAs, handhelds, paintless dent removal, paintless dent repair, pda

Mobile Applications for Handheld PDAs and Business Process Automation

Some of the most important and valuable components of SAP's ERPs are the best practices business processes and work flows that are developed in them. These are automated processes that ensure that the business is completed in the appropriate way each time. These work flows and business processes have evolved and improved over the past couple of decades with much research, trial and error. Now that they are highly developed, wouldn't it be a shame to lose the benefit of them when applications go mobile and are used on handheld PDAs and smartphones?Business process automation is even more necessary when workers are mobile and working away from management oversight. How, when and why should information be collected from the remote work site? How should you handle the need to purchase replacement parts for the equipment you are repairing 50 miles from the office? What paper work do you need to fill out? How do you hire temporary labor at a remote work site? What paper work needs filled out and what information needs sent back to the office so paychecks can be processed? The answers and processes for these kinds of issues are usually pre-determined and pre-configured in the ERP system, but not often on the mobile software that runs on your smartphone or handheld PDA.When considering the use of mobile software applications, ask your SAP consultant or mobile software vendor how they can help mobile workers by extending business process automation to mobile handhelds and smartphones.

Labels: handheld, handhelds, mobile software, pda, pdas

Author Kevin Benedict

Mobile Inspection Sofware for Electrical Utilities

Sho-Me Power owns 1,663 miles of transmission line, and is responsible for inspection and maintenance of the transmission line. Sho-Me power works directly with power suppliers to help transmit power to rural areas. Sho-Me Power provides services for 131 customer delivery points in 125 distribution and transmission substations.

Sho-Me Power used paper forms to perform inspections of transmission lines in rural areas, which resulted in many challenges. Inspections were performed twice per year, once in the fall and again in the spring, transmission line poles and pole attachments were inspected for damage. Areas surrounding the transmission line were also inspected for overgrown trees and undergrowth to determine trimming needs if necessary. Many inspections were done during poor weather conditions which made it difficult to collect data, juggle necessary paperwork, and caused lost or smudged paperwork because of weather conditions. The paper forms were also time consuming to fill out, hard to collect from the field inspectors (as forms were often lost or misplaced), and required office personnel to re-enter data at the home office.

“It took a long time to fill out all of the paperwork in the field, and we ended up with so much paper that it was almost impossible to use all of the information we spent so much time collecting,” said Andy Meyers, GIS administrator at Sho-Me Power. “We knew we needed a better system for collecting and organizing our data.”

MobileDataforce worked closely with Sho-Me Power to integrate all necessary field inspection forms into one enterprise class mobility software application. The application allowed the field inspectors to sort inspections by region, completed structures, and uncompleted structures. All inspections were time stamped to keep record of when the inspection was completed, which allowed for Sho-Me Power to provide proof of inspection and track results for future inspections. The data collected was integrated into small world GIS.

Sho-Me Power selected a Trimble Recon handheld device, equipped with a GPS receiver for data collection. The mobile application utilized the GPS receivers to specifically identify the location of utility poles. This gave Sho-Me Power greater asset visibility, and made it easier for field inspectors to locate transmission poles in rural areas.

By using a mobile application rather than paper forms, Sho-Me Power was able to:

• Save administrative data entry time
• Increase asset visibility
• Wirelessly synchronize from the field
• Save fuel costs and driving time delivering paper forms
• Provide near real-time visibility to inspections in the field
• Ensure data accuracy through the use of data validation features· Save inspection time with easy to use software

The PointSync Mobility Platform is an enterprise class mobile software platform used to rapidly design, develop, and deploy mobile applications. It is architected to provide database centric mobile applications with bi-directional synchronization, connectivity, security, and enterprise database integration all within one product suite.

MobileDataforce is a global leader in the development of enterprise class and business critical software solutions. MobileDataforce software can be used on most mobile handheld computers including Smart Phones, Tablet PCs, PDAs, and laptops. MobileDataforce has offices in Europe, North America, and Australia to support our ever expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business solutions since 2000.
Conclusion:Through the use of the PointSync mobility platform Sho-Me Power was able to save time and money. Sho-Me Power was also able to gain greater visibility of assets and inspection points, and track them by GPS location.

“This system is saving us at every step in the process. We’re saving time in the field collecting information and just as much time back in the office processing it,” Meyers said. “The hours we used to spend collating paper alone is a huge savings to us, and time that can now be spent on other, more productive work.”

MobileDataforce has assisted many organizations around the world design, develop, and deploy mobile applications for field data collection. For additional information please visit our website at www.mobiledataforce.com

FieldSync Automotive Hits SEMA with a Storm

This week the MDF sales team hit the SEMA show, http://www.semashow.com/main/main.aspx?ID=/content/SEMASHOWcom/HomePage, in Las Vegas. If you're not aware the SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the hottest products for the automotive industry to one place and we were there in force. The show attracts more than 120,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries.

This was our first trip to SEMA. And it has been a HUGE success! We introduced the latest version of FieldSync Automotive which host a slew of new features like Estimating, RO#/PO# reference and majorly enhanced reporting capabilities. Our booth was inundated with interested parties who were anxious to test drive FieldSync Automotive. After demoing FieldSync one visitor commented "this will revolutionize my business".

That's our goal - delivering mobile solutions that truly extend the business process in the field.

We are already looking to 2009 with great anticipation as we are already working to incorporate new features based on customer feedback and a few of our own ideas.

I anticipate 2009 will bring more off the shelf FieldSync products so stay tuned as we move to truly bridge the gap between your field workers and the home office.

Mobile Work Orders on PDAs

Many owner's of small services companies ask how a paper based work order or service request document can be condensed to fit on a small handheld computer screen. Good question!

Most service or work order documents are divided into common sections:

1. Date, Service Technician name, service ticket number
2. Customer Name, address, phone number
3. Reason for Today's Call
4. Work Performed and description
5. Identify equipment that was serviced
6. Cost of work performed
7. Cost of parts used
8. Status of Work (complete, incomplete, outstanding)
9. Payment information
10. Customer and Service Technician signatures

We use the ability to pre-load the mobile work order application with all the dispatched customer information from the office. Most of the data the service technician enters into the mobile application can be done using:

1. Check boxes
2. Pick lists
3. Radio buttons
4. Pull down menus with multiple choice
5. Digital signature capture
6. Pre-determined labor rates
7. Pre-determined parts' pricing etc.

We are able to automatically compute the cost of labor and parts and you can even swipe a credit card from many of the handheld PDAs.

What is the value of mobilizing a work order or service request service?

1. Faster dispatch from the office
2. Pre-populated work orders synchronized to the handheld PDA
3. Less data to fill out on work orders
4. Instant invoicing for work complete
5. Faster collections
6. Complete and accurate work orders synchronized back to the work order or accounting system in the office
7. Less admin work in the office
8. Automate dispatch work in the office

The benefits list is very long. If you would like to discuss your business requirements with a mobile solutions expert, please contact MobileDataforce by email or by visiting http://www.mobiledataforce.com/.

Labels: field services, fsa, hvac applications, mobile service dispatch, mobile service orders, mobile work orders, pda inspections, pda service request, pda work orders

Mobile Handheld PC Technology in a Slow Economy

Slow economic periods are a time for reflection for many companies. Understanding how to react to an economic downturn is one of the hardest tasks for a manager. The focus must be on accomplishing more with less and reducing inefficiencies. How can you provide more services per person, lower administrative costs and reduce expenses while at the same time providing quality work and good customer services? This article is intended to help the reader start the process of self-evaluation - to explore where inefficiencies may be lurking in your own unique business environment.

The use of mobile technology, in the context of field service automation, is most often driven by the following 12 business motivations:

1. Efficiencies in communicating information between the office and the remote service technician or jobsite
2. Efficiencies in planning and scheduling work based upon location, parts and expertise needed
3. Reducing fuel costs
4. Reducing travel time
5. Reducing time consuming and error prone data entry activities in the office
6. Increasing productivity – more average service calls per service technician in a day
7. Increasing service contract sales
8. Increasing equipment upgrade sales
9. Increasing collections with mobile invoicing, mobile printing of invoices and onsite collections
10. Improving inventory control and management - visibility to parts needed, the location of inventory and parts used on each job or service ticket
11. Reduced risks by reminding service technicians of safety hazards and safety procedures on the job
12. Improving management visibility into work done in the field to ensure quality services

These 12 business motivations become increasingly important during slow economic times. In rapid growth periods inefficiencies are often overlooked in a rush to keep up with the market and business growth, and hidden under the onslaught of new sales and revenues. However, when the economy slows down, it is time for companies to re-evaluate business processes in order to eliminate the inefficiencies and bad habits that have developed. Let’s now review some common and costly inefficiencies:

1. Inefficiency # 1 -Wasted time and fuel driving back and forth to the office to pick-up and deliver new work orders, tools and parts. With the high cost of fuel, reducing driving distances is a necessity. Can you dispatch a service technician directly from their home to a nearby jobsite? Can you make sure your service technician has the most common parts in the van before they travel to the jobsite?
2. Inefficiency #2 – Wasting time and fuel by being unprepared for the job and driving around looking for parts. Can you reduce travel time and fuel costs by being better prepared for the job before traveling? Can you ask customers for more information on the equipment such as brand, serial number, year, location, problem etc? Can you ask the customer for a digital photo of the equipment, serial number, etc., and email it before dispatching the service technician?
3. Inefficiency #3 – Sitting outside of a locked and vacant location wasting time waiting for the owner to arrive. Can you set up an automated phone call to let the customer know you are on the way? This avoids showing up at a vacant house or closed business and wasting time.
4. Inefficiency # 4 – Sending service technicians to a distant location, when another service technician is closer and wasting time and fuel. Can you use GPS tracking on the vans to better know the location of all service technicians so you can dispatch the closest and best service technician for the job?
5. Inefficiency #5 – Missed opportunities to sell more services, parts and equipment to the customer at the time of work. Can you automatically remind the service technician to promote service contracts by using a mobile handheld work order system? This will help increase service contract sales.
6. Inefficiency #6 – Poor scheduling and routing. Can you schedule service contract visits based on geographic location to reduce fuel costs and wasted travel time? Can a service technician complete more service calls in a day if they are routed more efficiently?
7. Inefficiency #7 – Driving large and heavy vehicles when not required. If you have a better understanding of the parts required for today’s service calls, can you take a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle to the jobsite?
8. Inefficiency #8 – Poor cash management and collect processes. Can you collect money, swipe credit cards and print receipts from a mobile handheld device to improve collections at the jobsite? Are you wasting time, paper and postage sending out invoices weeks after the work was completed?
9. Inefficiency #9 – Too much administrative costs. Can you reduce the costs of data entry and administrative staff by automating the dispatch process by using wireless work order dispatch that is integrated directly with your work order management and accounting systems?Every company, upon self-evaluation, will be able to identify additional inefficiencies that can be corrected and reduced. Many of the costly inefficiencies can be resolved by automating and mobilizing field services business processes.

Mobilized Work Orders
What does an automated and "mobilized" work order system or service request dispatch and management system look like? A customer calls in to report a broken heating system. The office staff takes the phone call, enters the relevant information into the work order application on the desktop computer which then creates a unique work order and number.

The work order database application, with GIS integration, can compare the location of each service technician to determine which service technician is closest to the work location. The dispatch system can also look at the estimated time the nearby service technicians are committed to completing their existing assignments. Once the appropriate service technician is identified, the work order is dispatched to the handheld computer used by the service technician. Included in the electronic work order is driving directions from his/her current location to the next job location. In addition to the work order information, warranty, repair, users manual, maintenance history and product information on file can also be dispatched to the handheld computer for reference and parts inventory management.

Once the service technician arrives at the location, he opens the work order on the handheld computer. Opening the work order automatically captures the service technician's name, the date/time stamp and the GPS coordinates of the jobsite and enters them into the mobile application’s work order.

Next the service technician examines the broken heating system and determines which parts need replaced. He can pull out his handheld computer and check whether he has the needed parts in his vehicle inventory, if not, it can automatically search for nearby service vehicles that may contain the part (GPS tracking enables this). If another nearby service vehicle is determined to have the required part, then driving directions can be sent.

When the service technician arrives at the service vehicle with the needed part, then the part is scanned using a bar code scanner in the handheld computer to log its removal from the vehicle's inventory and assigns it to the appropriate work order number.

Back at the work site, the service technician runs into a challenge. He has never worked on this model before and needs advice. He snaps a digital photo of the equipment and synchronizes it back to the office. His supervisor reviews the photo and calls him with advice. Once the work is completed, the service technician signs his name on the handheld computer screen, and has the customer sign the work order screen as well. The service technician prints an invoice on a mobile printer and collects the payment or swipes the customer’s credit or debit card. The collection is noted on the mobile work order and synchronized back to the office.

As soon as the work order is completed and synchronized, the mobile application reminds the service technician to promote a 2 year service contract. The service technician reviews the details with the customer and signs them up for a 2 year service contract. Next, the work order system reviews job locations and priorities and assigns the next optimized work order to the field service technician.

These features and more are developed and deployed by MobileDataforce (http://www.mobiledataforce.com/) weekly to various service businesses around the world.Slow economic times motive each of us to become more efficient. Self-evaluation can help us understand how we can become smarter business owners. Mobile solutions can be purchased, leased, subscribed to on a monthly basis, or customized specifically for your needs. The ROI (return on investment) is quickly realized and quantifiable.

Authored by: Kevin Benedict

For more information please visit MobileDataforce’s website at http://www.mobiledataforce.com/.
Labels: field service software, service business software, service management software, wireless work orders