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Mobile solution approaches
Time, quality and costs are the factors that decide whether a company will be a success or not. Technology, the trend in PDA prices (Personal Digital Assistants) and constant progress in the field of connectivity, which makes it possible to communicate and exchange data electronically anywhere you happen to be, opens up new optimization potential.
The mobility factor leads to greater efficiency and quality in the handling of business transactions and can greatly cut throughput times as a rule. Transparency with respect to business operations is improved and, when it comes to being up-to-date, real-time is a possibility. This potential can be utilized by integration in higher ranking systems (ERP, CAFM, ...)
Improved communication
Command and control functions are electronically implemented. Jobs and activities are assigned without the use of paper. Images and spoken information can be integrated in commu-nications. The priority of individual jobs can be altered just-in-time and without complicated communication. Access to central data is possible. Thus, for example, the availability of com-ponents can be viewed by a fitter on the spot without the use of a telephone and without having to leave the worksite.
The feedback is quickly checked for plausibility on the spot and automatically processed. Additional services, material consumption, etc. can also be taken into account in this process. Idle times and transcription errors are eliminated by this tight, paper-free linkage.
Efficient and dependable handling
Lean customized handling functions on the spot permit high handling efficiency and dependability. Even when large amounts of bulk goods and immobile articles are involved, it is possible to do barcode-supported work. Disbursements in the flow of information are eliminated. Fill in the slip and then collect, pass on, sign, check, record and file it. Who has taken care of what matter when and where is noted automatically and doesn’t have to be cumbersomely recorded.
For their primary task employees have all their equipment at hand in the form of an information system. The workload is up to date and arranged according to priorities. Depending on the goal, it is possible to opt for just-in-sequence control or for a job sequence optimized by the employee on his or her own responsibility.
Documentation reliability
Efficient feedback from activities makes operations transparent that used to be too complex to manage and document by stationary means. All activities can be centrally documented with respect to a particular person and time, and are thus an important quality-management feature. Idle times in production processes can be analyzed at later date. In this context, barcodes and GPS not only lead to greater efficiency but also assure quality by way of additional plausibility.
Teamwork is supported
When large projects are handled by two or more employees, they are supported by the up-to-date information and transparency of a mobile solution. Work progress is synchronized between the team members. Problems arising from the double handling of individual operations due to poor overview are reduced by synchronization on the system side, thus leading at the same time to less coordination-related time and complexity.
Small orders become manageable
A subcontractor’s electrician replaces a fuse in the basement in keeping with the order he gets from the property manager. A light bulb on the basement stairs is defective? How high will the administrative costs be? With mobile technology - just a few clicks is all it takes to find out.
With such orders the administrative time and expense with stationary technology is many times greater than the primary service rendered. With mobile technology it is possible to show acceptance of the order, the services rendered and acknowledgment thereof. When integrated accordingly in your accounting system, a whole chain of processes is replaced by one function. (Recording the order, appointing a subcontractor, recording the job slip, booking material consumption, archiving, ...)
Field service
For the field service that results in much less need to communicate with the home office. The electronic transmission of orders and their confirmation reduce travel to the home office and thus cut traffic. No reworking is required (knocking off work on time, or more time for the customer). The availability of articles and spare parts can be checked on the spot, thereby saving time and money.
Mobile in the delivery department
The use of mobile technology in your delivery operations will free your driver from having to handle forms, will make information available earlier (tracking) and may well result in greater liquidity.
After delivery, the next synchronization with your driver transmits the confirmation of receipt. No waiting for the delivery receipt to be filed. Information for inquiries is available to you earlier - and your customer gets the bill a day earlier.
Integration is indispensable, synchronization better
ERP, CAFM, etc. are packages with a high degree of complexity and integration. These systems have various interfaces for communication with other systems. Such interfaces are ASCII, database tables, EDI and XML. Outstanding possibilities to dock on mobile solutions.
Mobile solutions thus become customized components in your system landscape. They open up far wider optimization potential without all the ballast found in complex standard packages. A corresponding price/performance ratio can be expected.
Mobile modules synchronized via standard interfaces provide you with a high degree of investment security. When new releases are available for your central system you can expect continued support of existing interfaces. If the system is changed, it is only necessary to adapt the interface.
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