FROM FIELD TECHNOLOGIES MAGAZINE

Mobility Takes Logistics To The Next Level

Dunbar Armored increased its IT spending from 10% to 25% to invest in a rugged handheldbased mobile bar-coding solution that has revamped its logistics operation.

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  Q&A: Making The Move From Windows To iOS
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  Cellular Signal Boosters Allow Mobile Solution Success

• GPS Enables Visibility, Promotes Accountability
• How Geofencing Can Expand The Benefits Of Your Mobile Solution
• How To Handle Today’s Top Mobile Security Threats

FEATURED ARTICLES

• Battling Pests With Mobile Computers

  When the Okolona Pest Control started, each technician carried a clip board with the necessary account paperwork and daily route. Notes and services performed were hand written and invoicing was manual. All the paper was brought back to the office for data entry. Changes in regulations increased the documentation requirements and, as the company grew, the amount of paper created and stored also increased.

• Mixed Labor Resource Model

  The role of Field Service Organizations (FSOs) is changing. No longer are FSOs regarded simply as cost centers or necessary evils. FSOs provide important post-sale customer touch points that should be exploited by all verticals within the organization to increase sales and improve brand image and awareness.

• Field Service Optimization: Oxymoron Or Major Opportunity?

  As field service evolves to become a major contributor to corporate strategic revenues and profitability, it is increasingly important to optimize service efficiency, productivity, quality, and effectiveness. However, many service managers believe this objective is impossible because service businesses are too complex or they don’t follow normal business rules. This paper, based on cross-sectional studies of more than 250 small, medium, and large service organizations operating nationally or globally, shows how service optimization is being achieved—in part, through technology improvements in the service delivery system and through new concepts in service strategy development.

• What Real Mobile Workers Think About Fleet Management

  We recently interviewed Milo Mell, technical support manager at LT Enterprises for an upcoming article in Field Technologies magazine. While talking with Mell, we asked his thoughts on the following question and thought you may find his response interesting.

• An Odd, Costly Mobile Security Request

  We recently interviewed Keith Katz, vice president of management products at Kony Solutions for an upcoming article in Field Technologies magazine. While talking with Keith, we asked his thoughts on the following question and thought you may find his response interesting.

INDUSTRY NEWS

• Complete Innovations Previews New Workforce Management Software

  Asset and mobile workforce software provider Complete Innovations previewed its new Fleet Complete 8 workforce management platform this week at the Messenger and Courier Assn. of America’s (MCAA) Annual Meeting and Expo in New Orleans.

• ORBCOMM Launches Diverse Portfolio Of M2M Devices Targeted For Transportation Market
• FLO-CORP’s Guardian 2000™ Wireless Monitoring System Brings Advanced M2M Functionality To Process Monitoring
• MobileDemand Debuts The xTablet C1300 Convertible Rugged Tablet PC
• MaaS360 Delivers First Enterprise Mobility Management Accessible Through Google Glass

FROM THE EDITOR

What Does Big Data Mean In Field Service?

You’ve probably heard the term “Big Data” as it has become one of those overused industry buzzwords. But do you know what it really means or how it applies to field service? I was asked this question at a conference recently, and I thought, since the term is somewhat vague, some of you out there are probably wondering the very same thing.

RECENT NEWSLETTERS

• 05.22.13 -- EMS Workers Find Rugged Tablets The Perfect Solution For Use In Ambulances
• 05.20.13 -- Can You Really Trust The Cloud?
• 05.13.13 -- Empower Your Service Technicians With The Right Tablet

FEATURED MOBILE SOLUTIONS

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  Swyft Mobile For Field Service

  Swyft Mobile for Field Service is a mobile application suite which facilitates more timely and accurate execution of customer field service orders, from assignment to invoicing.

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  Wilson Wireless Boosters For applications where your devices don't have an external antenna port, or where you need to boost the signal for multiple devices in fairly close proximity, Wilson wireless boosters are a great asset.
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  xTablet T7200 High Performance Mini Rugged Tablet PC

  The MobileDemand xTablet T7200 combines the functionality of a notebook, full Windows OS of a tablet and the portability and data collection capabilities of a handheld. The all new supercharged Intel® Atom processor provides 2.35 times better CPU performance and 4 times better disk performance to handle graphic and data intensive applications.

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  Service Parts & Inventory

  Spare part shipments and RMAs are an integral part of your service strategy. You need to track and closely monitor every product, part, or unit that comes in or goes out of your organization.

RECENT WEBINARS

• Give The Green-Light: Build Your Business Case For Field Service Technology

  Join Vidya Chadaga, director of product marketing at ServiceMax, and Field Technologies Online for a complimentary webinar. This session will cover how to craft the perfect business case for Field Service technology, backed with great metrics and returns you may not even have thought about. Come learn about the best practices for building your case and securing the budget for your Field Service technology project.

• Today's TCO: Enterprise-Grade Mobility In A Consumer-Centric World

  The appeal of a low-cost, consumer-grade tablet for professional use is ever increasing, especially as the available device selection multiplies. But there is much more to consider when looking at mobile deployment costs. Join David Krebs, VP of the Mobile & Wireless practice at VDC Research, as he unveils brand-new research that will help you understand the new elements of a truly effective enterprise mobility TCO scenario. Sponsored by Motion Computing.

• Keep Score Like The PGA: Learn From The PGA's Innovative Use Of Mobility

  The PGA recently improved its tournament operations by implementing mobility, and they have real-world lessons to share with you. In this webinar, sponsored by Intermec and hosted by Field Technologies, you'll hear firsthand from Lou Manz, director of IT for the PGA, how the PGA successfully deployed its mobile solution, which has now been used at various tournaments including the 2012 PGA Championship and 2012 Ryder Cup.