Promote Mobility With Rugged Handhelds

By Integrated Solutions magazine

The evolution of rugged handheld devices is focused on providing a seamless, bidirectional connection between the mobile workforce and the enterprise network. FSM (field service management) applications, such as those for direct store delivery, route sales and optimization, and customer service history, are just a few examples where mobile computers play an important role. For example, a technician can receive work orders while in the field, eliminating the need to report to a central dispatch office — which may be many miles away in some remote areas. With a bidirectional connection, that worker can also mark the job ‘complete' and upload information to the main office automatically. In some cases, the worker may even be able to use the handheld to invoice the customer and collect payment while still at the job site.

"One of the most interesting aspects of implementing a mobile computing device in these areas is not the impact it makes on the mobile worker, but the cost savings it provides the enterprise," says Jose Vega, marketing manager, Datalogic Mobile, Inc. "Giving a field service tech the ability to look up schematics on their handheld computer is great for the technician, but if you transmit an order or invoice directly to the accounting system or ERP [enterprise resource planning] system, you speed the time it takes for your company to get paid or for your client to get their product." For example, during a store visit a route sales employee may find that a promotion is producing better-than-anticipated results. A rugged handheld can be used by that employee to place a supplemental order, which is immediately transmitted to the company warehouse. The warehouse can then employ GPS technology to determine the location of other delivery trucks that may be nearby and that also have suitable inventory onboard for immediate delivery. In addition, automating tasks, such as transmitting order or invoice information, can reduce the data entry costs associated with systems that are not connected or do not have an otherwise simplified pathway from the mobile worker to the enterprise system. This is a way for companies to not only fully utilize field resources, but to provide extraordinary customer service as well.

Outside of traditional field service, the continued development of rugged handhelds also has become increasingly important in the construction and utilities markets. "As the government mandates thorough inspections at construction sites, being able to check on inspection procedures via a handheld tracks the inspection employee's progress and ensures a full inspection took place," says Ron Caines, president, Americas, Psion Teklogix Corporation. "More importantly, these inspections are completed in real time, eliminating the need to track down paperwork and enabling companies to be more productive as they start working on a job site."

Used with permission from Integrated Solutions magazine