Mobile Computing Thought Leadership

  1. When An Apple Fan Is Forced To Choose Android 4/26/2017

    Techies, and even the average user, that favor Apple devices almost always do so with extreme conviction. Not many Apple fans are lukewarm about why they use and love the company’s products. What exactly would cause a hardcore Apple fan to stray from the platform? Neal Ratner, manager of business innovation at Applus+ Energy and Power, is here to explain.

  2. Easing The Growing Pains Of Rapid Growth 4/20/2017

    Power Pro-Tech Services (PPT) specializes in the service and installation of distributed power systems. Over the past five years, the company has experienced rapid growth – more than 15 percent per year. With field techs operating in 22 states and a number of acquisitions over the past five years, PPT is no stranger to some of the pains that accompany rapid growth. While these pains fall into the category of “a great problem to have,” they are still a problem that must be handled effectively to be overcome.

  3. Where Field Service Companies Commonly Fail With Technology 4/18/2017

    Donald B. Stephens has been in the field service industry for 32 years. He is currently a Senior Customer Service Engineer with the Xerox Corporation. As you can imagine, in his time there he has witnessed the technology evolution and has learned a lot about how things can go right – and wrong. Stephens has taken his firsthand experiences and spends some of his time writing his own thoughts on those topics. He contributes regularly to Field Service Digital, and - fun fact – he’s even written three novels!

  4. 3 Benefits Of Using Apple Devices For Field Service 4/7/2017

    Greg Dykes, manager of technical services at The Davey Tree Expert Company, joined Field Technologies recently on a webinar to discuss his company’s experience rolling out a variety of technologies to its mobile workforce. One component of their overall solution is Apple devices – and here Greg talks about why Dave Trey felt Apple devices were the best fit for its field force.

  5. Disconnected Mobile Workers: A Bottom-Up Proof That Purpose-Built Devices Are Better 3/22/2017

    There seems to be a majority consensus (80%) among global enterprise executives that mobility is a “key enabler of reaching business goals”. In fact, more than 50% of senior executives intend to expand their mobile workforce in the coming months according to a recent study conducted by WBR Digital and commissioned by NetMotion.

  6. Q&A: How Effective Is Your Mobile Communication Strategy? 3/2/2017

     We hosted a webinar recently with enterprise communication platform provider Zinc and their customer Bio Tek Instruments to talk about the importance of effective and easy mobile communication. Bio Tek shared their firsthand experience on the impact that mastering mobile communications can have on field service.

  7. Gazing Into The Crystal Ball: A Look At The Future Of Mobile Print 2/13/2017

    This time of year is traditionally one of reflection on the past and contemplation of the next 365 days ‘round the sun. It’s especially a useful time to get out the figurative crystal ball to consider current and rising trends, and see where the future lies.

  8. The Power Of Connectivity For Field Service Technicians 2/7/2017

    As digital tools have proliferated, what tasks and levels of access are field service organizations (FSOs) providing for their technicians online?

  9. Utilities Workforce Reality - Aging And Yet More Vibrant 2/1/2017

    A high-quality workforce is a tremendous asset to any Utility. And utility technicians, across the board, have a lot of experience and skill. The challenge to utilities is that this “asset” is older than the average workforce currently driving other U.S. industries. According to PWC, over 30% of Utility workers are within five years of retirement. PWC also reported that first-year turnover is high among the next-generation of utility field service professionals, and getting worse.

  10. Big Data And Mobility: How Well Will They Work Together? It Could Depend On Your Mobile Device 1/18/2017

    In 2012, the NY Times reported on Big Data efforts at the retailer Target. Their analysis was able to determine which of their shoppers was pregnant, based only in changes to items purchased. These were not obvious changes like the addition of baby wipes, but subtle changes in shoppers’ baskets. The article (“ How Companies Learn Your Secrets” ) documented one case where Target knew that a teen shopper was pregnant before her parents knew. This just shows that there can be a wealth of information hidden in a forest of data.