AUTHOR ARCHIVES: Field Service News

TomTom Telematics has launched a new version of its fleet management Software-as-a-Service solution WEBFLEET 3.3 which allows fleet operators to review combined vehicle data from different sources in one easy-to-use interface.

The WEBLEET Plugin functionality allows a third party to generate notifications within WEBFLEET to draw the user’s attention to an event or a specific vehicle. This will highlight, for example, when a cold chain trailer temperature is out of range or a vehicle has maintenance issues which need to be addressed.

Using the company's award-winning WEBFLEET.connect open API functionality, the software enables flexible and easy back-office integrations to bring all information into one system.

[quote float="left"]For customers with bespoke software needs, this means faster and easier fleet control[/quote]For customers with bespoke software needs, this means faster and easier fleet control, integrating such services as safety cameras, temperature monitoring, alcohol testing, routing optimisation or ERP information within their WEBFLEET management system.

The technology is already being used by mutual customers of TomTom Telematics and VisionTrack to view vehicle camera footage directly from WEBFLEET.   

"Our customers who also use TomTom Telematics can now pull up incident footage instantly and review via the WEBFLEET interface, without having to open up the VisionTrack software independently," said Richard Lane, Commercial Director at VisionTrack.  "Having access to both visual proof and telematics data gives the clearest picture possible and helps to mitigate insurance costs. We’re excited to bring this new partnership to our mutual customers."

Beverley Wise, Director UK & Ireland for TomTom Telematics, added: “This new capability gives our customers an easier user experience, with faster and more convenient access to the management information they need to make smarter decisions.

"Having real-time third-party information in one interface makes WEBFLEET the hub for optimal fleet control."

JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments, sees an increasing demand for Android within many of its core segments, including warehouse logistics, transportation, ports, mining and agriculture markets.

Responding to this trend, in March 2018 JLT launched its latest generation JLT6012™ vehicle-mount computer with Android support and is now expanding its Android operating system product suite with three new fully rugged portable computers.

Being by far the most common mobile operating system for smartphones and other consumer devices, Android, with its familiarity, ease-of-use and flexibility is now growing in popularity also in the enterprise and vertical market space.

“No doubt, there is a lot of interest in Android on mobile devices for professional use within our core markets,” observes Per Holmberg, CEO of JLT Mobile Computers. “By providing Android alternatives for our vehicle-mount computers and now also our portable computers, we help customers save on cost and training, and simplify maintenance by running the same OS on all devices deployed in their operation.”

The three new products are the 5-inch MH1005A™ rugged handheld, the 7-inch MT1007A™ rugged tablet, and the 10.1-inch MT2010A™ rugged tablet. All are IP65 dustproof and water resistant, capable of operating in temperatures of -10 to +50°C (14 to +122°F), built to withstand even the most challenging working environments, and tested to applicable MIL-STD-810G requirements.

Powered by ARM® Cortex™-A53 octa-core 1.3 GHz processors, all come with bright sunlight viewable displays, capacitive multi-touch screen, front and rear integrated cameras, as well as data capturing functions including NFC reader and optional 1D/2D-barcode reader. For maximum productivity, all include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and mobile broadband and provide full-shift battery life or more.

The new rugged tablet and handheld units, which are available for immediate order, are offered with the same high level of support and services that JLT is renowned for. A wide range of accessories is available, including vehicle and desktop docks, high-capacity batteries, battery chargers, and hand and shoulder straps.

Contact JLT Mobile Computers today for more information about the new Android-based rugged handheld and tablets, or visit www.jltmobile.com to learn more about JLT, its products and solutions.

 

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FSH, the one-stop construction company servicing the north of England, has transformed its business with a 5 in 1 management system from BigChange.  Operating as a cloud service linked to mobile apps used by workers onsite, the solution provides FSH with real-time operational information for improving efficiency, productivity and service.

Employing 132 mobile tradesmen and 65 office staff, the Castleford headquartered company has regional offices in Hull, Liverpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  FSH specialises in insurance-related work, typically repairing flood or fire damaged properties.  A new construction arm handing reactive maintenance work is also driving expansion in sectors such as social housing and education.

“We work mainly for the UK’s biggest insurance firms and providing a consistently high-quality rebuild and refurbishment service is absolutely vital,” says Matthew Cappleman, Managing Director of FSH.  “The monitoring and reporting of our work on site is however just as important and that’s where BigChange comes in.  It gives real-time visibility of every job and provides an audit trail of all work.  We can manage the work better, improve customer service, and provide insurers with immediate job updates and evidence of work done.”

With a fleet of 132 BigChange equipped vehicles providing live data for managing operations, tradesmen are being equipped with rugged Samsung tablets running JobWatch.  Mobile apps completely replace paperwork with live data reporting and the devices capture useful time and location stamped photographs, as well as customer signatures.

"BigChange really does expedite everything as our tradesman can go straight to the job and put in a full, productive 8 hour day.  The system also ensures good work discipline and good practice as the tradesmen are in effect self-managing their work, backed up with their reports and photographs. With JobWatch there is no more sitting around and managers no longer need to go onsite to check the work.  Everyone wins,“ comments Matthew Cappleman.

Stuart Welburn, Finance Director at FSH agrees that BigChange has had a positive impact, adding “Certainly BigChange has been good for business and we estimate efficiency gains of 2 or 3 percent.  However, we anticipate it will improve our profitability not only through better utilisation of our resources but by generally improving our services to continually improve our reputation and win more business’.

 

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Water and waste company Severn Trent is on the lookout for new and innovative ways to manage its water pipe network, and is now looking to the robotics sector to help provide solutions to some very specific issues.

The company is looking for individuals, companies and others to share their research or practical solutions to issues such as checking on water pipes buried several feet underground or even the automatic repair of pipes that have burst.

Dr Bob Stear, Deputy Chief Engineer at Severn Trent, explains: “Simply put, we want to see what’s out there when it comes to robotics and whether there’s anything that already exists, or which could exist in the near future, to help us with some of the issues that we face today with the thousands of kilometres of water pipes that we own and operate.

“It might be that there are devices, or research, that has a practical application in our industry but which was actually developed for something completely different.

“The beauty of this process is that we have no idea what diverse technologies might come back --but we absolutely do know the areas of our business where we think a technology solution could help us, and therefore our customers.

“We’re really excited to see what’s out there in the world of robotics and look forward to talking to the market about how this fascinating technology can help us to deliver wonderful water to our customers.”

Full details and provisional tender documents are accessible via the Bravo Solutions Tool:

severntrent.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login under the project identifiers;  project_666 - Request for Information Soft Market Test Robotics Market  and rfp_648

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Check out this excellent showcase of Dell's latest rugged range where NatGeo’s Mike Libecki trades a peak into expedition life for a look at Dell’s Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme and Latitude 5424 and 5420 Rugged notebooks.

National Geographic adventurer Mike Libecki depends on Dell Rugged PCs to get to the most extreme locations and this great video he takes Rahul Tikoo, VP of Commercial Mobility Computing with him to Utah to give him a taste of expedition life through ascending, rappelling and climbing, whilst Rahul Mike the new Dell Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme and Latitude 5424 and 5420 Rugged notebooks.

Find out more and check out the full Dell rugged product line here: https://www.dell.com/rugged

 

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Captec, designer and supplier of specialist computer platforms, has announced the launch of a brand new fully rugged tablet, built specifically for mobile workforces.

The lightweight, 8-inch VT 681 provides smaller fleets with an affordable Windows-based tablet and has been developed by Captec to disrupt the market currently dominated by more expensive rugged hardware.

Ruggedisation features include IP-67 protection and drop-testing to 1.2 metres, enabling the tablet to comfortably withstand the stresses of challenging environments including rough treatment, dust and water ingress and shocks.

With built-in GPS and an optional barcode scanner, the VT-681 supports the application needs of today’s mobile workforce across sectors including construction, field services, utility fleets and emergency services.

The addition of an integrated hand strap delivers maximum comfort on-the-go, while the active stylus pen increases the functionality available to field service professionals, even in wet conditions.

 

"With built-in GPS and an optional barcode scanner, the VT-681 supports the application needs of today’s mobile workforce across sectors including construction, field services, utility fleets and emergency services..."

 

For mobile workforces requiring use in and out of vehicles, Captec has also developed the IVM-681 vehicle dock, designed to accommodate the VT-681 tablet.

The new Captec dock is robust, compact and quick and easy to use. It features USB and power pass through and has been constructed to offer hassle-free, one-handed cost-effective docking.

To meet the critical safety requirements of in-vehicle applications, the dock has been tested for its ability to endure shock and vibration – enabling tablets to stay securely mounted, even in the event of a collision.

Gerard Marlow, Sales Director, Captec, said:

“We’re excited to be able to introduce this new rugged tablet into our range. Our aim is to provide mobile workforces with flexible, powerful and cost-effective mobile computing solutions that make their jobs easier and provide peace of mind that they’re equipped to withstand all the rigours associated with fieldwork.”

As well as developing the new tablet and dock, Captec offers a complete installation service. By fully managing everything from vehicle audits and custom cable looms to installation and through-life support, Captec optimise in-vehicle applications for reliability, safety and longevity.

Find out more about the Captec VT-681 rugged tablet here - https://www.captec-group.com/product/captec-vt-681-fully-rugged-tablet/

 

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Fast Lean Smart (FLS) is helping to cut down travel and admin time for British Engineering Services, enabling field engineers to be more productive by up to 15% each day.

Paul Hirst, Managing Director Engineering Inspection, says “FLS have proven an outstanding partner since we began together in 2015. The FLS VISITOUR advanced scheduling solution is at the heart of our business strategy for field engineering efficiency whilst delivering the best customer experience.”

British Engineering Services is the UK’s biggest independent engineering inspection, testing and certification company and has a long history dating back to 1859. Customers include all kinds of businesses, from factories to nuclear power plants, from hospitals to schools. Until 2015 it was part of RSA, one of the world’s leading insurance groups and a FTSE 100 company, but is now established as a privately owned company.

Today, British Engineering Services employs 450 highly trained and qualified engineer surveyors and consultant engineers who perform 2.8 million inspections per year. Its customers benefit from state-of-the-art technology and excellent online reporting systems that can deliver information quickly and efficiently.

 

Never standing still

“We constantly review our performance and look for ways to exceed customer expectations,” says Stephen Doyle, Operations Development Leader for British

Engineering Services. “We pride ourselves on having some of the best people in the industry working for us. Many of our staff have been involved in engineering inspection and certification for decades. It is this deep knowledge and understanding of our customers’ requirements that has shaped our business and led us to working with FLS.”

 

The right engineer for the right job at the right time

FLS’s flagship solution, FLS VISITOUR, helps to match availability with customer demand. The software automatically schedules inspections for the entire engineering team and selects the right engineer with the right skill set for the right job. Through

customisable variables, the FLS solution consolidates multiple inspections due at one site into a single visit. It also uses advanced mapping software to choose the most efficient routes to each appointment, including consideration of traffic at the time-of-day. FLS VISITOUR will ensure that each appointment is the best fit for the customer, the engineer and British Engineering Services as a whole.

 

"The initial findings from FLS VISITOUR clearly demonstrated a significant reduction in travel time but also the added benefit of reduced admin time for the Engineers..."

 

Stephen explains, “We looked at lots of different scheduling solution providers, but none of them gave us the flexibility that we wanted. Then we found FLS, who offered a highly configurable system and made every effort to understand our company, our data, and deliver what was right for us and our customers. They also demonstrated what their software could do with initial data tests and a ‘try before you buy’ trial. This was a big reason why we chose them.”

The initial findings from FLS VISITOUR clearly demonstrated a significant reduction in travel time but also the added benefit of reduced admin time for the Engineers by enabling the introduction of a central planning team to arrange the inspections.

Stephen says, “The trial proved the efficiency and productivity-fuelling benefits of FLS VISITOUR, but it also helped us prepare for the full implementation. We learnt what to do, who to involve, and how to make the transition as smooth as possible for our people.”

 

Inspection timing and risk management

British Engineering Services take safety and compliance very seriously and have unsurpassed engineering inspection certification accreditations and memberships. Inspections are planned in advance to give the customer notice and allow any access issues to be addressed before the day.

One of the business challenges is that inspections performed too early would bring subsequent inspections forward which increases costs, but overdue inspections could create a safety and compliance risk. The fact that FLS VISITOUR manages this timing and enables the coordination of multiple inspections in one visit is not just beneficial in reduced travel time and costs, it is also less disruptive for its customers whilst ensuring safety standards are met.

 

Working in partnership

“We’ve found the whole team at FLS really helpful and approachable and feel this is a genuine partnership that continues to improve our efficiency and quality of service.” Stephen explains. “They’re always available when we need them and regularly review the rules and settings within VISITOUR to ensure we are meeting our own customers’ expectations in the best possible way. I cannot recommend FLS highly enough.”

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Columbus, the global digital business services provider, has today announced the launch of a fully connected and mobile Field Service solution. Columbus has created an end-to-end intelligent Field Service solution that utilises the full Dynamics 365 platform.

This includes seamless integration between Dynamics 365 for Field Service and IoT sensor reporting, predictive maintenance and advanced business intelligence to enable customers to make real-time, data-driven decisions on operations. Completing the field service scenario is Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, the mixed reality heads-up display technology delivered via HoloLens devices.

Columbus has drawn on over 25 years of manufacturing industry experience to develop the new solution, which enables medium and large enterprises to quickly adopt and leverage emerging technologies to take full advantage of digital disruption and develop a competitive advantage. The Columbus Field Service offering introduces greater operational visibility by connecting the entire service supply chain to deliver a personalised, customer-focused experience and reduce operational costs.

For organisations looking to tailor a field service solution around existing systems, Columbus also integrates out-of-the-box with Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations to optimise additional processes such as work orders and invoicing.

By consolidating data streams to provide businesses with a holistic view of operational performance, the solution helps boost scheduling efficiency, first-time fix rate, engineer punctuality, on-site productivity and engineer billable time, while enabling engineers to identify more opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell services and products.

Mary Hunter, Managing Director at Columbus UK commented “As customers become increasingly connected, businesses must evolve accordingly to maintain a high level of service and meet rising expectations. Columbus helps organisations such as Orangebox, Handicare, and Capital Solutions add value to their businesses and support a customer-centric experience. The new Columbus Field Service solution extends this ability even further to introduce greater business intelligence, end-to-end business process automation and drive cost efficiencies.”

Chris Mean, Chief Operating Officer at Columbus UK added “We are dedicated to supporting organisations throughout every step of their digitisation and servitisation journey, and the Columbus Field Service solution coupled with the extensive expertise of our consultants allows them to enhance and modernise their field service offering at any stage. Our new solution will provide organisations with the ability to harness the full potential of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 portfolio and extend their value stream accordingly.”

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Service management thought leader Sarah Nicastro joins IFS to drive recognition and growth in service

IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that Field Technologies Online Editor-in-Chief Sarah Nicastro will join IFS as Director of Service Business Development and Field Service Evangelist.

Sarah brings to IFS over a decade of experience covering the trends, technologies and business drivers that most impact end users of field service solutions. During her tenure at FTO, Sarah’s mission has been to help field service customers tell their stories. In her new role, Sarah will add to the in-house expertise to translate how IFS solutions address the challenges and pain points of savvy field service companies.

Marne Martin, President of IFS Service Management Business Unit and CEO of Workwave, an IFS company, shares her excitement, “With this appointment, IFS will be yet one step closer to our customers, as part of Sarah’s responsibilities include directly tuning into our customer community. Sarah will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our growth targets, which are ambitious but entirely attainable considering the mix of great products, clients, talent and customer care at IFS.”

Commenting on her appointment, Sarah added, “I am very excited to join IFS, which is one of a small number of companies in the service management space I would consider working for. I know IFS as a strong technology vendor with an unmistakable passion for service management. I look forward to contributing with my expertise to help the company achieve its growth goals by focusing on the needs of the field service community.”

Read more about how IFS’s suite of service management solutions supports service organizations here: www.ifsworld.com/corp/industries/service/.

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