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Teesdale Renewables, a fast-growing provider of renewable energy services to homes and businesses in the North East of England, has reported an improvement in its customer service capabilities following the introduction of Fleetmatics’ mobile workforce solution known as Fleetmatics REVEAL™.

The system has been installed throughout the company’s fleet of six vehicles to ensure that the location of engineers can be pinpointed in real-time via the Live Map functionality. This has assisted with efficient scheduling of customer visits and faster response times when emergency call-outs are received.

 

Kevin Maughan, Media & Marketing Manager at Teesdale Renewables, said: “We use the Live Map feature all the time. It’s invaluable to us. In cases where there’s an emergency, we know immediately which engineer is nearest and send him or her to the job. This means they get to the customer much faster than they would if we were still having to manually check the location of each engineer. In addition, the system helps the engineer takes the fastest route to a job, which not only improves our service but saves fuel and time.

 

“As a company, we are dedicated to energy efficiency so it’s important we adhere to these principles in the way we operate.”

Teesdale Renewables, based in Barnard Castle, County Durham, specialises in biomass fuel installations but also offers conventional heating, plumbing and electrical services via its AG Bainbridge and CMJ Electrical divisions. The company has been using the Fleetmatics system since September, when the decision was made to invest in a fleet management solution for a number of reasons. One of these was security, with the management keen to ensure staff were not using their vehicles after designated working hours. Additionally, there was a desire to improve route optimisation and emergency response times.

“The engineers have embraced the technology very well,” said Kevin. “It is fair to expect a little resistance to this change in working practices but we were pleasantly surprised by how well it has been taken on board by the staff.”

 

One unexpected benefit of the system arose when it helped to resolve a dispute over driver behaviour. The company received a call complaining that one of its drivers had been driving excessively quickly when overtaking an elderly driver, but on closer inspection of the vehicle data, the company was able to demonstrate that its driver had not exceeded the speed limit. In fact, it was the unusually low speed of the other vehicle that gave the incorrect impression that the van was travelling very fast.

 

Having made an immediate impact in its first few weeks, the importance of the Fleetmatics system is likely to grow as Teesdale Renewables continues to expand.

“The demand for biomass fuel in this area has been massive,” said Kevin. “The price of fossil fuels keeps going up and people are recognising the long-term benefits of a more efficient and sustainable option. We are expecting to grow our workforce in 2015 and the Fleetmatics system will be very helpful in managing that team efficiently and effectively so that our customers receive the best possible levels of service.”

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Fast Lean Smart, have recently announced a new version of its industry leading scheduling solution FLS VISITOUR for Microsoft Dynamics CRM being available now for customers. 

Last week, the market was excited to see Microsoft publish the new Dynamics CRM 2015, now available for both Online and On Premise. After evaluating the new capabilities within 2015 edition, Fast Lean Smart started to invest early in supporting and extending its solution to complement and take advantage of these when available.

The recently announced new FLS VISITOUR for Microsoft Dynamics CRM version 3 supports CRM 2015 and its feature enhancements made within the service module such as enhanced SLAs, hierarchy information and added CRM for tablet functionality.

Fast Lean Smart customers are able to further enhance their SLA management with the features provided by PowerOpt scheduling engine - helping to optimise the daily scheduling based on multiple parameters and real-time status feedbacks from the field staff.

Guiding the user through the process of scheduling in the most efficient way of providing all data needed was one of the main focuses, taking into account the new branching capabilities of the business process flow feature. The scheduling approach feels natural and always accurate even in complex rule scenarios.

 

Version 3 also supports the new Microsoft Parature integration scenarios within Case Management and provides new capabilities inside offered mobile client applications. The newly introduced feature of self-service scheduling within mobile applications guarantees more flexibility in providing field services. The overall user experience of FLS VISITOUR for Microsoft Dynamics CRM reaches new heights.

The software of Fast Lean Smart is the only scheduling solution in the market based on extending and enhancing the out-of-box CRM scheduling engine and related entities. All the data needed is stored within the CRM database which enables complex PowerBI scenarios and soon the new PowerBI add-on module will launch, providing better analytics on historical job completion and forecast for the upcoming workload.

“We cooperated closely with other market leading solutions like AdxStudio Portal and ClickDimensions Marketing add-ons, evaluating how to extend solution capabilities to best effect and benefit of each other”, said Carsten Groth, Technology Product Manager. “The results are a new portal integration scenario and providing field service surveys within mobile applications”.

Reinforcing strong commitment to Microsoft Dynamics ISV partnership, with this release Fast Lean Smart helps its customers to increase field service quality while optimising their TCO.

Xplore Technologies Corp manufacturer of some of the world's most powerful, longest-lasting and rugged tablets on the market, has announced that both the Windows-based Bobcat and Android-based RangerX models have achieved full ATEX certification.

The certification means that both models are safe to use in explosive atmospheres in the workplace.

This announcement means businesses with potentially explosive atmospheres can now deploy world-leading, fully rugged tablet PCs running either the Windows or Android operating system.

The ATEX Equipment Directive is designed to specify requirements for safe electrical and mechanical equipment and protective systems in potentially explosive atmospheres.  Xplore Technologies has met all essential health and safety requirements and undergone full conformity procedures for the BobCat and RangerX models.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 122 workers were killed in workplace explosions in 2012, and a further 5,000 injured.  In the UK, fire and explosions at work account for approximately 2 percent of major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

 

An explosive atmosphere can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours and combustible dusts. That means garages, flour mills, food production units, even timber processing units can all be at risk.

 

“It is often easy to assume explosive environments are the exclusive concern of the military and energy businesses but there are actually a lot more high risk work places than we might think at first,” said Sandy McCaskie, director, Xplore Technologies. “An explosive atmosphere can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours and combustible dusts.  That means garages, flour mills, food production units, even timber processing units can all be at risk.

 

“It is precisely these sorts of businesses that can benefit most from enterprise mobility and the ATEX certification means that they can have full confidence that their electrical equipment is not going to be a weak link in the protective chain,” said McCaskie.  “Xplore is not only extending that protection to their fully rugged tablet PCs that can deliver huge productivity benefits, but also offering real choice by securing the certification for both our RangerX and BobCat models. This is confidence without compromise.”

 

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Yes we have reached that time of the year when various competitions are rolled our left right and centre.The best business card in field service, thre best uniform in field service, the cleanest field service fleet and so on and so forth...

However, there are three competitions that have caught our eye of late so we thought we'd share with the class...

ServiceMax's are collecting worst ever field service engineer visits....

As the folks at ServiceMax quite rightly point out field service technicians keep the world running, but they perhaps don't get appreciated all the the time. So the team at ServiceMax are collecting your best( or should that be worst?) field service anecdotes (in strictest confidentiality of course) and have commissioned award winning artist Jerry King to create a series of customised cartoons based on the anecdotes selected

Find out more and enter here

ClickSoftware look for the most extreme field service engineers out there...

ClickSoftware mean while are launching a competition to find the field service professionals that work in the most extreme locations around the world. This is olne that is sure to turn up some interesting answers from the Arctic to the Sahara there are field engineers just about everywhere! There is also some serious money being given to charity of the back of this with each winner allowed to donate £1,000.00 (or local equivalent) to the charity of their choice - good job ClickSoftware.

Find out more and enter here 

Field Service News launch the #FSN20 - make your nominations now!

OK so this didn't so much catch our eye as it's our own competition. And it's not a competition as such... more a celebration of the great and the good of our industry but this year is the launch of the inaugural Field Service News 20. A list of the 20 most influential people working in field service. It could be analysts, commentators, the head of a specific provider that has changed the way your company operates, your boss, a former boss who ever you nominate we'll look into them and see if they can make a place on the list.

We don't promise it'll be the most scientific process, and there are no prizes available, just the awesome sense of well being for saying well done to someone who has helped you, no matter how inadvertently in you working life.

So take two minutes and make a nomination now

 

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As we approach the end of the year and look towards what the future holds in 2015 Field Service News thought it was time to show some appreciation to those who are driving our industry forward. The pioneers, the leaders, those who walk the path that the rest of us follow in.

So today we are proud to be launching the #FSN20 campaign to celebrate the 20 most influential people in field service.

How are we selecting these influencers? We're not - you are. Simply state who you think has had the most influence on you in your professional role. [unordered_list style="bullet"]

• Is it one of the leading analysts such as Bill Pollock, Sumair Dutta or Aly Pinder whose latest white paper struck a deep chord with you?
• Has a a piece of software or hardware revolutionised your workload so significantly the person driving that company forward has influenced you?
• What about some of those leading the way in service roles - people like Martin Summerhayes at Fujitsu or Martin Hotass at Siemens - both are pioneers tackling challenges the whole industry faces?
• Your favourite journalist perhaps - maybe Derek Korte at SmartVan, Sarah Nicastro over at Field Technologies Online or even one of our own humble scribes here at Field Service News?
• Even quite simply it could be your boss or one of your work colleagues - that inspire you everyday.

Who ever it is, simply add their name and a couple of lines about why you've nominated them in the comments section below. You can also vote via social media so spread the word amongst your colleagues a simple vote with your nominations name, company and the hashtag #FSN20 on twitter will register as a vote and there will also be postings across Facebook, Google+ and Linkedin so spread the word and get voting.

The final list will be compiled in the January edition of Field Service News which will be available in print to all our UK readers and available online and as a download for all our international readers.

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Samsung Electronics UK announced late last month that the Galaxy Tab Active is now available in the UK through IT distributor Exertis.  Samsung’s first tablet designed specifically for the B2B market will be available exclusively for six months with Exertis, in both the 4G and Wi-Fi versions.

Samsung has chosen to partner exclusively with Exertis due to the strength of offering in terms of sector alignment. Exertis will offer the Galaxy Tab Active with specific sector proposals to enhance the end user experience, across lone workers, field-based operators, the health sector and the education arena.

Graham Long, Vice President of Enterprise Business at Samsung, commented:

[quote float="left"]The enterprise technology landscape has shifted dramatically, driven by the demand for devices that appeal to consumers while being able to cope with the challenging requirements of professional use

“Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active device has been designed to address the requirements and challenges faced by business users. The enterprise technology landscape has shifted dramatically, driven by the demand for devices that appeal to consumers while being able to cope with the challenging requirements of professional use. We’re excited to announce that the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active is now available from our distribution partners Exertis, whose sector-specific proposition reflects our view that a tailored approach is key to differentiating within a crowded marketplace.”

 

Ewan Davies, Exertis’ head of devices, commented:

“I am delighted to partner with Samsung on what is their strongest B2B tablet opportunity to date. Samsung’s choice of Exertis as its exclusive partner reinforces the value that Samsung sees in us as a distributor. This allows Exertis to develop a unique proposition for all sectors, particularly in education and health. As an exclusive product for Exertis, this really enables us to be creative in terms of value and service and we are already seeing volume deals across multiple sectors.”

Features of the Galaxy Tab Active deliver complete business functionality based on performance, durability and protection, allowing professionals to work without limitations in and out of the office.

The Galaxy Tab Active delivers the full connectivity and meets the “always on” needs of today’s mobile business environment. It is ready to take on the harshest of work settings, and its slim, light, premium, robust design coupled with replaceable battery allows users to work efficiently wherever and whenever needed and it could be a significant launch within the field service sector for Korean technology giant...

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Research released by Halifax and the Empty Homes Agency to mark #EmptyHomesWeek which ran throughout this week reveals that over 600,000 properties remain completely empty in the UK.

This is a stark and worrying fact that is alarming on both the human and business level. Every housing provider knows it is important to have as few empty homes (or voids) as possible – not only do they cost money, they can also be a problem for local communities.

The research also highlighted that the public are concerned about this issue –  36% of people think empty homes are a blight on their local area and 74% believe their local authority should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes.

What more can be done to convert these empty properties into cherished homes?

Reducing the time it takes for repairs and maintenance teams to complete their part of the journey to re-letting a property can be one way to reduce void days.

Field Service software provider Oneserve have been working closely with a number of Local Authorities, Housing Associations and Contractors all over the UK. Through using Oneserve, a cloud based service management solution, customers are reporting better visibility and management of the void process which is enabling them to reduce turnaround days.

Phil Pemberton, Managing Director of Property Services at Sovini (One Vision Housing) commented:

“We have reduced our voids repairs and maintenance days from 10.09 in April 2014 to 8.99 in September 2014. This is a reduction of 11% and attributable to the process improvement we have achieved through using Oneserve.”

Adam Thompson, Managing Director at Oneserve added:

“It's great to see how organisations like Sovini are using Oneserve to turn properties around more quickly. We hope to increase the number of housing providers we work with in 2015 to deliver even more value to the sector.”

Flowrite Services LTD, the UK’s leading National Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Company has implemented the very latest market leading technology, Optimatics from Aeromark, to schedule, manage and communicate with its 100 HVAC and Refrigeration engineers, Nationwide.

Flowrite was looking for a system that would help improve the management of their customer’s assets including catering refrigeration – Walk-in chillers & freezers, Cellar cooling, service cabinets, display refrigeration, ice machines and air conditioning equipment, and to optimise its service operation for planned and reactive maintenance. Aeromark offered a smarter mobile workforce technology to schedule engineers and as a result, not only has productivity in the field has improved by 20% but also as a result of better scheduling, mileage per job has reduced by 30%.

'Our previous system, which was based on email and digital pens completing job sheets, resulted in a considerable amount of lost time in the field as planning was very manual and communication was not always accurate resulting in not satisfying our customers’ critical data requirements. We needed a system that provided exceptional service, accurate data and real time information, to ensure reactive jobs are planned quickly and efficiently and reporting to our customer’s accurate data.’ Said Debbie Sarson-Lowe, Operations Director.

Optimatics provides Flowrite Services LTD with a solution for Asset Management, Workforce Scheduling, QR Code technology, integrated mobile workflows, vehicle tracking and Mobility Apps to connect engineers to the office.

‘This system provides all the information including site history to ensure the engineer has the right information every time; which results in greater efficiency, accurate parts ordering and better first-time fix rates; even the job sheets are created in real time and are emailed as the engineer leaves the job.’ said Debbie.

Since the deployment of the Aeromark Optimatics system, Flowrite’s planners have complete visibility of allocated and non-allocated tasks and are able to proactively manage jobs scheduled in real time.

Flowrite’s investment in Aeromark Optimatics solution has been essential to efficiency and service operations which enables the company to improve the service and data it presents to its customers.

Red Hat a leading provider of open source solutions, early this week announced an update to its newly acquiredFeedHenry 3 mobile application platform.

The update, featuring a new Teams and Collaboration enhancement, is an expansion to one of the industry’s leading mobile application platforms for enterprise development. The FeedHenry 3 mobile application platform brings something new to the market with its integrated collaboration and access control features that support distributed development teams working in unison across multiple application projects.

The FeedHenry 3 Teams and Collaboration enhancement includes:

• Global collaboration on mobile application projects: Multiple distributed development teams, both in-house and outsourced, can work simultaneously in FeedHenry 3 on mobile application projects, which consist of a variety of client applications, cloud applications, and services, each with their own individual Git repositories. Developers work individually but with access to relevant project-related components, increasing agility at individual stages in the application development lifecycle.
• Role-based collaboration across the application lifecycle: Multiple skills and teams, from application design, front-end coding, back-end services development, analytics, administration, and more, can work concurrently across multiple application projects bringing applications to market faster and more efficiently without impacting individual developer agility and productivity.
• Access controls for mobile projects: Configuration of fine-grained controls at individual levels of each mobile project enables ease and security of access to key project components. This helps lock functionality at different levels within the platform. For example, by setting authorised access controls, sensitive back-end systems credentials can be insulated from third-party or other developer roles, providing greater security and compliance. This fine-grained access control also encourages an API-driven and micro-services development and discovery approach, enabling ease of discovery and reuse of core components and services.
• Company-wide visibility across mobile projects: Centralizing collaboration and control across multiple skills in multiple mobile projects, across various stages of their lifecycle, enables visibility of all company-wide mobile projects. This promotes a mobile-first approach to enterprise mobility, supporting innovation and reuse.

Commenting on the release Cathal McGloin, vice president, Mobile Platforms, Red Hat stated “Enterprise mobility has matured beyond a single application, silo approach, toward a team-based, business-centric model, where multiple applications, at various stages of the application development lifecycle, are managed by different teams. Organisations are looking to improve their agility and responsiveness on mobility projects while at the same time having distributed teams and centralised policy management. Teams and Collaboration, as an integrated feature across the FeedHenry 3 platform, addresses this need, enabling a granularity of access control across different development resources, whether in-house or third-party, that promotes agility and reuse of core components.”

Chris Marsh, principal analyst, 451 Research added “With 40 percent of large enterprises planning to increase their application development outsourcing, collaboration across enterprise IT, lines of business and any external partners that may be involved is crucial. As the complexity of juggling multiple application projects and the pressure of faster development cycles increase, enterprises will look to platform vendors to offer more team-based collaboration features that provide centralised visibility and control of all application development projects across the organisation."