The need for digital transformation – and the challenges facing the UK and global supply chain – were at the heart of the inaugural BT Field Engineering Forum.
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Jul 17, 2019 • Fleet Technology • News • fleet • lastmile • BT • Parts Pricing and Logistics
The need for digital transformation – and the challenges facing the UK and global supply chain – were at the heart of the inaugural BT Field Engineering Forum.
The first BT Field Engineering Forum, sponsored by Kuehne+Nagel and held at London's BT Tower on 17 June, covered a wide range of topics on how the sector can move forward.
The host, BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, brought together industry experts to discuss the rapid evolution of technology and how innovations such as self-driving cars, drones, blockchain – and even BT’s own Final Mile solution – can help organisations to improve performance and efficiency.
A key theme was customer service and how the supply chain is responding to a significant shift towards an environment where the customer is central. Keynote speaker and author Sean Culey explored the disruptive technological models that are driving this change, and what businesses must do to deliver the experience that customers now demand.
Throughout the day, speakers and panellists demonstrated the impact of change upon major market sectors such as retail, or specific organisations such as the NHS and the Ministry of Defence.
Crucially, each speaker had practical, proven solutions to these challenges, which they shared with over 100 delegates from across the UK supply chain.
Topics ranged from perceptive fulfilment – using data to pre-empt customer buying decisions – or the use of personalised procurement portals for faster, more efficient operations.
The event also gave BT the chance to demonstrate the power of its Final Mile solution for field engineers. Final Mile is a nationwide network of secure lockers and boxes, used as intermediary stock locations by organisations with large field engineering teams. By storing parts at strategic sites along engineers’ routes, businesses can reduce driving hours to serve customers faster, remove cost and minimise environmental impact.
Stephen Maddison, Managing Director of Final Mile, explained why the Field Engineering Forum was so important. “Not so long ago, organisations only reviewed their supply chain every three years or so," he said. Today, given the pace of change and the exciting new technologies available, businesses need to keep their finger on the pulse continuously.That’s why we created the Field Engineering Forum – a place where industry leaders can tackle these issues head-on, share best practice and forge new partnerships. The supply chain is the bloodstream of the economy, so it’s vital it’s in a healthy state. We’re delighted with the quality of debate and are looking to repeat this event next year.”
The first BT Field Engineering Forum, sponsored by Kuehne+Nagel and held at London's BT Tower on 17 June, covered a wide range of topics on how the sector can move forward.
The host, BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, brought together industry experts to discuss the rapid evolution of technology and how innovations such as self-driving cars, drones, blockchain – and even BT’s own Final Mile solution – can help organisations to improve performance and efficiency.
A key theme was customer service and how the supply chain is responding to a significant shift towards an environment where the customer is central. Keynote speaker and author Sean Culey explored the disruptive technological models that are driving this change, and what businesses must do to deliver the experience that customers now demand.
Throughout the day, speakers and panellists demonstrated the impact of change upon major market sectors such as retail, or specific organisations such as the NHS and the Ministry of Defence.
Crucially, each speaker had practical, proven solutions to these challenges, which they shared with over 100 delegates from across the UK supply chain.
Topics ranged from perceptive fulfilment – using data to pre-empt customer buying decisions – or the use of personalised procurement portals for faster, more efficient operations.
The event also gave BT the chance to demonstrate the power of its Final Mile solution for field engineers. Final Mile is a nationwide network of secure lockers and boxes, used as intermediary stock locations by organisations with large field engineering teams. By storing parts at strategic sites along engineers’ routes, businesses can reduce driving hours to serve customers faster, remove cost and minimise environmental impact.
Stephen Maddison, Managing Director of Final Mile, explained why the Field Engineering Forum was so important. “Not so long ago, organisations only reviewed their supply chain every three years or so," he said. Today, given the pace of change and the exciting new technologies available, businesses need to keep their finger on the pulse continuously.That’s why we created the Field Engineering Forum – a place where industry leaders can tackle these issues head-on, share best practice and forge new partnerships. The supply chain is the bloodstream of the economy, so it’s vital it’s in a healthy state. We’re delighted with the quality of debate and are looking to repeat this event next year.”
Jul 16, 2019 • News • apps • health and safety • News Software and Apps • Software and Apps
Celtic Technologies now use StaySafe to provide better protection for their field workers when working underground or remotely.
Celtic Technologies now use StaySafe to provide better protection for their field workers when working underground or remotely.
StaySafe is an app and surrounding cloud-based monitoring service which tracks a lone worker’s location via GPS and alerts their manager if an employee triggers an alert or they do not check-in within a specified time.
Celtic Technologies provide integrated environmental services which operate in the UK, France,the USA and Canada. They are a contaminated land remediation contractor specialising in ground and groundwater treatment, materials management, asbestos management, and brownfield improvement.
Prior to StaySafe, the company relied on traditional safety practices such as asking staff to send text messages or call in to let management know of their whereabouts. However, this method relied heavily on employees remembering to contact the office and was also problematic for those that carried out work in remote areas.
Stephen Kidley Senior Operations Manager at Celtic comments “Set up of the app was very quick and we were all impressed with its simplicity. Our staff are really pleased with the app and feel much more comfortable knowing that they have it with them. The customer service we have received from StaySafe has been excellent and the solutions they provide are great value for money”.
Don Cameron CEO at StaySafe adds “It can be a huge challenge to manage and maintain the safety of field service workers due to the dangerous environments they’re constantly exposed to, StaySafe helps to keep these vulnerable employees safe by offering an innovative and simple way to monitor their safety”.
Jul 15, 2019 • News • connected devices • smart automation • Software and Apps • Industry 4.0
Former Google Enterprise sales leader, Nathan Radar, will drive client acquisition strategy to the next level, connected worker platform firms says.
Former Google Enterprise sales leader, Nathan Radar, will drive client acquisition strategy to the next level, connected worker platform firms says.
Parsable, the Connected Worker Platform company, have announced the hire of its new Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Nathan Rader.
As CRO, Rader will spearhead the company's revenue generation and customer expansion strategies, driving deeper collaboration among teams across the company and its partner ecosystem to ensure alignment on all go-to-market initiatives.
As CRO, Rader will spearhead the company's revenue generation and customer expansion strategies, driving deeper collaboration among teams across the company and its partner ecosystem to ensure alignment on all go-to-market initiatives.
This appointment comes at a time of exciting expansion at Parsable. The company recently announced growth in the aerospace industry with the success of its partnerships with Honeywell Aerospace and Daher. It also launched its Connected Worker Changeovers, Maintenance and Safety Accelerators for consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers.
Rader joins Parsable with over a decade of sales experience at Google Enterprise, most recently as head of sales for Google Cloud. As one of Google Cloud's first enterprise sales leaders, he more than doubled revenue and significantly grew a highly cross-functional sales team. Prior to Google, Rader helped launch Oracle's Fusion Middleware technology group, overseeing triple digit growth. He began his sales career at IBM as a client sales manager focused on emerging businesses.
"This is a major coup and milestone for the company. Nathan has an impressive track record of success in enterprise software sales as well as an admirable leadership style that is precisely what Parsable needs at this pivotal moment of growth," said Lawrence Whittle, Parsable CEO. "As the connected worker category continues to mature and as every industrial company in the world recognizes the value of digitally empowering its frontline workers, we have an incredible opportunity to increase market share. We're thrilled to have Nathan on our executive team and expect him to play an important role in our expansion."
Rader said: "Industrial companies are facing pressure to address high-priority operational challenges and improve execution of key frontline business processes. I've been in technology for 20 years, and it's rare to find a robust platform like Parsable that can be deployed quickly and show quick time to value. The flexibility of the platform is a game-changer in the industrial world, and I'm excited to be a part of the digital transformation taking place inside industrial workforces."
Jul 12, 2019 • Fleet Technology • News • Momentum • fleet • IoT
Momentum IoT was named the winner at the 2019 CompassIntel Spring Awards in the category of Connected Solution Leadership: Fleet Tracking Management for IoT and M2M.
Momentum IoT was named the winner at the 2019 CompassIntel Spring Awards in the category of Connected Solution Leadership: Fleet Tracking Management for IoT and M2M.
The awards are voted on by over 40 industry-leading press, editors, journalists, thought leaders and analysts who identify the best in three primary categories: Mobile & Wireless, IoT (Internet of Things), and Emerging Tech, along with CompassIntel.com selected “of the Year” awards.
“We’re excited to recognize the innovation that Momentum IoT has introduced to connecting assets with ease and simplicity,” says Stephanie Atkinson, CEO and Founder of Compass Intelligence. “Momentum IoT has made fleet tracking affordable and achievable for small to medium sized businesses.”
Momentum IoT disrupted the fleet tracking model by utilizing a SaaS payment model, so there are no contracts or upfront fees to use the platform. The tracker is cloud-based and does not require customization, so users can plug the device into their asset and view them on one screen. Additionally, the company also offers a free trial of its products.
“We’re honored to receive this award,” says Justin Silva, CEO of Momentum IoT. “We’ve set ourselves apart through the ease of use and ruggedness of our design coupled with providing the highest level of security available with no contracts. We want to make telematics accessible to everyone and will continue to be a solutions-based leader in our field.”
Jul 11, 2019 • News • fleet technology • fleet
Trackunit and GAM (General de Alquiler de Maquinaria) have announced a partnership agreement to implement the Trackunit fleet management solution, based on the Trackunit RAW hardware, across GAM’s 18,000 Spanish rental equipment fleet.
Trackunit and GAM (General de Alquiler de Maquinaria) have announced a partnership agreement to implement the Trackunit fleet management solution, based on the Trackunit RAW hardware, across GAM’s 18,000 Spanish rental equipment fleet.
After a successful trial project, GAM is digitizing its vehicle fleet, which has grown to become the largest rental fleet in Spain and one of the largest heavy-equipment rental companies in Europe. GAM also has operations in nine other countries including countries in Latin America.
The deployment of the Trackunit fleet management solution has already started and GAM customers will soon be able to take advantage of the increased level of digitalization. The Trackunit solution will enable GAM to develop new business models offering better individual service, more accurate documentation of usage, which will help eliminate downtime.
Access to machine-data via the Trackunit Go app and Trackunit Manager software allows service technicians to analyse more machines and assets concurrently and have easy access to schedule services and repairs at a convenient time. GAM has already started training, installation and back-end implementation of the system.
The partnership agreement was signed after GAM did a meticulous screening of possible solutions and then chose Trackunit after a qualification test in Europe and Latin America. "GAM has chosen to be a part of something bigger - an ecosystem of customers, suppliers and partners - and they see the qualities and future perspectives of the Trackunit solution. We are certainly looking forward to a valuable partnership", says Soeren Brogaard Jensen, Trackunit CCO
"With the Trackunit fleet management we harvest the benefits of getting direct and easy access to equipment data and are able to significantly increase our fleet efficiency. Implementing the new system is a challenging work across the organization, but we are very excited about providing a qualified and differentiate value added service to our customers", says Ana Jorge, GAM Director for Fleet and Logistics.
Jul 10, 2019 • News • Mergers and Acquisitions • Software and Apps • PC Data • Asolvi
Asolvi, a European leader in field service management solutions, has acquired PC Data in Hull, England, its third acquisition in 2019 and fifth since 2016.PC Data is the UK's leading independent supplier of service management software for the fire...
Asolvi, a European leader in field service management solutions, has acquired PC Data in Hull, England, its third acquisition in 2019 and fifth since 2016.
PC Data is the UK's leading independent supplier of service management software for the fire and security systems industry. It is the architect of the popular Alarm Master solution and has more than 600 customers nationwide. Together Asolvi and PC Data will have more than 1,500 customers across 30+ countries.
"This is a logical step for us following our other acquisitions in the UK within the field service management space," says Pål M. Rødseth, CEO of Asolvi. "The team at PC Data have served the UK fire & security sector with class-leading solutions for many years. Following discussions with Ken Symmonds and Philip Jackson of PC Data, we all agreed that we can create better, stronger products and secure the existing customer base by joining forces. Asolvi has a good number of customers in this vertical already, but now PC Data brings a pool of industry specialists to the table. This will help us deepen our expertise in fire safety and security systems and become Europe's top provider of field service management software for this market."
PC Data's Ken Symmonds and Philip Jackson say, "We are firm believers that Asolvi is the right home for PC Data going forwards. We believe that being part of a larger software group will add strength to the product development that is needed in such a high-stakes market. We have also got to know Asolvi as a competent and dedicated company in the service management space and are confident that bringing the companies together will benefit our customers in the future."
The consecutive acquisitions of Tesseract, WS Software, Purpose Software, Vantage Computing and PC Data are in line with Asolvi's strategy to become the leading provider of field service management systems for SMEs in Europe. The company has now added Alarm Master and BASE to its broadening product suite, which already includes the world-renowned Evatic, Tesseract, WinServ, CBS, 2Serv, Service Accent and Vantage Online solutions.
Asolvi is a private company owned by the founders, management and Viking Venture.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ASOLVI CLICK HERE.
Jul 10, 2019 • News • Getac • Hardware • rugged • rugged hardware • Rugged smartphone
Fully rugged tablet offers advanced features and high performance for workers in the utilities, industrial manufacturing and emergency services industries.
Fully rugged tablet offers advanced features and high performance for workers in the utilities, industrial manufacturing and emergency services industries.
Getac have announced the launch of the new UX10 rugged tablet, offering reliability, powerful performance and lightweight portability to professionals operating in challenging field environments every day.
For emergency service paramedics, field utilities technicians and industrial manufacturing engineers, bad weather, remote locations and adverse working conditions are all part of the job. To work efficiently, they need powerful mobile devices they can count on day-in, day-out, regardless of the location or circumstances.
The lightweight and compact UX10 has been designed to maximise worker productivity in any environment. It’s 10.1-inch Full HD LumiBond® touchscreen display with 1000 nits of brightness and optional digitiser mode offers crystal clarity in all weather conditions, from bright sunlight to heavy rain, and can even be used while wearing gloves. MIL-STD-810G and IP65 ratings ensure operation in temperatures ranging from -29o to +63o C and drop resistance of up to 6ft, for complete peace of mind when working in harsh, dangerous or chaotic situations.
The UX10 features an Intel 8th Gen Quad-core CPU, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for exceptional computing power, while connectivity options including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE with integrated GPS, keep workers connected in even the most remote locations. The UX10 also features multiple battery configurations including an optional high capacity battery for full-shift computing and optional bridge battery, enabling hot battery swaps for continuous operation. For maximum functionality, the UX10 is compatible with a wide range of accessories including detachable keyboard, hard carry handle and secure vehicle docks. A robust suite of enhanced security features, combined with authentication options including Windows Hello facial recognition webcam, magnetic stripe reader, smart card reader and fingerprint scanner, keeps sensitive data protected at all times.
“Working in sectors such as utilities, industrial manufacturing and the emergency services can be unpredictable and extremely challenging, so the last thing personnel want to worry about is their device failing on the job,” says Rick Hwang, President of Rugged Business Unit at Getac Technology Corporation. “The new UX10 is purpose built to provide the reliability, performance and usability that workers need, meaning they can focus on the task at hand, whatever the situation.”
The UX10 comes with Getac’s three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, covering accidental damage as standard, for even further peace of mind.
Emergency Services: Answering the call with paramedics
The UX10 is optimized for the latest Electronic Patient Care Records (EPCR) and ambulance mobilization software, putting life-saving critical information directly into the hands of field personnel when they need it most. A range of optional vehicle docks and optional hard carry handle further optimizes device mobility, allowing the UX10 to be easily operated and transported in time-critical situations.
Industrial Manufacturing: Monitor and manage critical processes through a single device
Digital transformation has revolutionised industrial manufacturing in recent years. The UX10 allows workers to monitor plant performance, integrate critical workflows and maintain quality control, all through a single device. An optional RS232 port supports the use of legacy equipment, while an optional LAN port allows for direct communication with different machines and equipment throughout the facility.
Utilities: The ultimate device for field service management
Manage your workforce, fleet and assets directly on the UX10 using the latest field services management applications. Optional dedicated GPS enables fast and easy mapping when using GIS software, while integrated screen-blanking technology decreases the risk of accidents and driver distraction. The UX10’s light weight, compact form factor and multiple hands-free carry options make it ideally suited to full shifts in the field.
Jul 09, 2019 • News • News Software and Apps • cloud • servicemax • Software and Apps
Executives bring expertise in growing successful enterprise software companies to ServiceMax’s cloud-based platform.
Executives bring expertise in growing successful enterprise software companies to ServiceMax’s cloud-based platform.
ServiceMax, have announced the appointment of Tony Zingale and Frank van Veenendaal to the company’s board of directors. Zingale, who will serve as chairman of the board, brings more than 35 years of experience building profitable, high growth, enterprise software companies. Van Veenendaal, a 30-year industry veteran and former Salesforce executive, brings extensive cloud, customer service and sales acceleration experience.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Tony and Frank to the ServiceMax board during this exciting period of change and innovation,” said Neil Barua, CEO of ServiceMax. “Both leaders bring a wealth of experience building and advising market-leading software companies. Their expertise will bring tremendous value as we accelerate our growth initiatives, pursue new strategic partnerships and continue to help our customers advance their service transformation journeys.”
Zingale previously served as executive chairman and CEO at Jive Software, a global enterprise collaboration software company, where he led the company through a successful IPO in 2011. He is a highly successful executive and board member in enterprise software, including public companies Clarify, Jive and Mercury and several other venture-backed, private SaaS companies.
“I’m honored to join ServiceMax as chairman of the board and look forward to the opportunity to help guide the company during this new chapter,” said Zingale. “I look forward to partnering with Neil and the ServiceMax team as they work to penetrate the $34 billion service execution market with their unmatched expertise and market leading technology.”
Van Veenendaal spent more than a decade in executive leadership roles at Salesforce, including vice chairman and chief sales officer. He was instrumental in the growth and evolution of the company’s sales organization through innovative new compensation plans, pipeline development, sales segmentation, and growth strategies. In addition to ServiceMax, van Veenendaal sits on the board of directors for Onfido, Coupa, Room to Read, and Vlocity.
“ServiceMax’s industry expertise, coupled with its commitment to helping customers improve the productivity of complex, equipment-centric service execution, is truly unparalleled,” said van Veenendaal. “I’m excited to join ServiceMax’s board of directors and help the company continue to deliver on its commitments through the most-innovative technologies available.”
Jul 08, 2019 • News • 5G • future of field service • research report • Ericsson
Ericsson has released a new ConsumerLab report - 5G Consumer Potential - which busts industry myths surrounding the value of 5G for consumers and outlines the opportunities available for communications service providers.
Ericsson has released a new ConsumerLab report - 5G Consumer Potential - which busts industry myths surrounding the value of 5G for consumers and outlines the opportunities available for communications service providers.
Backed by solid research from one of the biggest ever consumer expectation studies, the report looks at the potential of 5G to benefit consumers, uncovering certain realities about them (“consumer realities”) to bust the following four common industry myths:
1. 5G offers consumers no short-term benefits.
2. There are no real use cases for 5G, nor is there a price premium on 5G.
3. Smartphones will be the “silver bullet” for 5G: the magical single solution to delivering fifth-generation services.
4. Current usage patterns can be used to predict future 5G demand.
The study brings some sense of reality to the ongoing debate in the ICT industry about whether there is an opportunity for a premium consumer offering based on 5G’s extra capabilities.
The key findings of the study include the fact that consumers expect 5G to provide relief from urban network congestion in the near term – especially in megacities, where six in 10 smartphone users report facing network issues in crowded areas. The respondents also anticipate more home broadband choices to be available with the launch of 5G.
The key findings of the study include the fact that consumers expect 5G to provide relief from urban network congestion in the near term – especially in megacities, where six in 10 smartphone users report facing network issues in crowded areas. The respondents also anticipate more home broadband choices to be available with the launch of 5G.
The report also dispels the ICT industry myth that consumers are unwilling to pay a premium on 5G. In fact, smartphone users state that they are willing to pay 20 percent more for fifth-generation services, and half of early adopters as much as 32 percent more. However, four in 10 of these high spenders expect new use cases and payment models as well as a secure 5G network in addition to a consistently high internet speed.
Another key finding is that current 4G usage patterns are not indicative of future usage behaviors. Video consumption is set to rise with 5G. Consumers expect to not only stream video in higher resolutions but also use immersive video formats such as Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR), resulting in an additional three hours of video content being watched weekly on mobile devices by users in the 5G future when they are out and about, including one hour wearing AR glasses or VR headsets. The study also reveals that one in five smartphone users’ data usage could reach more than 200GB per month on a 5G device by 2025.
Another key finding is that current 4G usage patterns are not indicative of future usage behaviors. Video consumption is set to rise with 5G. Consumers expect to not only stream video in higher resolutions but also use immersive video formats such as Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR), resulting in an additional three hours of video content being watched weekly on mobile devices by users in the 5G future when they are out and about, including one hour wearing AR glasses or VR headsets. The study also reveals that one in five smartphone users’ data usage could reach more than 200GB per month on a 5G device by 2025.
From these insights and more, Ericsson ConsumerLab has drawn up a consumer roadmap of use cases involving 31 different applications and services. The roadmap is divided into six use-case categories, namely: entertainment and media; enhanced mobile broadband; gaming and AR/VR applications; smart home and fixed wireless access; automotive and transportation; and shopping and immersive communications.
Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson Research, says: “Through our research, we have busted four myths about consumers’ views on 5G and answered questions such as whether 5G features will require new types of devices, or whether smartphones will be the silver bullet for 5G. Consumers clearly state that they think smartphones are unlikely to be the sole solution for 5G.”
Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson Research, says: “Through our research, we have busted four myths about consumers’ views on 5G and answered questions such as whether 5G features will require new types of devices, or whether smartphones will be the silver bullet for 5G. Consumers clearly state that they think smartphones are unlikely to be the sole solution for 5G.”
This latest Ericsson ConsumerLab study is based on 35,000 interviews with smartphone users aged 15 to 69, carried out in 22 different countries. The views of the participants are representative of almost 1 billion people. To gain a perspective on industry sentiment regarding the consumer value of 5G, a further 22 interviews were conducted with experts including academics as well as senior executives working for telecom operators, handset and chip manufacturers, start-ups and think tanks.
Field Service News is published by 1927 Media Ltd, an independent publisher whose sole focus is on the field service sector. As such our entire resources are focused on helping drive the field service sector forwards and aiming to best serve our industry through honest, incisive and innovative media coverage of the global field service sector.
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