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Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) supplier GasTech has incorporated BigChange's cloud-based management system.

GasTech, based in Newcastle, has issued its engineers with rugged cloud-connected technology to assist with its 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation which includes the supply, install and service of HVAC. 

The platform, JobWatch, allows workers to carry out risk assessments and method statements and gives access to procedures, manuals, job cards and quotations, which are synced to GasTech's central office system.

The firm's fleet operation is monitored with vehicle tracking, producing real-time data for customer services. Client history information is accessible to the engineers who can look up previous work on-site. A live spare-parts manifest give workers an accurate overview of what parts are available in the company and also in other vans.

GasTech's Gareth Firth commented on the advantages a paper-free process brings to the business. "With our growing workload we knew we needed to reduce the time engineers spent filling out forms," the firm's Director said. "We undertook extensive research into the available systems on the market and it was clear BigChange was very easy to use and would take away the administrative headaches from engineers so they could be more productive."

New study also reveals incidents rose in latter half of year with companies struggling to identify when systems are compromised.
Research by cyber-security provider F-Secure has shown that cyber attacks in 2018 increased by 32% compared to the previous year.

The survey consulted 3350 IT decision-makers, influencers and managers from 12 countries also highlighted a lack of awareness in detecting incidents, suggesting firm's preventative measures such as firewalls were insufficient.

Findings also revealed that the Finance and ICT sectors were most commonly targeted by attackers while healthcare and manufacturing received fewest, with the majority of attacks affecting US-based IP addresses.

Leszek Tasiemski said today's cyber-attacks had evolved significantly and questioned whether or not companies were even aware of the issue. "Today's threats are completely different from ten or even five years ago," he said. "Preventative measures and strategies won't stop everything anymore, so I've no doubt that many of the companies surveyed don't have a full picture of what's going in with their security."

You can read the full report here.

Firm's supply chain business, Final Mile, is set to expand its network of smart-delivery lockers across the UK.

BT have announced its supply-chain business, Final Mile, will now be available in 1000 locations in the UK. The expansion follows a series of contract wins and an increase in its sales force.

The storage facilities uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to connects its network of secure lockers and boxes, enabling engineers to collect equipment and spare parts.

The number of sites have doubled since the service was launched in 2016 and Steve Maddison, Final Mile's General Manager says testing the solution on its own fleet of technicians was important. "We know from our own experiences with our own field service engineers, as well as our external customers, the fast, reliable delivery of parts and equipment is critical to customer service," he said. "We know Final Mile works because we've tested it with one of the largest field engineering workforces in the UK - our own."

 

Börje Ekholm says telecommunication company will complete roll-out this year and network upgrade will compliment new technology such as Augmented Reality and autonomous vehicles.

 

Speaking at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona this month, Börje Ekholm Ericsson's CEO and President, said the firm expect to switch on the 5G network over the next 12 months and the robust network will facilitate ventures including Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and autonomous vehicles.

Ericsson had previously announced 5G deals with 14 service providers across Europe, US, Asia and Australia including US Cellular and Telstrar. Memorandums of understandings have been signed with 42 other service providers and Ekholm told journalists to expect further announcements.

Citing research from the Ericsson Consumer Lab, he said that smartphone users will soon see the impact of the new coverage. "Consumers and enterprises are waiting for 5G," he explained. "One-third of smartphone globally will change either immediately or within six months to a service provider that switches on 5G."

Over half of those surveyed said they would feel uncomfortable working with a robot as a colleague or manager in the future.

A study by OnBuy.com, conducted by YouGov, showed British people would be reluctant to form a work relationship with a robot.

When asked how they feel about having a robot as a manager, 66% of men and 75% of women said they would feel "uncomfortable" with such an arrangement. 

The survey questioned 2,041 people and looked to gauge the British public's attitude to robots, given the rise of Artificial Intelligence smart-devices such as Amazon's Alexa appearing in UK homes.

"Whilst the idea seems far-fetched," said the accompanying press release, "the idea that robots could become part of everyday life has become a topic of conversation. Robot-human relationships has become a concept many have begun to form an opinion on."

Over half of the US Government workforce feel comfortable with technology such as artificial intelligence but want to see accompanying training and guidance readily available.

The survey by Government Business Council, canvassed nearly 500 US Federal employees across more than 30 civil and defence agencies sought opinion on smart technologies such as Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence. 

Over half (51%) understood that artificial intelligence will evolve "slightly or considerably" in the next three years and will have an impact on their role in the future, however only 26% said their respected agencies had communicated the impact of AI to them either "adequately, well or very well."

The survey also revealed that workers felt confident in adapting to this change but were concerned that there was a lack of training around the technology, with 61% expressing worry at the absence of technical support.

“AI is one of the most engaging topics we are seeing unfold in the federal government right now,” said Daniel Thomas, Research Manager at GBC and the study's author. “These findings show that there is a significant appetite for continued education around the opportunities that intelligent technologies like AI present to the federal employee." 

You can read the full report here.

Catering Equipment Suppliers' Association (CESA) has accepted Asolvi as an associate member.

Asolvi, the service management software for Small and Medium Enterprises has announced its membership of the Catering Equipment Suppliers' Association (CESA). As an affiliate of the UK's largest catering equipment trade association, Asolvi will benefit from CESA's information and management resources.

Established 80 years ago, CESA itself is a member of The European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers and has strategic links with UK Government and the British Standards Institution. 

Asolvi will join longstanding CESA members Welbilt and Meiko, both of whom are also clients of the service management software company.

Mike Rand, Asolvi's Client Service's Manager, said joining the association would bring the firm an array of advantages. "We're delighted to be accepted as an associate member of CESA," he explained. "The kitchens and catering sector is an important market for us and we're looking forward to utilising the knowledge that the group offers."

You can read an Asolvi case study on their work with Meiko here.

New software will bring together back-office team, mobile workforce and customers.

UK-based Field Service Management solution provider Kirona have launched Work Hub, their new work management system.

The solution manages the workflow between central functions and field-based operatives by pulling together disparate back-office data and systems to enable reliable, seamless data flow throughout the organisation, the company says.
The software was integrated into Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council's Asset Management and Maintenance Service, and has been scaled across its Housing Management System, DRS and Job Manager applications.

Neil Martin, the Council's Business Manager said: “The system we have now is more reliable, and staff are more productive.” Ryan Davies, Senior Repairs Coordinator and Systems Officer at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council added: “We are planning on widening the Work Hub to other services in Sandwell Council, so the relationship with Kirona will just grow and grow.” 

Study shows deskless workers will engage more with videos, private messaging and comment functionality when using firm's employee communication tool.

Research by Speakap, has revealed frontline workers - those not desk-based - engage more positively with their employees internal social intranet if it carries instant messaging and commenting functionality. The report also claims workers productivity is improved if such applications are used.

The ability to communicate directly with colleagues rather than on an open forum, the report says, encourages more open, confident and clear direction between teams and managers.

“If messages are too vague or are not filtered to target and reach the most relevant users, it can lead to clutter, confusion, less productivity and even poor results/performance," Patrick Van Der Mijl, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Speakap said. "By understanding their employees’ communications behaviours, organizations can effectively build and adjust their employee engagement and experience programs to better serve the needs of their workforce.” 

You can download the report here.