Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Before you equip your fleet vehicles with some sort of mobile computer, have you done enough research into which mobile computing system is right for your business—a smartphone or a rugged mobile computer?
When considering adding a mobile computing system, it is not only important to consider how the device will work with your existing or future software needs, how user-friendly it will be for your staff, and if it will help you achieve your objectives, but the device’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as well.
Usually, the upfront cost is what you consider when making a mobile computing purchase, but considering the TCO will reveal what the device is really going to cost you during its life cycle.
A five-year TCO study, entitled “TCO Insights on Rugged Mobile Computers,” completed by Venture Development Corp., suggests that a low upfront cost does not translate into a low lifetime cost of mobile computers. “VDC’s research reveals that the soft costs associated with mobile computing solutions— device failure and downtime, productivity loss and maintenance/support costs—represent the most significant contribution to overall TCO.”
Learn about the benefits of rugged mobile computers over commercial-grade smartphones to make an informed purchasing decision by reading this free whitepaper.
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Keystone Excavating
Keystone Excavating Ltd., of Calgary, Alberta, is regarded as a leader, not only for its strong hold on the excavating market over the past 30 years, but for its decision to implement a mobile workforce solution. They wanted a solution that would let them streamline job costing, billing and timesheet management. The chosen solution includes in-vehicle computers installed in their more than 250-pieces of heavy equipment, which work together with mobile resource and process management software.
The Challenges
Before installing this new technology, Keystone’s manual paper processes and radio communications were no longer making the cut when it came to managing workflow in relation to employees, hours, clients, locations, and equipment. As Holly Goulard, Keystone’s Controller, explains, “When I started at Keystone, one timesheet was handled 11 times before being filed.” In another example, truck tickets and timesheets could be lost or submitted after the client was billed for the job, and Keystone would have to absorb those costs.
The Results
Since installing the mobile workforce solution, Holly says that one of the biggest benefits is the ability to capture real-time information. “We see real-time hours and know where every piece of equipment is. We’re billing the real deal. Our HR department knows who worked when and can verify that information.
In addition to reducing the number of people reviewing job codes and hours worked, Keystone has also been able to downsize scheduler staffing requirements, removing four full-time scheduler positions.
It was originally thought that this technology would save about 20 minutes per piece of equipment each day due to better time management, so each operator would get to their next job 20 minutes earlier. In reality, Holly believes the system is exceeding this number. She has also seen a quick return on investment. “The money we invested in this technology was expected to be returned in three years, and it has been returned in one. That isn’t even accounting for the overtime hours we’re saving.”
Because subcontractors make up 30 to 40 percent of Keystone’s business, Holly hopes that round two of this technology implementation will include these subcontractors adopting electronic devices in their vehicles in order to improve efficiencies in this segment of the business as well. But for now, mobile workforce management technology is helping Keystone streamline its operations and minimize its staffing requirements in order to remain competitive, regardless of the economic climate.
To read the full case study about Keystone Excavating, click here.
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
This press release from Mobile Enterprise reveals a surprising statistic: 80% of enterprises will overspend on their wireless service costs by an average of 15% through 2014, according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner’s research vice president, Phil Redman, explains the four main areas companies should look to when managing their wireless costs: contracts, international roaming, mobility management and desktop replacement. Read the full article here.
