mobileworker from Codegate Helps Horticulture Company Go Greener
09/09/2008
Enterprise Mobility Solution to Improve Customer Service, Reduce Operating Costs and Increase Competitive Advantage
Mobile data solutions specialist Codegate today announced that Flora-tec, one of the UK’s leading corporate horticulture companies, is deploying its mobileworkerTM field service and workforce automation software. mobileworker will enable Flora-tec to enhance its customer service levels, streamline business processes, reduce administration costs, and implement green IT solutions, at the same time as increasing competitive advantage.
“We wanted to improve the accuracy and levels of reporting to our customers on the services our technicians were delivering. We could see the benefit of deploying a mobile solution that would prove site visits had taken place and that service levels agreements (SLAs) were being met,” said Andy Bradley, Flora-tec’s Managing Director.
“After investigating other mobile solutions in the marketplace we chose to work with Codegate as it was evident that they would liaise with us to tailor the mobileworker software to meet our individual business requirements,” continued Bradley.
As well as providing total interior plant care Flora-tec also delivers exterior horticultural services. As an ISO14001 accredited company Flora-tec understands the environmental importance of reducing its paper based job scheduling and reporting systems with a mobile solution.
As part of the solution, Codegate’s mobileworker software is running on the Motorola MC35 enterprise PDA that has the combined power of a mobile phone, camera and barcode scanner plus sign on screen capability for signature capture.
mobileworker enables Flora-tec to despatch jobs to its technicians’ PDA, detailing the customer’s name, address and the plants that need attention. The technician is then able to enter data relating to the work carried out on site and importantly record and photograph any potential problems such as evidence of wilting or yellow leaves, etc. This information can then easily be shared by other technicians who may visit the site at a later stage or as proof of the deterioration of plants. Once the visit has been completed the technician obtains a signature to confirm that it has taken place and the necessary tasks have been completed.
“The data entered by our technicians will automatically integrate with our back office systems helping us to improve our inventory management to more precisely monitor our stock levels of plants, chemicals and other equipment. There is no longer the need for manual completion of job scheduling and it is no longer necessary for someone to manually go through the hand written paper reports of site visits which our technicians previously completed. This will lead to a significant reduction in administration costs,” explained Bradley.
Additional reductions in operating costs will be delivered as Flora-tec no longer needs to issue its technicians with mobile phones because the MC35 can be used for both voice and data communication. It will also be possible for Flora-tec to reduce fuel costs as mobileworker delivers turn by turn satellite navigation ensuring the shortest routes are taken to and from site visits.
The accurate reporting of the services undertaken during each visit together with photographic evidence enables Flora-tec to more easily meet SLAs and prove it has done so. “This is a key competitive advantage for both our existing and potential customers,” continued Bradley. “The increased reporting that mobileworker now delivers means that we are able to easily and quickly see if we are over servicing clients and to manage any instances where this may be the case.”
As health and safety compliance issues continue to grow, Flora-tec’s clients are asking for reports on potential risks which its technicians may identify when carrying out visits to exterior sites. These risks can range from blocked fire exits to trip hazards. The camera capability of the MC35 enables the technicians to not only report the hazard but to provide photographic evidence. This capability is already seen to be another important differentiator for Flora-tec over its competitors.