With austerity measures currently being put in place across the public sector, deployments of integrated smart technologies could finally begin to spread through fragmented systems. Acceptance should now spread quickly, but it has taken time.
Friday 23 December 2011
Affordable technology for low cost labour - achieving ROI in Facilities Management
In the first of a series of items concentrating on specific sectors, Steve Reynolds examines how Facilities Management businesses can set about achieving return on investment from a nominal technology spend.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Preparing for consumerisation
The growing Consumerisation of IT has been mentioned in various guises across recent Smartalk items, but what do we mean by the term, and is it a force for good in business? Steve Reynolds explains.
Opening the Windows: will 8 be a breath of fresh air?
After being shared with developers and scrutinised by the press, TBS Managing Director Steve Reynolds speculates on the impact of Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 8, which is set for release in 2012.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Effective tablets for local government
In previous Blogs we looked at the benefits of introducing different form factors for the enterprise: mobile devices, PDAs, netbooks and tablets. Now Steve Reynolds concentrates on tablets themselves and particularly how they can help in local government operations.
Your mobile data: under lock and key
The subject of mobile security is currently under a violent spotlight with phone hacking being revealed at the highest level. In this item, CEO of TBS, Steve Reynolds answers questions about security in enterprise mobility.
Taking the tablets: different form factors key to enterprise success
TBS Managing Director Steve Reynolds takes a closer look at the need to supply different solutions for different form factors across organisations.
Friday 27 May 2011
All Systems Go ?
Mobile news is currently rife with talk of the latest smartphone Operating Systems, but how many are ready for enterprise deployment? TBS Managing Director, Steve Reynolds, gives his view.
Friday 8 April 2011
Canadian mobility briefings declared a success
Feedback “resoundingly positive” following business events in Vancouver and Calgary
Leaders in field mobility technology have been well received by Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver and Calgary. In addition to the market leader and host of the event – TBS Enterprise Mobility, representatives from Canada-based partners, Ideaca, Qdata, Microsoft and Motorola also presented at the Mobilized Workforce Management ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars.
Leaders in field mobility technology have been well received by Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver and Calgary. In addition to the market leader and host of the event – TBS Enterprise Mobility, representatives from Canada-based partners, Ideaca, Qdata, Microsoft and Motorola also presented at the Mobilized Workforce Management ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars.
NFC at your convenience
Mobile support for NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies has been gathering unavoidable momentum during this first quarter of 2011. Device manufacturers and OS providers have been pinning their proximity-based technology colours to the mast with promises of integration in new devices and within new technical systems, for both consumer and enterprise markets.
Nokia will produce several NFC-enabled devices in 2011, including Windows Phone 7, Google is conducting tests with its Android Operating System and high profile retailers in the US and Motorola will launch an NFC version of the MC75a later this year. Now Samsung has shown its hand too.
Visa is developing an application enabling NFC mobile payments on the official Samsung 2012 device, to be revealed this year. The partnership of the official Games’ sponsors will facilitate payment experiences in London experiences for items up to £15 in value, enabling faster and more convenient transactions. There are already over 60,000 locations where contactless payments are accepted in London, and this is expected to substantially rise by the opening of the Games.
By the 2012 Games the consumer appetite for NFC solutions promises to be larger than ever. Juniper Research has forecast that one in every 6 mobile subscribers will have an NFC enabled device by 2014.
However, economies of scale will drive adoption and mass consumer penetration of NFC devices and solutions will not achieve widespread ubiquity in developed markets for several years yet.
But it is a technology that businesses in the enterprise space can and should be preparing for today. It’s even a technology which businesses can and are reaping the rewards from today.
It’s often the case that effective mobile enterprise is learned from experience in the consumer space. With proximity-based technologies like NFC however, it could be that the consumer market can learn from ground already made in the enterprise space.
RFID solutions, an NFC relative which works in a technically different way, have been in place for some time in the enterprise. These are often used for tracking and asset management by logistics organisations. But the NFC opportunity is potentially broader.
Using tags and short-range radio devices works effectively when it’s critical to prove correct action has been taken, for example by maintenance staff working on hazardous electrified rail lines. Labels or barcodes can be tricky to attach and are difficult to use, but engineers using handheld devices with snap-on NFC readers and suitable software makes for an elegant solution.
NFC is ultra-low cost RFID which stands to provide numerous innovative uses for a range of different businesses.
Nokia will produce several NFC-enabled devices in 2011, including Windows Phone 7, Google is conducting tests with its Android Operating System and high profile retailers in the US and Motorola will launch an NFC version of the MC75a later this year. Now Samsung has shown its hand too.
Visa is developing an application enabling NFC mobile payments on the official Samsung 2012 device, to be revealed this year. The partnership of the official Games’ sponsors will facilitate payment experiences in London experiences for items up to £15 in value, enabling faster and more convenient transactions. There are already over 60,000 locations where contactless payments are accepted in London, and this is expected to substantially rise by the opening of the Games.
By the 2012 Games the consumer appetite for NFC solutions promises to be larger than ever. Juniper Research has forecast that one in every 6 mobile subscribers will have an NFC enabled device by 2014.
However, economies of scale will drive adoption and mass consumer penetration of NFC devices and solutions will not achieve widespread ubiquity in developed markets for several years yet.
But it is a technology that businesses in the enterprise space can and should be preparing for today. It’s even a technology which businesses can and are reaping the rewards from today.
It’s often the case that effective mobile enterprise is learned from experience in the consumer space. With proximity-based technologies like NFC however, it could be that the consumer market can learn from ground already made in the enterprise space.
RFID solutions, an NFC relative which works in a technically different way, have been in place for some time in the enterprise. These are often used for tracking and asset management by logistics organisations. But the NFC opportunity is potentially broader.
Using tags and short-range radio devices works effectively when it’s critical to prove correct action has been taken, for example by maintenance staff working on hazardous electrified rail lines. Labels or barcodes can be tricky to attach and are difficult to use, but engineers using handheld devices with snap-on NFC readers and suitable software makes for an elegant solution.
NFC is ultra-low cost RFID which stands to provide numerous innovative uses for a range of different businesses.
- Ticketing and Transportation (micro-payments)
- Barcode enhancement
- Active tags which store and communicate information (vehicle damage records)
- Safety systems
- Asset management
- Fleet management
- Equipment rental
- Time and attendance
There are many effective uses for both NFC and RFID, and they don’t have to be glamorous, expensive, incorporate payments, operate on a huge scale, or even in the mass market. That can wait.
What can help now is a wider awareness and understanding of the technology, the problems facing different groups of people and understanding which technology offers the best fit.
Thursday 10 February 2011
TBS field mobility experts announce Canadian business briefings
TBS Enterprise Mobility to lead seminars in Vancouver and Calgary with backing from Motorola, Microsoft, Ideaca and Qdata.
European leaders in field mobility technology will deliver a workforce management briefing to Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver (March 9th) and Calgary (March 10th).
With the European market for field mobility solutions firmly established as one of the most advanced and competitive in the world, Canada is braced for a new wave of smart technology from across the Atlantic.
An experienced and successful market leader in Europe, the United Kingdom’s TBS Enterprise Mobility will host the briefings. In association with UK Trade & Investment, TBS will present Mobilized Workforce Management - ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars in Vancouver and Calgary, supported by its partners Ideaca, Microsoft, Motorola and Qdata.
TBS Enterprise Mobility produces TaskMaster, an innovative workforce management platform designed for the Windows Phone operating system and commonly deployed on Motorola devices for field worker enterprise.
Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, commented: “We’ve helped customers such as G4S (Group4Securicor), VINCI Facilities and Balfour Beatty to achieve levels of customer service which were not possible using manual, paper-based processes.
“The briefings will detail the mobile computing solutions available, using case studies to illustrate how businesses have increased the productivity of field staff, improved data quality and reduced costs using TaskMaster,” he added.
Practical examples of solutions will complement the chance to question a panel of experts, learn about all the technologies available and network with an elite selection of mobile executives.
European leaders in field mobility technology will deliver a workforce management briefing to Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver (March 9th) and Calgary (March 10th).
With the European market for field mobility solutions firmly established as one of the most advanced and competitive in the world, Canada is braced for a new wave of smart technology from across the Atlantic.
An experienced and successful market leader in Europe, the United Kingdom’s TBS Enterprise Mobility will host the briefings. In association with UK Trade & Investment, TBS will present Mobilized Workforce Management - ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars in Vancouver and Calgary, supported by its partners Ideaca, Microsoft, Motorola and Qdata.
TBS Enterprise Mobility produces TaskMaster, an innovative workforce management platform designed for the Windows Phone operating system and commonly deployed on Motorola devices for field worker enterprise.
Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, commented: “We’ve helped customers such as G4S (Group4Securicor), VINCI Facilities and Balfour Beatty to achieve levels of customer service which were not possible using manual, paper-based processes.
“The briefings will detail the mobile computing solutions available, using case studies to illustrate how businesses have increased the productivity of field staff, improved data quality and reduced costs using TaskMaster,” he added.
Practical examples of solutions will complement the chance to question a panel of experts, learn about all the technologies available and network with an elite selection of mobile executives.
Attendees will hear how real business issues have been resolved using carefully tailored mobile computing solutions, delivering quick return on investment.
For more information on the events visit www.mobilizeyourworkforce.info
Friday 14 January 2011
Pressure at the pump - let enterprise mobility oil the wheels
How the smart technology can offset rising fuel prices
With fuel prices rocketing around the world, global organisations are being forced to consider new ways of reducing their consumption and operating more efficiently.
With fuel prices rocketing around the world, global organisations are being forced to consider new ways of reducing their consumption and operating more efficiently.
Crude oil pushed above US$92 a barrel on Monday 4th January 2011 to its highest since October 2008. It closed up 17 cents at $91.55. Meanwhile Oil peaked at $147.27 on July 11, 2008, before diving to nearly $32 during the global financial meltdown six months later.
Economist Ed Yardeni said in a research note that he "would not be surprised to see the price of oil over $120 a barrel by midyear." Although other analysts believe any spike above $100 could be short-lived.
The rising cost of fuel is both undeniable and unstoppable. The compilation of high level numbers like this, in addition to our day-to-day encounters with the petrol pump as consumers, gives more than enough evidence.
However, the prices might also have a crippling effect on global business.
Just as prices at the pump are important to every motorist, fuel cost is critical to successful enterprise. Thousands of medium to large sized organisations across the world manage fleets of vehicles, permanently responsible for reacting to customers’ needs. Whether those needs are in delivery, collection, maintenance, installation, building or facilities management, considerable mileages are put on the clock every day.
Use Case – how to make a £3m price increase disappear
Service companies with a fleet of 200 cars and an average of 40 miles per gallon in 2007 could have expected an annual fuel bill of 5.9 million pounds (GBP). Today, in 2011, that bill would come to 8.86 million pounds, a rise of almost 3 million pounds in four years.
As a hypothetical example: a field service company performs five jobs per day at an average invoice value of 150 pounds per job. Based on a very conservative 10% productivity increase (TBS witnesses an average of 25% increase) each engineer would increase their earnings by an average of £75.00 per day.
Over a 12- month period, this would equate to incremental earnings of 3 million pounds, thereby offsetting incremental fuel costs and achieving extra profit for the company.
This saving can be added to by applying a conservative 10% fuel saving, gained by reducing the number of customer re-visits, journeys to and from depots, improved allocation of work and SatNav-aided route planning. A further £864,000 in fuel costs can be saved.
TaskMaster drives savings
With the intelligent application of an effective, customised mobile strategy, any organisation operating a fleet of vehicles can be protected from rising fuel prices. TBS Enterprise Mobility offers TaskMaster, a robust and flexible platform with a range of features to facilitate the monitoring of vehicles and drivers.
TaskMaster contains integrated SatNav and route optimisation features, in addition to Personnel Safety Locator and RFID technologies for asset management. A fully configurable design means implementations are specifically tailored to cater for the needs of individual businesses.
To find out how your business could benefit, please drop a line to sales@tbsmobility.com
Economist Ed Yardeni said in a research note that he "would not be surprised to see the price of oil over $120 a barrel by midyear." Although other analysts believe any spike above $100 could be short-lived.
The rising cost of fuel is both undeniable and unstoppable. The compilation of high level numbers like this, in addition to our day-to-day encounters with the petrol pump as consumers, gives more than enough evidence.
However, the prices might also have a crippling effect on global business.
Just as prices at the pump are important to every motorist, fuel cost is critical to successful enterprise. Thousands of medium to large sized organisations across the world manage fleets of vehicles, permanently responsible for reacting to customers’ needs. Whether those needs are in delivery, collection, maintenance, installation, building or facilities management, considerable mileages are put on the clock every day.
Use Case – how to make a £3m price increase disappear
Service companies with a fleet of 200 cars and an average of 40 miles per gallon in 2007 could have expected an annual fuel bill of 5.9 million pounds (GBP). Today, in 2011, that bill would come to 8.86 million pounds, a rise of almost 3 million pounds in four years.
As a hypothetical example: a field service company performs five jobs per day at an average invoice value of 150 pounds per job. Based on a very conservative 10% productivity increase (TBS witnesses an average of 25% increase) each engineer would increase their earnings by an average of £75.00 per day.
Over a 12- month period, this would equate to incremental earnings of 3 million pounds, thereby offsetting incremental fuel costs and achieving extra profit for the company.
This saving can be added to by applying a conservative 10% fuel saving, gained by reducing the number of customer re-visits, journeys to and from depots, improved allocation of work and SatNav-aided route planning. A further £864,000 in fuel costs can be saved.
TaskMaster drives savings
With the intelligent application of an effective, customised mobile strategy, any organisation operating a fleet of vehicles can be protected from rising fuel prices. TBS Enterprise Mobility offers TaskMaster, a robust and flexible platform with a range of features to facilitate the monitoring of vehicles and drivers.
TaskMaster contains integrated SatNav and route optimisation features, in addition to Personnel Safety Locator and RFID technologies for asset management. A fully configurable design means implementations are specifically tailored to cater for the needs of individual businesses.
To find out how your business could benefit, please drop a line to sales@tbsmobility.com
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