Are you ready to mobilize your business? …
June 2009
Written by Nick Ellery
TELUS recently introduced a number of new wireless applications designed to target small & medium businesses. These applications all have one common goal, that being to enable companies in their efforts to enhance their operations, to extend their services, to control costs and to improve their levels of client support and efficiency. TELUS and other carriers have offered similiar applications in the past, but they were often difficult to setup, combersome to use and expensive. This new generation of business focussed solutions can be implemented quickly and have an immediate impact on any business when they are applied to the correct business needs.
This article provides a brief introduction to this new line of applications. If you require any further information I recommend contacting your local CanTalk Wireless sales office or send an email to me with your questions.
Get more out of your Smartphone
There are several types of applications to choose from and not all of them require major hardware purchases or hardware installations. Navigator is one such application. With Navigator a user can have access to a GPS solution accessible through their smartphone that provides much of the same functionality that up until recently you could only access by purchasing a dedicated GPS unit. For only $10 / mth ( or $3 / day ), TELUS Navigator users have access to current maps, audio directions & real time traffic reports. You can also look up various points of interest ( ie. hotels, gas stations, hospitals, restaurants ) and you can even find reviews on movies along with info on how to find the nearest theatre.
If you are like me you will love Visual VoiceMail. With this feature users no longer need to spend time calling into their voicemail service. Visual VoiceMail sends the text of your new messages to your wireless handset in the form of a text message and you can also have your messages sent to you as an email. You can even receive a WAV file of the message audio via email. Visual VoiceMail is a very powerful tool and it can save business users alot of time and money by unleashing them from their traditional voicemail services. Visual VoiceMail is available for just $7.50 / mth.
Fleet Tracking & Dispatch
One of TELUS’ most popular business solutions is their line-up of GPS fleet tracking applications. Businesses lose millions of dollars every year due to ms-handled shipments, employee inefficiencies, lost or stolen equipment and ineffective planning. Fleet tracking applications offer businesses of every size and function a solution to help them maintain more control over their field operations and more effective connectivity with their mobile workers.
Asset Tracker has been a very popular introductory GPS application for TELUS. This service provides users with a pager sized portable modem that can be used to keep track of special shipments, field equipment or even individuals. These “Tags” are activated by your TELUS dealer just like a regular mobile phone and the cost of the tracking service is attached to your wireless bill. Setup takes minutes and in no time at all you’ll be following the movement of your tags using any standard web browser. The nice thing about Asset Tags is that they don’t need to be fixed to any single vehicle or location, which gives the user the flexibility to use one tag in multiple situations.
Resource Tracker and Track & Dispatch are two GPS applications that make use of a company’s smartphones in the field to transmit location data back to their head office or dispatch location. As your workers move in the field, their handsets transmit their current location, stop times and travel distance. With the Track & Dispatch application businesses gain the added functionality to send out job details to the field and to receive job status updates back from mobile workers. This added functionality can have a large impact on companies that are required to schedule field work or client support visits. Having access to the accurate location of key field workers as well as real time status reports on completed or pending field work can make scheduling a much more efficient task.
Fleet Tracker and Fleet Tracker Advanced are geared towards businesses that require advanced reporting on the movement and status of their mobile vehicles. Unlike the previous solutions we’ve discussed, Fleet Tracker applications make use of a fixed modem in each vehicle. These modems send back a wide array of data on each vehicle including location, speed, idle time and distance traveled. The data can then be analyzed to help reduce fuel costs, to minimize safety risks such as excessive speeding, and the data can also be used to set more efficient routes for mobile vehicles. Fleet Tracker Advanced goes a step beyond Fleet Tracker by providing businesses with more detailed data on how their vehicles are being driven. Some of the advanced reporting requires the add-on of special features and hardware but in the right situation the extra cost is worthwhile. Some of these advanced reporting modules include vehicle diagnostics, driver identification, temperature monitoring and satellite connectivity.
Worker Safety
Using Alert & Assist a company can now provide their mobile workers with an extra level of security and connectivity when working in the field. Alert & Assist provides mobile workers with a pendant ( worn around the neck or on the user’s waist ) that works in conjunction with a Bluetooth enabled Blackberry handset. In the case of an emergency the field worker simply presses the alert button on their pendant to notify their head office and a predefined list of other emergency contacts. The alert is sent out in SMS ( text message ) format, by email or through the Alert & Assist web application. If the worker is unable to move or to push their alert button on their own, the pendant will send out the alert call automatically if it does not detect movement for a specified period of time. In addition, businesses can track the location of remote pendant users via the Internet either on demand or automatically in 15 minute intervals. Not only could this solution be a life saver, it also helps companies comply with Worker Safety legislation ( British Columbia & Alberta ). The pendants sell for $140 and the service costs as little as $25 / mth.
Mobile Work Orders
Any business that uses forms to collect job, client or payment data in the field will benefit from the use of Wireless Work Orders. This application allows companies to design their own mobile ready forms to replace manual forms that may currently be in use. The forms are designed in-house using a simple to follow design tool and mobile workers access the forms on their compatible wireless devices. The forms are capable of capturing bar codes, photos, signatures and includes popular form elements such as drop down menus, radio buttons and yes/no choices. A business can extend the functionality of Wireless Work Orders by adding several options that include GPS tracking with dispatch, Wireless Payment processing ( collect credit card payments through your handheld device ) & Customer Call Ahead ( automatically calls clients to notify them when a service rep is on their way. Users can also integrate TELUS Navigator to be launched directly by mobile workers from specific work orders to give them directions to their next job. Basic Wireless Work Orders service starts from $25 / mth per unit. With all the extras the monthly cost can climb to as high as $82 / mth per user. What’s nice about this application is that users can still get great value with the standard version even if they don’t require the add-ons. As your company grows or as the need for more features arises its nice to know that the application can grow to match your current business needs.
Mobile Hosted Exchange
One of the scariest obstacles for a growing business to overcome is often the associated costs. TELUS has tried to alleviate some of that pressure by introducing a hosted solution that gives small business the ability to introduce Microsoft Exchange into their business without the usually high hardware, software and IT support costs. The hosted version of MS Exchange provides all the functionality of the in-house application which includes Business Email, Calendar Sharing, Web Access and the ability to fully synchronize your exchange data & address book between your desktop computer and Windows mobile device using Active-Sync technology. This hosted version also has the added benefit of being scalable to match current employee needs. As your company grows you can add more users and if your company is streamlining you can simply cancel the user accounts that are no longer required. You’ll never be stuck with a large monthly expense for services that aren’t being used. Add to this TELUS enterprise level support and there is little for the small business owner to worry about. As with most applications there are different levels of service available, depending on what your company’s needs might be. Mobile Hosted Exchange Professional provides all the standard functionality and benefits described above for $14 / mth per user. A business can upgrade to Mobile Hosted Exchange Professional Blackberry by paying $24 / mth per user. This more expensive option provides all the core functionality of MS Exchange with the addition of Blackberry Enterprise Server. Enterprise Server provides companies with advanced support & security functionality for the management of Blackberry handhelds. Finally, there is a Basic version of MS Hosted Exchange which can be activated as needed for individual users on the account who don’t require the functionality that comes with Professional or Professional Blackberry. The Basic version is only $2.50 / mth per user and provides individuals with email access and access to the corporate address book. Basic users will not be able to view other’s schedules or request meetings. These basic users also will not be able to perform wireless data synchronization between their desktop’s and mobile devices.
Now what? …
This article is meant to provide the reader with a brief overview of some of the new wireless applications that TELUS has introduced for small & medium businesses. If you require more information on any or all of the applications discussed I encourage you to do one of the following : Call or email me directly. I can be reached at : Office : (604)541-9887 or by email at nick.ellery@cantalkwireless.ca. Call or email your local CanTalk Sales Office and speak to a Wireless Business Expert : South Surrey : (604)541-9887 … Nick Ellery Langley : (604)530-4684 … Angela Dodd Mission / Abbotsford : (604)814-3291 … Regan Yeadon Chilliwack : (604)702-0200 … Leslie Desrochers
Visit the Application section of CanTalkWireless.ca for more details and demo videos on the applications discussed.
About the author : Nick Ellery is a managing partner with CanTalk Wireless Solutions. He has worked in the wireless industry as a TELUS reseller for 20 years where he has consulted with small & medium business clients on their mobility strategies and technology needs. Nick holds a Masters of Business with a focus on Information Technology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
