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Issue 96
Rugged Hardware
Industry Specific Software
Full Service Support
www.touchstargroup.com
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For companies looking to significantly improve field force productivity and responsiveness, TouchStar’s FleetMarshal software provides the latest in dynamic dispatching and fleet monitoring technology.
TS FleetMarshal is commonly used within the service, fuels and propane delivery industries to map and manage fleet vehicles in real time. Incorporating the latest in GPS and wireless data technology, TS FleetMarshal is a web- or network-based server application that connects dispatchers and controllers with fleet drivers. Field status information is gathered and transmitted via TS FleetMarshal and provides users with accurate and timely information in an easy-to-use, graphically illustrated format.
According to Patrick Kurz, TouchStar Application Development Manager, the value of TS FleetMarshal comes from its unique ability to provide a clear and accurate fleet status picture from which decisions can be made that benefit both the company and the customers on its routes.
“TS FleetMarshal creates a ‘dashboard view’ of all vehicles in real-time which allows dispatchers to do everything from adding new or unscheduled deliveries onto a route to adjusting overloaded or delayed routes,” Kurz says. “The efficiencies gained from this technology lead to increased customer satisfaction and positively impact the user’s bottom line.”
While other fleet tracking and dispatch systems typically take a one-dimensional approach to fleet management and viewing, TS FleetMarshal integrates with any TouchStar enterprise application, such as TS HyperDocs, to create a powerful, multi-faceted review and decision-making center.
TouchStar works with its clients to ensure that all handheld computers and TS FleetMarshal on-screen information displays are customized to meet the dispatcher’s specific data tracking needs. The handheld computers can transmit a wealth of information to dispatchers, including: accurate fleet arrival and departure times, inventory remaining, receipt signatures, as well as Key Performance Indicators (KPI) such as average delivery volume per hour, drive versus rest time and exception status reporting.
“FleetMarshal is designed to provide custom reports as needed based upon a company’s specific KPI,” Kurz says. “Using these bar graphs and charts, effective decisions can be made that are in line with KPI targets.”
Kurz adds that in addition to providing a scalable, customized solution to fleet tracking and management, TS FleetMarshal is a lower-cost alternative to other similar products.
“It’s extremely cost effective for companies already utilizing TouchStar handhelds to add the FleetMarshal application to their existing mobility solution package,” Kurz says. “We have all of the components necessary to provide the latest in global fleet monitoring and management technology to even the largest of fleets.”
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Workshop Objectives
This workshop is designed specifically for business people who are considering mobility solution implementation for their field service or delivery staff. Our objective is to present unbiased, product neutral information that provides attendees with a deeper understanding of the applications, benefits and complexities of field force automation.
Workshop Outline
The workshop will address many aspects of mobility solutions through a combination of presentations, demonstrations, and question-and-answer sessions.
Some of the topics include:
1. How to approach automation and your business
2. Calculating realistic and measurable Return on Investment (ROI)
3. Software and its critical elements
4. Data plans – keeping the costs down
5. What’s important about hardware and your business?
6. Project management and why doing it effectively is critical
7. The elements to successfully deploy and support solutions
8. A case study
19th September
8:00 - 11:00am
TouchStar
Head Office
100 Asquith Street
Silverwater NSW 2128
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 While they’ve been providing bulk trucking services across North America for more than 60 years, Trimac is anything but a company set in its ways.
“We’ve worked to position ourselves as a leader in the use of information technologies that provide value-added services to our customers and support efficient internal processes,” said Dan Logan, Trimac’s Greeley, Colo., branch manager.
Just three years ago, Trimac had a mobility system in place for its Greeley-based fleet of 20 trucks and 42 drivers, but were looking to take its in-cab technology to the next level.
“The branch manager before me had heard of TouchStar and led the way with our Information Technology Group at Trimac to get TouchStar involved with the Greeley operation,” Logan said. “Our primary goal in working with TouchStar was to increase the speed and efficiency in which we got information to our customers.”
Using TouchStar’s intrinsically-safe handheld computers in conjunction with TouchStar’s CrudePac technology, Trimac developed a paperless mobility solution that met its drivers’ and customers’ unique needs.
“Once we got CrudePac up and running, it was flawless. Our drivers now do everything with their handhelds – from calculating the number of barrels loaded on the truck to providing temperature correction to industry standards,” Logan said.
Information is collected from each handheld computer upon return to the branch and the data is then immediately sent to back-office and customer data storage and retrieval systems.
“Everything is simplified and streamlined and there are fewer errors made,” Logan said.
According to Logan, customers view Trimac’s use of mobility technology as a valuable service add-on.
“We can now give our customers instant access to accurate, real-time reports, including a history of what we did the prior day at their site,” Logan said. “And, if a customer still needs a paper report or transaction, we can provide that too.”
There are many benefits to Trimac as well. In addition to greater dispatch control and fleet management capabilities, Logan said, the use of its mobility system has led to earlier-than-usual payments from customers.
“That’s just one area in which we’ve seen a big bang for our buck,” Logan said.
Most importantly, Logan added, TouchStar’s mobile computing solution helps Trimac differentiate itself in the crude hauling marketplace
“While our competitors are still submitting paperwork manually, our customers are receiving a full summary of yesterday’s data by 7 a.m. every morning,” Logan said. “TouchStar’s technology truly puts Trimac one step ahead of the competition. Best of all, it enables those we serve to better manage their business.”
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PC use skyrockets…The Gartner Group, a leading research and analytical firm, has determined that the number of personal computers in the world today has surpassed the one billion mark. That number is expected to double by early 2014, in part due to strong growth in emerging markets.
Gartner also cautions against the potential environmental impact made by the disposal of old PCs. “While more than 180 million computers will be replaced this year, according to estimates, most will bypass the second-hand channel and recycle bin for landfills. We estimate some 35 million PCs will be dumped into landfill with little or no regard to their toxic content,” stated Gartner analyst Meike Escherick.
Don’t take Refrigerator back talk…A recent Business Week article reveals that human/ household object communication is closer to reality than we think. Like the Bluetooth craze of early 2000, writer Drew Lanza says. “We’ll soon see what’s evolved as the ‘Internet of Things,’…a confluence of technologies and tools that gives us the ability to interact virtually with most objects of our lives.”
WiFi advancement and dirt cheap semiconductors may pave the way for computers to run just about everything.
 Cell Phones All Aboard…Information Week is
reporting that Delta, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration, is currently testing paperless mobility check-in at New York’s La Guardia Airport in an effort to minimize long lines and reduce paper use. “Passengers can now quickly check in for their flight while en route to the airport in a taxi or walking from the parking lot to the terminal,” said Steve Gorman, executive vice president at Delta. “The check-in process now can take place from anywhere, at any time within 24 hours of flight departure.” Additionally, Delta’s test program allows customers with Internet-enabled phones to download an electronic boarding pass directly to their handsets. The test program is available for domestic flights only, but Delta has plans for more features and worked with the TSA on encryption standards for mobile devices.
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We wanted to provide our readers with an insider’s perspective on the mobile computing industry, so InTouch recently talked with Susan Nunziata, editor-in-chief of Mobile Enterprise magazine.
Our readers are all very qualified professionals, from CEOs to IT managers – anyone who is charged with mobilizing their workforce. We have 32,000 subscribers – a readership that cuts across numerous vertical markets, including: healthcare, government, manufacturing, education, consumer goods, retail, energy and utilities, insurance, travel and hospitality, among others. We also have a weekly Mobile Enterprise e-newsletter that goes to 26,000 mobility solutions decision-makers.
It’s a combination of things. We attend trade shows, read constantly, and are always on the phone gathering information and getting feedback. Our Mobile Enterprise Editorial Advisory Board is also a great resource and is made up of end-users and industry analysts. In everything we do, our goal is to look at things through the lens of the enterprise end-user.
There is a lot of interest in the healthcare/pharmaceutical/visiting nurse services vertical market. Specifically, how to make the most of new technology to computerize and mobilize patient records at the point-of-care, and make records available to first responders and use GPS to track first responders. We’re also seeing more mobility application use within education, particularly the installation of Wi-Fi capabilities across the campus.
As far as innovation is concerned, GPS technology is increasingly being incorporated to help transportation companies achieve efficiencies, which is helpful considering gas prices being the way they are. GPS is allowing instant rerouting and rescheduling that saves time, money and resources.
We continue to closely watch the impact the changing economy is having on this industry, but we believe that if a mobility solution can prove ROI quickly and prove a clear cost benefit to the organization, it still makes it viable – even in today’s market.
In fact, we’re hearing that enterprises are turning to mobility solutions that can help them save money and increase efficiencies.
Security. We have identified viruses as a key issue for our readers as they have grown increasingly concerned about the existence of viruses targeting handhelds and other mobility application devices. And, with the more widespead use of Wi-Fi, we are seeing a greater interest in technology that allow things like network access control for IT managers.
We will be spotlighting security concerns and solutions in the September/October issue of Mobile Enterprise.
Across the board, the emphasis is on the next phase for mobility—which involves giving mobile workers real-time access from the field to corporate applications for things like CRM, ERP, etc. This stands to revolutionize many business processes.
We’re also seeing mobility decisions being made much more strategically at higher levels in the enterprise. Where before, mobile solutions were often point-based and served only one line of business, now enterprises are looking at what they can accomplish corporate-wide through using mobility. Fixed-mobile convergence is another hot topic.
Of course, we have to watch the iPhone 3G. While enterprise users say that even the new version, out earlier this month, lacks the level of device management and other features they need to make it a viable solution for their business, we see a profound change in user expectation as a result of the user interface and overall design of this product.
We’re seeing a number of manufacturers rolling out touchscreens, improved displays and new keypad designs – the iPhone definitely raised the bar in that regard.
There’s also the rollout of devices compliant with 802.11n standards, especially in the education and hospitality sectors. And, look for the continued development of open source, particularly with the recent Nokia/Symbian news and the ongoing Google/Android developments.
It’s an exciting time for our industry and Mobile Enterprise will be working hard to cover it all.
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By Patrick Kurz
TouchStar Application Development Manager
North America
While the term "virtual machine" was coined more than 40 years ago, only recently have we begun to see the impact virtual machines can have on today’s business world.
 There are many categories of virtual machines, but we’re going to focus on system virtual machines. System virtual machines are a type of computer application used to create a virtual environment (referred to as "virtualization"). That means these machines have the ability to run an operating system within – but completely separate from – another operating system.
Imagine turning on your PC and booting into Windows Vista, but then you launch a virtual machine that shows Windows XP running inside a window in Vista (or launching Linux within Windows, or Max OS or any operating system). The applications running in the virtual machine have full access to anything the host operating system would have. You can print, access the internet, etc.
But why would a user ever need or want to use a virtual machine inside his or her standard Windows operating system? Good question. The answer lies in the protection and installation/configuration benefits that result from the use of virtual machine technology.
As far as protection is concerned, running an application via a virtual machine safeguards that application and prevents damage or harm from occurring to the user’s main pc or server. For example, if a virus were to infect the applications in the virtual machine, the virus could not harm the host operating system
And then there are installation and configuration benefits of utilizing a virtual machine. In the past, a client may have had to install and configure multiple middleware applications on a pc or server to get a full solution up and running. If an unusual error manifested itself in that environment and resulted in the need for customer support, it would be important to understand how the middleware applications were configured (which can differ among clients).
With pcs being more powerful than ever, we can supply a client with a “virtual machine image” that already has the multiple middleware pieces installed and configured. As a further benefit, customer service departments can keep a copy of that image on file. That way, in the event another problem was to occur with that client’s pc, customer service would have access to the exact configuration being used without having to dial into the client’s server directly.
As applications providers receive more and more client requests for middleware solutions, look for the increased availability of preloaded virtual machines throughout the industry.
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TouchStar Product Spotlight |
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Customer Spotlight: Trimac
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Tech Talk with Patrick Kurz |
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