Category: Technology

09- Jun2017
Posted By: Terrance
5091 Views

The Beneficiaries of Field Service Management Software

Geographically dispersed work requires great collaboration, coordination and information mobility. That is where field service management software comes in to handle scheduling, dispatch and service parts management. The software automates and streamlines the entire service process and offers connected and disconnected mobility. Field service management software (FSM) helps companies such as HVAC firms plumbing companies, and electricians to send technicians into the field.

FSM software can automate most tasks currently done on paper like invoicing and scheduling. Additionally, the software enhances communication between professionals on the ground and employees in the office with the use of bills or work orders. Candidates of FSM software are companies whose field work is fundamental to their model. Such companies have their assets and equipment located across extensive geographic areas; thus, they require inspections, repairs, efficient monitoring, testing, and installation.

How FSM software helps the company:

Managers
Managers in an organization no longer have to call technicians or wait for them to come in to collect orders. FSM software helps managers to dispatch through features such as automatic invoicing and scheduling. The features aid in saving time for managers by carrying out a job that is hard to do on paper easily. Automatic scheduling reminders give managers peace of mind knowing that your workers will not miss an appointment.

Customers
Customers can use the client portal to schedule appointments without the struggle of calling the office. Additionally, FSM software enables clients to receive calls 30 minutes before a service technician arrives at their location to alert them that the technician is on the way. Clients also get a detailed description of the professional’s work including what they will fix and the pricing. FSM software enables customers to pay for the task after its competition. For additional information, visit Miracle Service and learn more from their online resources.

Technicians

Technicians have less down time in their day because they don’t have to go back to the office to pick up work orders or turn in invoices. FSM software has mobile solution feature that helps technicians to trace a job location in the fastest way possible through the GPS system. Additionally, technicians have the service history of a site at their fingerprints. Therefore, they quickly learn helpful tips such as parts that have caused trouble in the past as well as what they should consider. Consequently, the inventory manager ensures that the technician never gets stuck at a site without the necessary tools or equipment.

FSM software is also used for accounting purposes. You can easily manage account transactions, which keeps accountants updated on the available funds and the capacity to work within the budget. Additionally, the software can be used to import and export data for use with standard software applications. The best part is that the software provides flexibility without compromising on quality and time.

FSM software helps in managing and field service scheduling work. Additionally, technicians can offer better preventative maintenance services, which improve customer experience. Every company should consider purchasing field service management software.

25- Feb2017
Posted By: Terrance
3989 Views

Indoor Positioning With Internet of Things (IoT): Limitless Scope

We have come a long we since the time of hand-drawn maps and ignorant explorers. The 21st century is the age of technological reinvention. Organizations all over the world are locked in the race to create bigger and better things. Global Positioning Systems has made the world smaller. And now, indoor navigation aims to make even more digitally detailed.

What is Indoor Navigation System?
While GPS has made tremendous strides in improved connectivity and mapping out the world, penetrating closed structures still remains a challenge. Indoor navigation aims to rectify this. Using a combination of different technologies, like Radio Frequency, Ultrasounds, Bluetooth, etc, companies are now trying to accurately map out the inner surface of homes, hospitals and public buildings. It is estimated that by 2020, indoor positioning will be  a larger market than GPS ever was.

What is IoT?
The “Internet of Things”, also called IoT, refers to a variety of devices capable of connecting to a network and transmitting information. Coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999, the phrase went gained popularity since it could collectively bring a variety of networks like wireless networks, microelectomechanical systems, microservices and the internet under one umbrella. Thus, it effectively transcended the barrier between Operational technology (OT) and Informational Technology (IT).

How they can be coupled
Smart items are the latest trend in an increasingly connected world. Having objects able to send and receive data has a added a different dimension to human interaction with them. Thus, it is a not a huge leap to have normal items perform additional tasks. Indoor navigation makes use of this principle.

Phones and tablets can use geo-positioning to chalk out location and position. Devices can be equipped with infrared sensors to accurately detect location. Thus, we can build an integrated platform that sends data to a collective platform which can build an accurate map that will far surpass the blue dot of a GPS.

Some examples of this concept are:

  • An office can track schedules and itineraries of employees. Thus the system can tally attendance of a number of people with particular rooms for scheduled times verifying meetings and conferences. This can accurately map out meeting rooms in buildings and also point out which rooms are full. The elevator can also be made to act flexibly in terms of number of people based on tracking algorithms. This approach can be termed as “Connected Enterprise”.
  • Evacuations can be helped by smart devices projecting location of trapped people. Intelligent smoke detectors can send data to rescue teams thus telling them how many people still remain. Heat sensors fail in case of fires, thus other technology can utilized to map out the building and by comparing to previous records, firemen can detect collapsed structures and barred exits. The system can also plot out a route to safety.
  • Airports are often confusing places and it is a challenge for people to find correct terminals or spot exits. This can be made even more difficult for the visually impaired. Smart devices and sensors can transmit data to people’s phones in order to help them navigate the place accurately. In face, Apple’s iBeacon has been used to guide travellers in San Francisco airport with success.

Most indoor positioning systems still struggle with accuracy and precision. Charting out accurate locations in small structures often poses a challenge. However, the opportunities with technologies are limitless and tech firms recognize that. Thus it won’t be long before success is achieved.

Categories:
29- Dec2016
Posted By: Terrance
3113 Views

The Use of Enterprise Content Management in the Businesses Today

Every company and business running in the 21st century aims at providing customers with excellent customer service skills. Therefore, this has caused and increased interest in developing a functional enterprise content management system and Customer Communication Management platform. ECM and CCM comprise of combinations of different ways to capture the management and storage of information for easier retrieval. Information is stored either on the premise or in the cloud. In the past, there were very lengthy and cumbersome ways of retrieving information, for example, detailed reports of the past bank transactions. Currently, retrieval and delivery of information are very fast and at your fingertips.

 

ECM versus CCM

ECM and CCM are different from each other although but they are linked together by some important aspects. ECM refers to the collection and updating the unstructured documents on a database while CCM is a set of stored information. However, ECM would perform best when combined with a Customer Communication Management platform. This is because CCM contains features responsible for the conversion of raw data into informational data, which lacks in ECM. Enterprise content management solutions deal with specific content without merging it with other elements of the content to increase the value of the information. CCM platforms help in combining different heterogeneous batches of information as well as handling big data and analytics to come up with useful information.

 

Components of CCM

Customer communications management has a broad range of elements, which may include:
• Data extraction, management, analysis, and transformation software
• Document production reporting software
Email marketing and SMS communication software
• Printer management software
• Portal Technology among others

 

Importance of ECM

The use of enterprise management software has increased tremendously lately due to some factors. ECM offers a platform for managing the documents in a cheap, efficient, and easy way. Additionally, the workers use the time that they would have spent scanning the documents from huge files and folders to perform other duties in the business, leading to an increase in productivity. Use of ECM software has resulted in an increase on the rate of processing information in the businesses resulting in an improved way of keeping track of all the company’s data.

An enterprise content management solution also allows version control, which gives a platform to analyze different document versions. Additionally, the fact there are no large stacks of paper and files in the business is a relief to the workers. Various institutions generalize transactional content management and ECM. However, only the businesses that rely on content to perform their businesses, for example banks or brokerage firms, use the transactional ECM.

Categories:
18- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
3095 Views

Essentials of IT Management Software in Running Your Business

To many businesses, the Information Technology department is an expense. Due to the high costs involved in purchase and installation of infrastructure as well payment to staff and other processes, it is easy to think of IT as a necessary evil. However, the introduction of IT management software seeks to dispute the notion, instead insisting on the need for IT to be operated as a business.

IT management involves the use of different software aimed at enabling enterprises manage their IT assets and portfolio, improve efficiency and security and gain control over IT processes. In addition, the software helps businesses manage their spending on IT and other related resources in line with their priorities. Since todays data centers are complex and multi-layered, you need to utilize an IT monitoring platform from which you can manage your IT services with ease and high efficiency.Remote IT Management

Whether your business is small or large with branches in different locations, you can still use IT management software to ensure that your IT department runs smoothly and gives you its worth. Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software is one of the best ways of troubleshooting and solving any issues with IT devices and servers located in remote places. It enables managed services to simultaneously monitor the IT functions of multiple clients while saving on the costs of labor and travelling.

How It Works

Managed Services Providers (MSPs) install a software, usually known as an agent, on the clients endpoints including servers and mobile devices. The agent then relays information about the functionality and status of the IT machines back to the MSP. Through this automated reporting, the MSP is able to provide the necessary services to the client. There is no need to travel to the client’s location since everything, including automated maintenance and automated setup, can be done from any location or distance.

The Cost

Most MSPs base the pricing of their RMM services on flat rates which their clients pay every month. Some of the factors put into consideration when pricing is the number of devices and the nature of needed services. The MSP may also offer you additional services of your choice at a la carte pricing. Keep in mind that you will be charged according to the number of devices to be monitored or the number of the device users in your business establishment.

Conclusion

The latest IT management software, which includes RMM, is one of the best initiatives in handling all IT operations of small and medium sized businesses. Apart from greatly reducing the cost of keeping their IT departments in top form, businesses can raise their profit margin and thereby earn loyalty from customers as a result of uninterrupted services. Moreover, businesses can always acquire top talent, improve retention rates of employees and increase their productivity through automated onboarding which can be paid as an additional service provided by MSPs.

16- Nov2016
Posted By: Terrance
2628 Views

What the Future Holds For Mapping in Indoor Navigation

Trust technological innovators to come up with something that is out of this world and immediately transform a bitter struggle into a walk in the park. Several years ago, you had to rely on the goodwill of strangers to find your way through unfamiliar territories. Thanks to whatever guiding spirit that inspired the invention of Global Positioning System (GPS), you can sit back and enjoy your ride, unsure of your route but confident of your destination. Unfortunately, traditional GPS is hardly efficient in indoor navigation and the innovators had to go back to the drawing board and come up with GPS for indoors.

 

The Setting in of Indoor Mapping

In the recent past, indoor maps were simply floor plans that served as the only means for people to find their way in buildings such as shopping malls and stores. However, the introduction of indoor radio maps ushered in a new era in indoor localization marked by the use of smartphones to navigate through the indoor environment and view floor plans. Thus, it is now easy to find a product in a large store full of various different goods. This not only saves the customers’ time but also leaves them more satisfied and increases the possibility of the customers’ returns for more.

 

Challenges of Indoor Mapping

Like outdoor GPS, indoor localization has been on the lips of many positioning enthusiasts. Nevertheless, radio fingerprint mapping has been hounded by several challenges including lack of ease of use and consumption of too much time. Keep in mind that the indoor mapping process involves the measuring of WiFi signals at different points in the building in question for the purpose of accuracy in navigation and positioning. This is different from visual orientation floor maps. However, the two can easily be combined for maximum benefit of indoor navigation and well-designed maps.

 

The Future of Indoor Mapping

Only a few years ago, you had to make data recordings in just a few meters interval. In addition, you would need to move between the various points in the building, a tiresome and time-consuming affair, especially if you are taking the measurements of a very large building. With the invention of latest technology, there is a sure hope for elimination of most of the challenges including the cumbersome manual work with a tremendous reduction of the time taken in the mapping process while improving the quality of the results. In place of spending long hours walking through the building, all you will need is a predefined route along which you walk at a uniform pace while recording the ground truths only when there is change of direction.

 

Conclusion

Nothing is permanent in the world of technology. There is always someone working round the clock in an effort to come up with new improvements even when it seems the available technology is the best that can be hoped for. Like in every industry that relies on technology, there have been great improvements in all aspects of indoor navigation with a promise for even more.