Tracking a mobile work force, knowing precisely where they are at any given moment, is no longer an art nor a science. It simply requires each of your employees to have a cell phone and you to have access to a web browser.
AT&T has expanded two GPS location services, in partnership with two companies – TELENAV and Xora Inc.
According to the press release:
TeleNav Track LITE? from AT&T is a tracking service that provides real-time visibility of field employee locations to improve dispatch operations and enhance customer service. It is a Web-based MRM solution that does not require software or GPS on the mobile device. The service works on the AT&T wireless network running on virtually all AT&T mobile devices, laptop cards and wireless equipped notebooks.
Xora GPS Locator from AT&T does not require any software to be loaded on the phone, providing quick and easy deployment. Field-based employees simply power on their mobile devices and office staff can see their locations using Xora?s Web-based maps and reports.
The Xora Web interface features Google Maps complete with street, satellite and hybrid views, as well as real-time traffic information. Web-based reports indicate where and when vehicles are stopped, and for how long, making it easy to identify time spent at job sites, or on breaks. Xora’s cost is $22 per month per device.
See more on AT&T’s mobility offerings here – http://www.business.att.com/enterprise/Portfolio/eb_mobility/.
What does this mean to you?
For industries that need to compete minute by minute, manage each gallon of gas, and maximize every second of employee time, knowing where your employees are is one of the first things you need to knoww.
UPS and Federal Express have invested millions of dollars in systems that help them track, to the foot (or so it seems) precisely where their drivers are at.
This tracking is critical not only because customers need it to track their packages, but also to enable them to increase the profitability of each package delivered.
Maybe you have a small delivery company, construction company, provide technical support to local businesses or other service “in the field” to customers.
Having a system that can help you squeeze the most productivity from your field staff is good for customers and has a direct impact on your bottom line.
Ramon Ray is the editor and tech evangelist for Smallbiztechnology.com
