April/May 2008

CMS Global Technologies, the company behind SupaTrak vehicle tracking and mobile worker management solutions, has brought its long-standing expertise in job booking and despatch management to the fore by linking these functions with its SupaTrak product line.

Its new offering is called Opera, and is described as a fully integrated Web booking and job despatch/task information system. CMS says it adds a new level of flexibility by removing the need for connection to a back-office system. It works on any computer that has a Web connection, including laptops, tracking workers' movements and providing two-way job communication with any worker carrying a wireless-enabled PDA.

As well as storing day-to-day schedules/task lists, it can be used to alert mobile staff to task changes or job reassignment, and has the ability change a worker's next destination when required. It supports PODs via signature capture, and allows photographs to be taken on job completion.

The system can also be linked to a 'black box' in the worker's vehicle, providing satellite tracking and vehicle telematics. This allows schedulers to see where all their staff are, to direct them to their destination using the on-board navigation facility, and to obtain feedback on mileage travelled and operation cost.

It can also be tailored to identify and speak to specific groups of workers.