April/May 2002

Wireless servicing of wired phones

The repair and maintenance of 80,000 British Telecom payphone booths across the UK has been streamlined following the introduction of RangeGate's Service-EDGE mobile field service solution.

Amalgamated Cleaning Services (ACS), part of the Lojics Services Group, is using Service-EDGE to manage and co-ordinate 80 field service operatives responsible for maintaining the non-telecoms parts of the BT payphone booths ­ glass panels, doors and lighting.

 

The Service-EDGE mobile data server at ACS links its central service database to each operative's Symbol SPT-1700 Palm-based ruggedised pocket computer. Operatives use the terminal rather than paper to record their activities and the parts used for each repair during their shift. When they return home, they connect to the Service-EDGE server via their domestic telephone line. During the comms session, new work is passed to the Symbol unit and completed jobs are sent back to the server.

ACS expects better reporting from operatives, and improvements in scheduling and management of payphone booth maintenance. It also expects to be able to reduce stockholding of repair components, and drive down the cost of managing its field service workforce.

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