Jan/Feb 2004

A major mobile field service application involving 1,300 mobile devices is being rolled out by a PepsiCo subsidiary in Spain.

The company is Frito-Lay, which is described as the group's "convenient fun foods division". Its brands include Ruffles, Doritos, Cracker Jack and Tostitos.

The handheld devices are Intermec terminals running Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, and the software and integration technology behind the implementation is based on the Afaria suite from Xcellenet. This is being supplied by an XcelleNet partner, BJSParaRed.

PepsiCo says its objectives were to maximise employee productivity and enhance customer service. According to Jordi Vidal, Frito-Lay's South of Europe IT manager: "We are confident that the combined solution will help to fulfil that overriding aim."

 

The thinking is that with the new system in place, information on local devices will always be up to date, and users will relieved of administrative tasks that could otherwise be caused by complex technologies. The company also expects corporate management at headquarters will gain greater visibility into frontline activities.Ê

XcelleNet is strongly established in the mobile computing market, and says more than 2,500 companies worldwide now use its solutions. It says its systems allow users to manage any platform in the field from a browser.