Mar/April 2009

A fully integrated mobile work force management system that includes mobile communications, satellite navigation, vehicle tracking and data capture with digital pen and paper has been launched as a combined product from three main suppliers.

The companies are TomTom (the TomTom Work division), Design and Management Systems (developer of the JobFlow Plus mobile job management system), and Destiny, a specialist in Anoto digital pen technology.

DMS's JobFlow software is used to manage and control jobs from the office. Integration with the TomTom Webfleet management software from TomTom Work enables job notifications to be sent direct to operatives on the road through the TomTom GO navigation and communication unit in the vehicle.

Once instructions are accepted (this can be done using touch-screen technology), the TomTom GO unit enables the user to navigate to site by the most direct route, and the TomTom Link 300 device tracks the vehicle movement and provides fleet reporting.

 

On site, the operative uses a Destiny digital pen to enter data on worksheets by hand. The information is captured by the pen and sent instantly via Bluetooth to the TomTom GO unit, and then by wireless to the office to populate the JobFlow system.

The companies say this means that invoices can be raised as soon as jobs are finished, enhancing cashflow. For Sage Line50 or Construct users, sales and purchase data can be imported from JobFlow with no re-keying.

The JobFlow system can also produce reports on work in progress and costs, keep operators informed of the current status.