Canadian mobility briefings declared a success

Feedback “resoundingly positive” following business events in Vancouver and Calgary

Leaders in field mobility technology have been well received by Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver and Calgary. In addition to the market leader and host of the event – TBS Enterprise Mobility, representatives from Canada-based partners, Ideaca, Qdata, Microsoft and Motorola also presented at the Mobilized Workforce Management ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars.

NFC at your convenience

Mobile support for NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies has been gathering unavoidable momentum during this first quarter of 2011.  Device manufacturers and OS providers have been pinning their proximity-based technology colours to the mast with promises of integration in new devices and within new technical systems, for both consumer and enterprise markets. 

Nokia will produce several NFC-enabled devices in 2011, including Windows Phone 7, Google is conducting tests with its Android Operating System and high profile retailers in the US and Motorola will launch an NFC version of the MC75a later this year.  Now Samsung has shown its hand too. 

Visa is developing an application enabling NFC mobile payments on the official Samsung 2012 device, to be revealed this year.  The partnership of the official Games’ sponsors will facilitate payment experiences in London experiences for items up to £15 in value, enabling faster and more convenient transactions.  There are already over 60,000 locations where contactless payments are accepted in London, and this is expected to substantially rise by the opening of the Games.

By the 2012 Games the consumer appetite for NFC solutions promises to be larger than ever.  Juniper Research has forecast that one in every 6 mobile subscribers will have an NFC enabled device by 2014.

However, economies of scale will drive adoption and mass consumer penetration of NFC devices and solutions will not achieve widespread ubiquity in developed markets for several years yet.   

But it is a technology that businesses in the enterprise space can and should be preparing for today.  It’s even a technology which businesses can and are reaping the rewards from today.

It’s often the case that effective mobile enterprise is learned from experience in the consumer space.  With proximity-based technologies like NFC however, it could be that the consumer market can learn from ground already made in the enterprise space. 

RFID solutions, an NFC relative which works in a technically different way, have been in place for some time in the enterprise.  These are often used for tracking and asset management by logistics organisations.  But the NFC opportunity is potentially broader. 

Using tags and short-range radio devices works effectively when it’s critical to prove correct action has been taken, for example by maintenance staff working on hazardous electrified rail lines.  Labels or barcodes can be tricky to attach and are difficult to use, but engineers using handheld devices with snap-on NFC readers and suitable software makes for an elegant solution.

NFC is ultra-low cost RFID which stands to provide numerous innovative uses for a range of different businesses.

-          Ticketing and Transportation (micro-payments)

-          Barcode enhancement

-          Active tags which store and communicate information (vehicle damage records)

-          Safety systems

-          Asset management

-          Fleet management

-          Equipment rental

-          Time and attendance

There are many effective uses for both NFC and RFID, and they don’t have to be glamorous, expensive, incorporate payments, operate on a huge scale, or even in the mass market.  That can wait.

What can help now is a wider awareness and understanding of the technology, the problems facing different groups of people and understanding which technology offers the best fit.

TBS field mobility experts announce Canadian business briefings

TBS Enterprise Mobility to lead seminars in Vancouver and Calgary with backing from Motorola, Microsoft, Ideaca and Qdata.

European leaders in field mobility technology will deliver a workforce management briefing to Canadian businesses at Microsoft headquarters in Vancouver (March 9^th) and Calgary (March 10^th).

With the European market for field mobility solutions firmly established as one of the most advanced and competitive in the world, Canada is braced for a new wave of smart technology from across the Atlantic.

An experienced and successful market leader in Europe, the United Kingdom’s TBS Enterprise Mobility will host the briefings.  In association with UK Trade & Investment, TBS will present Mobilized Workforce Management - ‘Lunch & Learn’ seminars in Vancouver and Calgary, supported by its partners Ideaca, Microsoft, Motorola and Qdata.

TBS Enterprise Mobility produces TaskMaster, an innovative workforce management platform designed for the Windows Phone operating system and commonly deployed on Motorola devices for field worker enterprise.

Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of TBS Enterprise Mobility, commented: “We’ve helped customers such as G4S (Group4Securicor), VINCI Facilities and Balfour Beatty to achieve levels of customer service which were not possible using manual, paper-based processes.

“The briefings will detail the mobile computing solutions available, using case studies to illustrate how businesses have increased the productivity of field staff, improved data quality and reduced costs using TaskMaster,” he added.

Practical examples of solutions will complement the chance to question a panel of experts, learn about all the technologies available and network with an elite selection of mobile executives.

Attendees will hear how real business issues have been resolved using carefully tailored mobile computing solutions, delivering quick return on investment.

For more information on the events visit www.mobilizeyourworkforce.info

Pressure at the pump - let enterprise mobility oil the wheels

How the smart technology can offset rising fuel prices

With fuel prices rocketing around the world, global organisations are being forced to consider new ways of reducing their consumption and operating more efficiently.

Crude oil pushed above US$92 a barrel  on Monday 4^th January 2011 to its highest since October 2008. It closed up 17 cents at $91.55.  Meanwhile Oil peaked at $147.27 on July 11, 2008, before diving to nearly $32 during the global financial meltdown six months later.

Economist Ed Yardeni said in a research note that he "would not be surprised to see the price of oil over $120 a barrel by midyear."  Although other analysts believe any spike above $100 could be short-lived.

The rising cost of fuel is both undeniable and unstoppable.  The compilation of high level numbers like this, in addition to our day-to-day encounters with the petrol pump as consumers, gives more than enough evidence. 

However, the prices might also have a crippling effect on global business.

Just as prices at the pump are important to every motorist, fuel cost is critical to successful enterprise.  Thousands of medium to large sized organisations across the world manage fleets of vehicles, permanently responsible for reacting to customers’ needs.  Whether those needs are in delivery, collection, maintenance, installation, building or facilities management, considerable mileages are put on the clock every day.


Use Case – how to make a £3m price increase disappear

Service companies with a fleet of 200 cars and an average of 40 miles per gallon in 2007 could have expected an annual fuel bill of 5.9 million pounds (GBP).  Today, in 2011, that bill would come to 8.86 million pounds, a rise of almost 3 million pounds in four years.

As a hypothetical example: a field service company performs five jobs per day at an average invoice value of 150 pounds per job.  Based on a very conservative 10% productivity increase (TBS witnesses an average of 25% increase) each engineer would increase their earnings by an average of £75.00 per day.   

Over a 12- month period, this would equate to incremental earnings of 3 million pounds, thereby offsetting incremental fuel costs and achieving extra profit for the company.

This saving can be added to by applying a conservative 10% fuel saving, gained by reducing the number of customer re-visits, journeys to and from depots, improved allocation of work and SatNav-aided route planning.  A further £864,000 in fuel costs can be saved.


TaskMaster drives savings

With the intelligent application of an effective, customised mobile strategy, any organisation operating a fleet of vehicles can be protected from rising fuel prices.  TBS Enterprise Mobility offers TaskMaster, a robust and flexible platform with a range of features to facilitate the monitoring of vehicles and drivers. 

TaskMaster contains integrated SatNav and route optimisation features, in addition to Personnel Safety Locator and RFID technologies for asset management.  A fully configurable design means implementations are specifically tailored to cater for the needs of individual businesses.

To find out how your business could benefit, please drop a line to sales@tbsmobility.com  

Mobile industry united in vision for 2012 Games

On Friday 3rd December a selection of mobile and digital industry executives converged upon the Deloitte Academy in London to discuss the role of mobile in the 2012 Games.
Organised by The Mobile Data Association (MDA) and supported by the Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network (DCKTN), Deloitte helped to crystallise the opportunity for the mobile industry, and for the UK as a whole. Having been a key contributor to the successful bid and as a member of workstream committees, Deloitte was strongly positioned to frame mutual cross-industry objectives and vision.


Additional speakers from a range of organising stakeholders also explained the potential for activity within and outside of sporting venues, as well as the limitations, hurdles and legacies of a powerful 2012 Games experience.


Presentations were delivered by spokespeople from O2, the BBC, organising committee LOCOG, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London and the GSMA.


The World looks to the UK


With over 15,000 accredited journalists expected from all corners of the world, the event stands to significantly shift global perceptions of the UK’s technological capabilities. Stakeholders intend to project an image of a vibrant, creative, energetic multicultural country which provides cutting edge digital experiences.


In providing such experiences, basic rules must be adhered to and best practice guidelines followed. Brand protection and marketing rights were outlined by LOCOG, while the BBC offered its own best practice advice, in addition to insights into content consumption and the exponential rise in reach of new digital media.


Transport for London discussed the power of its open data policy in stimulating innovation through the production of mobile applications using transport data and the Greater London Authority informed how the London Underground is working with mobile network operators to install signal on the Central and Jubilee lines.


United fronts


Siena Pakington and Amanda Farnsworth from the BBC underlined the value of bringing the UK together with brilliant coverage across a range of platforms, driving digital content while offering personalisation and choice. The growth of IPTV services such as YouView (formerly Project Canvas) aims to democratise the viewing of web and television content, and to better control consumption.


Many speakers stressed the value of a collaborative industry. Open sharing of information and unified lobbying has the power to remove barriers and overcome obstacles in delivering superior, immersive user experience. Combined strength and accord will help rebrand Britain to the world, moving away from old fashioned stereotypes.


Protecting the brand


LOCOG’s Emma Young explained how the brand is the organising committee’s most valuable asset. To fund the Games LOCOG ‘sells’ its brand to sponsors and merchandise licensees, therefore if any party used London 2012 logos or associations with the Games for free, the funding model would not work.


Parliament granted LOCOG special legal rights under a 2006 act to prevent ambush marketing.


Given its primary responsibility for all services in the operation of the games, LOCOG’s mobile mission is firmly concentrated on the need for products and services to be proven and robust at the first attempt.


Mobile developments


A joint operators group for the Games is working towards securing shared 2G and 3G infrastructure for the public in Olympic park, facilitated by LOCOG. The requirement for solid mobile coverage is a priority illuminated by the rise in visits to official websites. 105m visits to the Beijing site was bettered by 291m visits to the Vancouver site for the following Winter Games. 50% of all Canadians were said to have visited the site, while the mobile site received 8.7m visits and 1.25m downloaded the official mobile application.


LOCOG aims to deliver a number of mobile applications across the different development platforms for 2012, starting with WOW, the application from official partner Samsung, on Samsung’s Android-operated devices.

Open data to stimulate innovation


Transport for London’s Vernon Everitt extolled the virtues of open data for developers to provide applications and services which improve the travel experience. Much of TfL’s remit concerns coping with increased capacity, large-scale events and making sure their transport keeps moving. By freeing arrival and departure board data, status of tube lines and route planning data, developers have created new applications and better experiences.

The introduction of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme saw TfL open up the location data of docking stations. Four new mobile applications were published by independent developers in a short space of time.


Stimulating innovation was said to depend on the quality of openly offered data, and on the syndication of real-time information through specialist technical interfaces to publishers and broadcasters such as the BBC.


The Games Legacy

A panel session of speakers outlined their vision of the Games legacy. How people consume real-time data on the go, the nature of athlete engagement via social media and sustained best practice were all cited as potential long-term benefits of activity.


Prospective hurdles were considered to be fear, losing control of the message, damage to reputation through misuse of data. However, with open stakeholder engagement and considered focus, none were considered to be insurmountable.


The next 600 days..

With the clock now ticking down towards the beginning of the Games, it's now time for the talking to stop and concerted industry activity to begin. The MDA has created a closed, invite-only discussion group with the intention of providing a forum for bringing together 2012 stakeholders around mobile projects. Submit your discussion group request along with the nature of your interest here. http://tinyurl.com/23l6blbAn event in March 2011, again coordinated by The MDA, will incorporate the official mobile partner of the Games, Samsung, and explore opportunities around the branded device and related applications. This event will form part of a series of meetings intended to achieve hard results by generating rich mobile experiences leading up to, during and after the Games.