Customer Day 3 - 19th April 2007
FSM – MConnect & Techlink Update:
MConnect – xml integration tool
Mobile Techlink – Metrix’s mobile data solution for engineers
Steve Hurst gave a presentation that combined the MConnect interface and the Metrix Mobile Techlink application. Job’s were generated in Metrix in real time using MConnect (receiving jobs from a 3rd party system). Those jobs were automatically allocated to engineers using the workflow in Metrix and for each change of status MConnect sent real time updates back the 3rd party solution.
Steve then moved onto the Mobile device running Techlink. The job had been sent to the PDA and Steve then progressed through a series of typical engineering events, arrival, parts usage, signature capture etc. The data sent back to Metrix initiated a series of events including; colour changes on the schedule board to denote job progress, emails internal and external to give customers and admin visibility of job progress, MConnect sending update messages to the 3rd party solution in real time.
The MConnect module now features:
Two way real-time integration
* Financial / MRP Solutions
* 3rd Party service / call centre solutions
* Scheduling Solutions
* Intelligent Devices
Manage data in the interfaces
* Manipulate various file types and data content
* Prioritise inbound data to avoid bottlenecks
* Produce output in various file formats
* Use scripting for additional functionality
* Run multiple integrations
* Access additional databases
* Full audit trail with error handling
* Graphical view of interface to track errors
* Email notifications
Metrix – General Update:
Benny Maas from the Metrix Europe office attended the customer day and gave a general update on Metrix including:
* New branding and organisational structure
* Mobile Techlink 2.1 now available
* MConnect 1.1 available end April
* Metrix has partnered with 360 for optimised Scheduling
* Metrix 4.6.9 available from end 2007
* Metrix 5 – New Generation solution announced
360 Technologies – John Garrett
FSM were pleased to introduce John Garrett following the announcement in March that FSM are UK & Ireland resellers of the 360 optimised scheduling solution.
John gave a stand alone presentation of the 360 solution. 360 ensures the right engineer is sent to the right job efficiently and on time. This is one of the most demanding challenges faced by any service organisation. 360’s Dynamic Scheduling Engine (DSE) takes into account factors such as engineer skills, SLAs, travel, traffic delays, shift patterns, etc. to produce the best schedule of work at all times. Whenever a parameter changes, the DSE will instantly recalculate and update the schedule.
The advantages are clear:
* Save 20% on costs
* Undertake 20% more calls
* Automate the control room
* Minimise travel costs
* Maximise SLA compliance
* Real-time cost visibility
* Pro-active operations
Opticon – Pete Elrington
Pete Elrington gave a presentation covering a range of handheld bar coding solutions. Opticon specialised in bar coding devices and offer solutions from the warehouse through to the field. Their latest offering the H19 gives the mobile engineer a superb tool capturing barcodes as part of their job function. FSM customers please note – the H19 can run Mobile Techlink and consequently the barcode reader functionality is fully integrated as a standard offering.
Further info on the H19
* Microsoft Pocket PC platform - Windows Mobile 2003
* Lightweight, compact unit
* Built-in barcode scanner - recognizes all common barcodes
* Large easy-to-read colour LCD display reduces user fatigue, QVGA (320×240)
* Connects easily to all standard communication equipment and peripherals, with GSM/GPRS, WiFi, IrDA or Bluetooth options
* Lithium-ion battery pack offers long battery life
* Dimensions 78mm (W) x 131mm (L) x 27mm(H)
Cognitor – Donna Salvatore & Maria Wilder
Donna & Maria joined the customer day by conferencing in from the States and provided a presentation of their knowledge management solutions. The presentation included a number of live customer examples.
In the next customer day the solution will be available as one of the “table top” displays for customers to review at their leisure.