Handheld Topics
- Application
Case Studies -
These are just a few of the application
profiles that enduser organizations have implemented on PDAs:
Mobile Banking (1999 circa) -
Bank of Montreal (with HQ in Toronto, Canada) has started a pilot service called
"Veev" to test market basic banking services on a Palm Pilot. Together with Bell
Mobility's wireless data services, real-time connection is achieved with bank's customer
accounting system on a large IBM mainframe. The customer can get account balance, get
stock quotes and pay bills from anywhere.
Ameritech provides Windows CE devices
to its remote field technicians (1999 circa) - Ability to remotely check
server-based information (customer service dispatch) and synchronize data with
servers was one of the key features that prompted Ameritech to use handheld computing
devices run under Windows CE operating system. The technicians are now able to send
reports describing jobs they performed and receive updates on customer records and billing
information from ameritech's Intranet when a job is completed. It will cost over $20
million dollars to equip the field force of 10,000 technicians - as reported in
information Week - May 3 1999 issue.
Lesco Restorations in Spartanburg, SC
uses CE handheld devices to manage commercial properties for routine maintenance requests
- change bulbs, paving repairs, etc.
Snyder Healthcare Sales in Somerset,
NJ uses NEC's Mobile Pro Ce handhelds to help coordinate salesperson's
information about sample drugs they provide to doctors. They plan to equip 3000 sales
representatives with the device.
At Windermere Real Estate, in Seattle,
2,000 agents access a large corporate database (almost 7-8 GB in size) for e-mail and
property data through browsers on mobile phones and Palm Pilot devic with wireless connectivity.
Intertape's Supply-chain
Software: Allows customers to check order status,
inventory levels, and execute transactions in real-time from any Palm.net,
CDMA, GSM or WAP-enabled device.
Service Master (a large
organization servicing household cleaning for most part) also clean
GreyHound buses. After cleaning, Service Master inspectors submit a report
to Greyhound. A paper-based report has been replaced by a Palm IIIE-based
solution whereby the inspectors enter information directly on the Palm and
then transmit it. Go
here for more
The Albert
Florens Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South
Carolina lets its doctors do less paperwork and see more patients.
AMR,
the largest privately owned ambulance company in the country, captures
patient medical data prior to treatment, cutting costs and saving lives.
Bankers
Trust, one of the world's largest investment managers, gives its
executives instant access to real-time financial data, including stock
quotes, headlines, and market alerts.
BD,
a Fortune 500 healthcare products company, developed the Palm-based Rx and
Dx Solutions for mobile medication management and specimen validation.
Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center provides its physicians with Palm™ VII handhelds
for completely mobile, web-based access to clinical information anytime,
anywhere.
Fiat
Crédit France's forms-based application for sales negotiation and
financing drove up revenues and customer satisfaction, and paid for itself
in only 18 months.
Frontline
Now! implemented an SFA application which shortens the amount of
time it takes to get critical information to its customers -- from 5 days
to real-time.
Michelin
Americas Truck Tires equipped its sales force with Palm-OS based
IBM Workpads to perform custom fleet tire analysis. The solution results
in improved customer service and lower operating costs for Michelin
customers.
Wake
Forest University Baptist Medical Center, a premier US healthcare
teaching institute, enables doctors to access critical medical and
reference information and store patient data, improving healthcare safety
and administration.
BFGoodrich
uses Palm handhelds for performance tire testing, saving crucial race time
while gathering information quickly and cost-effectively.
Clark
Wilson Homes, a large construction
firm, tracks projects and communicates on-site instructions to crews,
contractors, and suppliers with increased efficiency.
Gunn
Automotive implemented a Palm OS®
based solution which enables Gunn's sale force to access inventory
information from ten different dealerships throughout San Antonio, TX -
without leaving the customers side.
The Los
Angeles City Fire Department saved the city $123,000 in
inspections and data-entry, and its solution delivered an 11-month payback
and a 109% ROI that will soar to 302% after 3 years.
The United
States Postal Service implemented a mail tracking system to
monitor vendor performance, making data available in days instead of
months. The 1,000-seat implementation is expected to pay for itself in
just six months.
Volvo
Cars reduced the turnaround time of
quality inspection data from as much as 3 weeks to one day, realizing huge
costs savings in the process.
More Case Studies
For more general-purpose
mobile case studies, go to general-purpose mobile
case study index page. Remember, now most notebook and pen
computer based vertical applications may be also available on
smaller handheld devices. Just ask the application provider.
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