Andrew Data Systems using Harrier technology to make informed business decisions
The Ability to Combine Mobility with Immediate Access to Centrally Held Information
In the highly competitive world of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) information such as where and how merchandising is displayed, stock availability, pricing informatuion plus the success of promotions is essential.
Andrew Data Systems has developed software and teamed it up with a Harrier PDA from Telecom to enable In Store Sales Service, a sales and merchandising company to provide their clients with critical information in a fraction of the time it took using their previous paper-based system.
The company's representatives have a Harrier PDA and are able to work in an offline mode. Using Telecom's mobile data network, the reps can remotely access and synchronise the merchandising application on Andrew Data System's central server.
It's so much more time and cost effective and means that In Store's clients can make their business decisions based on the most current and relevant information, says Andrew Data System's GM Vinney Kumar.
For more details on how Harrier PDA technology and mobile data solutions have helped Andrew Data Systems, please download the following PDF of the full case study.
Please click here for the
FULL CASE STUDY
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Mobile Broadband puts open homes in hands of Harcourts agents
Mobile broadband puts open homes in hands of Harcourts agents
More than 600 Harcourts sales consultants nationwide have swapped bulky paper files for a pocket-sized Telecom PDA (personal digital assistant). They have never been more up-to-date or so mobile.
Harcourts is the fastest growing real estate group in Australasia, with more than 180 branch offices and almost 2,000 sales consultants throughout New Zealand. Working with Telecom, the company introduced custom-made software Mobile Agent to provide its consultants with secure access to central databases of property and customer information while they’re on the move.
Using Telecom PDAs connected to high speed Mobile Broadband, consultants can quickly download the latest information on properties including location, vendors, rates, values and photographs. “A consultant can be out with a client and use their Apache or Harrier PDA to search properties based on price, location or even the number of bedrooms,” says Harcourts chief technology officer Jason Wills.
“If the client sees something they like, the vendor’s contact details are included so all they need to do is click on a link to make a call or send an email. “There’s no rekeying of phone numbers or heading back to the office to send an email because everything they need is in the palm of their hand.”
Fresh information
The freshness of the information is also an advantage. “Previously consultants carried about massive piles of documents which became out-of-date almost as soon as they were printed. Now they have the latest information available,” says Jason.
Sales consultants are also updating their property and customer records on the move, rather than having to go back to the office, saving each an estimated four to five hours a week in administration. “They hardly need to come into the office because they have their desktop in their hand and that has the potential to create savings in office space and equipment.”
Recruitment incentive
Harcourts is finding the technology is also a recruitment incentive for new consultants. “People are really impressed that we’ve introduced something so leading edge and they can see how it can help them make more sales,” Wills says.
Trans-Tasman reach
The technology has been so popular in New Zealand, Harcourts has introduced Mobile Agent to its Australian operation to give sales consultants there the same flexibility.
Harcourts in Australia uses the same central databases so it was simply a matter of extending the reach of the application trans-Tasman. “We worked closely with Telecom and AAPT in Australia throughout the process and they made the transition very straightforward.” Given that Harcourts’ five central servers hold information vital to both Australian and New Zealand operations, Wills opted to have them housed and managed by Telecom in Christchurch. “The servers are monitored 24/7 by Telecom which also manages firewall and antivirus protection. That means I can focus on other projects to help develop the business with greater peace-of-mind,” says Wills.
In the future Harcourts will also install telehoused servers in Australia which will be an added back up for the New Zealand operation. Wills says the closeness of the relationship with Telecom has been an advantage for the business. “I often sit down with my account manager, tell him what I’m thinking about and he will go away and see how Telecom can make it happen for me.” “Telecom also attends our annual Australasian conference so they understand in what direction the company is headed and the Telecom dealers also regularly attend meetings with the sales team. We’ve developed a strong relationship which works well.”
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Sauce ready for action thanks to Telecom Mobile Broadband Data Cards
Sauce ready for action thanks to Telecom Mobile Broadband Data Cards
Every 30 second television advertisement requires a lot of time, effort and, crucially, data. For film production firm Sauce to simplify their production process and increase productivity, efficient data-transfer was a major priority.
Sauce turned to Telecom’s 3G network, Mobile Broadband, to enable the fast and cost-effective transfer from laptop to laptop of data-intensive files containing the latest images and video files.
Sauce needed a way of transferring completed scenes through to the Producer or Special Effects Supervisor’s laptop – wherever they might be. The problem is the files they needed to send are huge. Just one second of normal TV-quality imagery is about 30MB worth of data.
Telecom supplied Sauce’s senior directors and producers with Mobile Broadband data cards to plug into their laptops. When a scene is finished, the crew send the file as an attachment across the Mobile Broadband network.
“The performance has been phenomenal. Before Mobile Broadband, we wouldn’t have bothered trying to communicate until we got back to the office. Sending these data intensive files would simply have been too slow and too expensive.”
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made4baby Natural Baby Skincare - Mobile Data Case Study
Technology Comes Naturally for made4baby
Rebecca and James McLeod started made4baby after experiencing difficulty finding natural skincare products for their new son.
After the birth of Sam, Rebecca and husband James searched for natural products that were also practical, fun and affordable.
With the help of Telecom’s fixed and mobile broadband, Rebecca and James set up made4baby and are now running their business while also running a family.
After exhaustive research and lots of thought they decided to make their own - and founded made4baby. Rebecca, a lawyer, had already decided she wanted a new career that would make it easier to be a full-time mum.
Working from their home in Auckland the McLeods set about developing and launching their business with a Christchurch-based web designer and a local product design company.
“Using broadband and corresponding by email we were able to receive large files with images and mock-ups of the design work over the Internet.
“It meant we could use the best people regardless of their location, and having a high speed internet connection meant we could access and download what we needed. We discussed changes by email and over the phone which meant I didn’t have to leave the house to attend face-to-face meetings,” says Rebecca.
To maximise their impact the McLeods launched made4baby at the Auckland Parent and Child Show. Using Telecom Mobile Broadband they were able to simply log on to their made4baby website to show potential customers their online store.
“It was great to have the range at my fingertips and be able to demonstrate for people how easy it was to order.”
Since then the business has blossomed, with orders coming in daily and the range being picked up by 25 Life Pharmacy stores throughout New Zealand.
Technical information
> Mobile broadband data cards enable easy access to high speed broadband, from almost anywhere in New Zealand at any time, via Telecom’s mobile data network.
> OKTA Touch smartphones provide all the standard features of a mobile phone enhanced with the ability to browse the internet, send and receive emails and allow you to stay connected to the office using Windows Mobile® 6.0
> Fixed Broadband to deliver high speed internet access for downloading and sending large files, quickly
FREE PDF Download
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