Application keeps field staff updated

Agility Mobile Expert sends job details to engineers' handhelds

SoftSols Group has introduced an application that enables mobile engineers and contractors to update work order information and time sheets in the field using a PDA. It streamlines communications, providing engineers with only the relevant information they need for their day-to-day tasks.

Agility Mobile Expert runs on Pocket PC devices and builds on the capabilities of SoftSols' existing browser-based maintenance management system. It enables engineers to update information even when out of network coverage, according to the firm, storing the data locally and synchronising with the office when a connection is re-established.

The system allows office-based helpdesk staff to see the status of each engineer at a glance and enables firms to allocate work orders more efficiently, SoftSols said. "The ability to respond quickly to meet operational needs and customer demands enhances productivity and the company's reputation," said David Hipkin, managing director of SoftSols Group. It also reduces the need for manual input and thus cuts the costs of administration, he added.

Though Agility Mobile Expert is designed to work with SoftSols' Agility server-based system, it can also be adapted to hook up to rival computerised maintenance management systems, the firm said.

The use of Mobile Expert means that work can still be managed on a PDA, even when engineers are at remote locations with limited or no network coverage, Hipkin said. Agility Mobile Expert runs on most Pocket PC devices, including Pocket PC phones and ruggedised handhelds. The software costs £595 per seat.