Added Advantages from Mobile Technology
Added Advantages from Mobile Technology
AE Smith’s Victoria Service Team capitalises on Mobile Tec handsets to streamline operational outcomes |
| 10 Sep 2010 |
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| Remote technology is providing additional benefits beyond those anticipated for AE Smith technicians in the field, as new ways are identified to achieve improvements in productivity and simplify the compliance process for Certificates of Electrical Safety. More than 200 on-the-road service technicians were issued with Mobile Tec handheld devices (PDA’s) in 2009, with the Motorola web-enabled devices tailored to act as a seamless extension of the AE Smith Maintenance System. But it seems the ability to remotely access information about customers, from historical data and asset management to equipment specifications and service history, is proving to be just the tip of the iceberg as savvy Victoria’s Service technicians draw on the technology to address other compliance, efficiency and productivity challenges across the board. Brad Disher, Account Manager with AE Smith Service in Victoria, says with the introduction of the PDA devices for field technicians, his department began to immediately explore what other opportunities existed for expanding the use of the devices in the field to achieve positive operational outcomes. “The HVAC industry in Victoria in particular is very heavily regulated,” Brad says, pointing to the stringent regulatory requirements for Certificates of Electrical Safety as a prime example. “Whenever an electrical component is replaced in the field, the responsible license holder – or technician – is required to complete a Certificate of Electrical Safety.” “This certificate must then be audited by our supervising electrician within four business days, and physical copies must be submitted to Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), the customer, and a record kept in house.” “The administrative burden of this requirement is obvious, and we thought there had to be a better way,” Brad says. Enter web-enabled PDA technology. Brad’s team looked into third party web browsers that could be installed on their Motorola PDA’s, which were capable of interfacing remotely with the Energy Safe Online Services portal. Once the most suitable software was identified, a simple process was developed to allow individual technicians to complete their certificates in the field and even on the spot, when required. “Our supervising electrician now performs the auditing function remotely, from home via the web, saving a significant amount of time while also removing a number of the obvious logistical issues surrounding the old paper-based certificate system,” Brad says. This improved process alone has resulted in significant and tangible productivity increases, as well as cost savings, as the significant capacity of the PDA devices in conjunction with the ESV web services are harnessed to streamline operational practices. The handheld devices are also ensuring billing accuracy and time efficiencies – saving customers money on service call outs and maintenance turnaround times. Brad says the Vic Service team are continuing to look at ways to leverage the powerful handheld devices to further enhance the functionality of their field technicians, and achieve additional operational efficiencies into the future. “We see this as an opportunity for our guys to become mobile technicians in the true sense of the term,” he says. |
