Working with a Budget, Part 1

OK, so you want to know how much it will cost to get your 10 field service technicians set-up with handheld computers so they can be dispatched work/service orders in the field. Let's explore the issues?

What are the major pieces to this mobility solution/project?

-Work order management software in the office (hopefully this is already in place)
-Mobile client software (software on your handheld computer) that synchronizes with your work order management software in the office
-Handheld computers
-Data network through your favorite wireless carrier (e.g. Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, Vodaphone, Orange, etc.)

The first task is to find a "mobile client" software package that will synchronize with your work order management application. The problem is your cousin Bob developed your work order management system 4 years ago for a high school project and he is now back in prison. What next? You may want to find a company like MobileDataforce, http://www.mobiledataforce.com that provides software that you can use to rapidly develop and configure a mobile client that can synchronize with your office software. If you have enough in your budget, it is usually a faster and easier process to involve my professional services team, or to get one of your local talented IT consultant, assuming they are out on probation, to do this for you.

...more in Part 2