Mobile Handheld PDA Software & HVAC Service Technicians

The poor HVAC service technician didn't see it coming. My wife tried to warn him. She said, "Don't answer any of his questions!" It was too late.

• Kevin -"What have you got there on the clipboard."


• Unsuspecting HVAC service technician -"This is a work order form."


• "How do you know where to go for your next job"


• "I call Pam at the office. Problem is my Nextel phone takes 10 minutes to connect to the office...I hate it. Sometimes I use my own personal phone to call her."


• "What does Pam do?"


• "She talks to all the service technicians and dispatches all the work. She tries to keep track of where all the service technicians are and what they should be doing, and where they should go next."


• "What happens if Pam elopes to Las Vegas with a circus clown?"


• "We would just close down the shop and lock the door. She is critical to our business...I call her 5-7 times a day to have her look up archived work orders so I know what previous work has been done on a furnace or air conditioner, and what parts were replaced."


• "How long do you spend on the phone with Pam for each of those 5-7 times a day?


• "About 10 minutes each time."


• "Do all the HVAC service technicians call her for information on archived work orders?"


• "Yup...she also dispatches all work orders to us by calling us on the phone and reading us the address of our next jobs and instructing us on what to do. We stop working or driving and write down all the information for the next job."
• "How does the work order information get entered into the accounting software?"
• "Another person enters the data into the accounting software each day."

At this point -my wife stepped in between us and pushed the HVAC service technician out the door and he escaped!!!"

OK...some math and ROI considerations:

• 7 HVAC service technicians
• 60 minutes/day/HVAC service technician on the phone with Pam looking up archived work orders
• 20 minutes/day/HVAC service technician on the phone with Pam writing down new work orders
• 10 minutes/day/HVAC service technician waiting on the Nextel phone system to work
• Pam spends 8 hours a day dispatching and talking to HVAC service technicians on the phone

If my numbers are correct that would equal 18.3 hours per day that the HVAC company is wasting on tasks that could be automated and mobilized by using a mobile handheld PDA work order software application (from MobileDataforce) synchronized with the work order management system in the office. If you multiply 18.3 by $20/hour you have $366. Now multiply $366 by 22 work days in the average month and you have $8,052. Now multiply $8,052 by 12 months and you have $96,624.

The total cost of a mobile work order management system running on ruggedized handheld computers that synchronize wirelessly with the office dispatch system would be a fraction of this expense. Plus I did not even include the cost of entering the data into the accounting system.

Review of Paintless Dent Repair Technologies, PDAs and Handhelds

I have written several articles on the different components of a Paintless Dent Repair mobile software application for service technicians. Here is a consolidated list of the various component of this application:

• Mobile Handheld PDA bar code scanner to scan VINs (vehicle identification numbers) for the purpose of uniquely identifying the vehicle you are inspecting and servicing (for more information on this)


• VIN database and VIN decoding - the mobile handheld PDA contains a full database of nearly all the automobiles available in a particular country. When you scan the bar code on the vehicle the VIN number is decoded and the description of the vehicle automatically populates the inspection or work order application on the handheld pc. This is updated regularly.


• Vehicle Inspection Application - once you have scanned the VIN number, you want to inspect the vehicle to identify the necessary services that will be required. This blog article discusses the SPLAT screen technology that is used to graphically identify the location on the vehicle where services are needed.


• Mobile Work Order Software Application - once the inspection is completed and the customer signs his/her digital signature agreeing to pay for the services, the work can be preformed. Once the work is completed the customer will be invoiced and the work order data can be wirelessly synchronized with the accounting software in the office.
• Work Order Management Software in the Office - back at the office new employees and service technicians can be entered into the work order management system and this information can be synchronized back out to the handheld computer in the field. Once this information is synchronized with the handheld computer the employee can be assigned to work orders. Many of our customers pay employees based upon their completed work so this is important. This office application also provides a history of work completed for each customer, reports, customer set-up and administration settings. You can also schedule work in the future with various customers.
• Integration with QuickBooks (or other accounting applications) - All of the completed work in the field needs to be tracked and invoiced through as accounting system. MobileDataforce has integrated with many accounting packages, but the default accounting system that will come pre-integrated in the FieldSync Automotive application is QuickBooks.

To learn more about software solutions for the PDR market please email or visit MobileDataforce's website.

Mobile Automotive Inspection Software & Paintless Dent Repair Software for PDA and Handhelds

The image to the right is the SPLAT screen from the mobile automotive service order application called FieldSync Automotive. It is designed for companies that inspect vehicles for damage and conduct work like Paintless Dent Repair - PDR. You can bar code scan the VIN number, inspect the vehicle, create a mobile work order and get customer approval to work on the vehicle. The completed work order is then synchronized to the FieldSync Automotive office application.

The splat screen is a very helpful concept. You can select a vehicle type such as truck, 4-door, hatch back, etc. The splat image brings up an image that enables you to graphically depict the damage or location of work. This is powerful documentation that shows well to the customer.

If you would like more information on FieldSync Automotive, please contact us via email or visit MobileDataforce's website.

Paintless Dent Repair & Mobile Automotive Services Software, Handhelds, PDAs and Mobile Software

In a blog article I wrote earlier, I discussed a mobile work order software application for use on PDAs, handhelds and Smartphones under development that is designed to run on ruggedized handheld computers and to be used by automotive service technicians. They bar code scan the VIN of a car and then create a work order. Once the work order is approved they complete the work, invoice the customer and synchronize the data with the office. In the image above you see the desktop application used in the office. This application allows work orders to be created and dispatched to the automotive service technicians in the field. Reports can be generated and the work orders can be loaded into QuickBooks for invoicing.

If you operate an automotive inspection service, paintless dent repair, detailing or other automobile services business then you may find this very interesting. If you would like more information please contact MobileDataforce by email or visit our website.

Paintless Dent Removal and Mobile Software Solution for PDAs and Handhelds

MobileDataforce is in the process of developing a very interesting mobile software application for handhelds and PDAs called FieldSync Automotive (TM). This software application runs on a rugged handheld computer and synchronizes with a desktop application that manages work orders, schedules, reports, invoices and integrates with Quickbooks. Other accounting systems can be supported but require additional customization.

MobileDataforce is developing a powerful collection of applications for companies that provide mobile automotive services. Services such as paintless dent repair (PDR), detailing, mobile windshield repair, automotive inspections, etc. If you would like more information please email us or visit our website.

The mobile handheld software application (pictured above) enables the user to scan (using a barcode scanner) the VIN number on the automobile and then assign a work order to that unique vehicle.