Kevin Benedict is a TCS futurist and lecturer focused on the signals and foresight that emerge as society, geopolitics, economies, science, technology, environment, and philosophy converge.
Visiting MobileDataforce and Talking Mobile Software, PDAs and Handhelds
Mobile Applications, Handhelds and PDAs and Hog Feeding
QuickBooks, PDAs, Smart Phones and Handheld Computers
Gartner & Sybase Discuss Mobile Software, PDAs and Handhelds
Mobile Data Collection on Handheld PDAs in Africa
MobileDataforce is involved in many very interesting and large mobile software development projects around the world, but there are times when a project has a greater purpose than just good business.
EPA Underground Inspection Forms for use on Mobile Handheld PDAs
This mobile inspection application has over 400 data fields and allows the underground tank inspector to draw diagrams in the application and to wireless synchronize the inspection data and drawing back to a database in the office.
This mobile software application was developed for a Tablet PC, which was the customer's preference because of the large numbers of data fields and desire to draw diagrams depicting problem areas identified during inspections.
MobileDataforce mobilizes paper forms daily. We help our customers convert their paper processes to mobile software applications that can synchronize to office database application or accounting systems remotely from the field. We support rugged mobile handheld computers, Tablet PCs and laptops.
MobileDataforce can quickly convert paper forms to mobile software applications by using the mobile development environment called the PointSync Mobility Platform.
Mobile Handheld PDA - Socket Mobile Announces Antibacterial Handheld Computer
In the past I just wanted a nice, fast and dependable handheld computer with a good screen and lots of memory. However, going forward I will add to my list of wants a handheld computer that includes - antibacterial additives that gradually releases microbe-fighting metal ions upon becoming moist or wet.
Socket Communications, Inc., dba Socket Mobile, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, recently announced a new line of products to be built with an antibacterial plastic targeted toward healthcare and other markets that involve hygiene-sensitive environments. The first product combination to debut in the new line is the SoMo 650 handheld computer and docking cradle, which will be on display at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference and exhibition in the Socket Mobile booth #1312. SoMo 650 handheld computer product demonstrations will also be taking place in the Cisco booth #6251 in conjunction with its recently attained Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) 4.0 certification.
"Calls for patient safety to drive health IT investments is among the top 10 issues facing the healthcare industry today," said Bob Zink, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Socket Mobile. "As more mobile devices make their way into sterile environments, it is important to take into consideration the effect that will have on patient safety. Our focus on and dedication to the healthcare industry has driven us to build an antibacterial product line to assist in the industry's efforts to make patient safety first and foremost in order of priority."
The new antibacterial product line incorporates the use of an antibacterial additive that gradually releases microbe-fighting metal ions upon becoming moist or wet. In conjunction with the traditional cleaning and sterilization procedures used on similar data collection equipment in the healthcare and hospitality industries, devices built with antibacterial plastic provide an additional layer of protection against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes, giving organizations the opportunity to enhance the safety of medical staff, patients, workers and visitors. In addition, the antibacterial plastic reduces, or in many cases eliminates, the need for and dependence on protective skins or shells that can become expensive over time as a consumable-type accessory.
Mobile Sales, Orders and CRM on Handheld PDAs
My team has a lot of experience helping our customers develop world class mobile sales and mobile delivery software applications for use on handheld PDAs that use Windows Mobile. These projects include:
- Mobile sales orders - take orders in mobile locations
- Tracking the delivery of products to retail grocery stores
- Collecting in-store marketing information
- Collecting product price information
- Proof-of-delivery
- Water bottle delivery solutions to homes/businesses
- Post-delivery inspection applications (check product for shipping damage and get customer signature)
- Mobile retail planagrams (detail the shelf location of products and the re-stocking amounts)
If you would like to brainstorm about how to develop custom mobile software or mobilize your sales, delivery or CRM solutions please contact us at MobileDataforce.
Mobile Handheld PDAs in the Healthcare Field
- Home Heathcare Services
- Mobile Clinical Trials Software
- Mobile Patient Monitoring
- Board of Pharmacy Mobile Software
- Mobile Software for Orthodics
- Clinical Research
- Medicine Logisitics, Transportation and Delivery
MobileDataforce Team Photos 2008
We want to thank our many mobile software customers for your faith and confidence in our enterprise mobility solutions for handheld PDAs, smartphones and industrial handheld barcode scanners. You have challenged us with the complexity of your IT environments and we have learned much as we have helped you achieve your ROIs!
Inc. Magazine on MobileDataforce's PDA, Handheld and Mobile Software Blog
http://technology.inc.com/internet/articles/200803/blog.html?partner=rss-alert
This very blog is used as an example of a company's CEO communicating with customers, partners and other parties interested in mobile software solutions.
Thanks for reading!
Make More Sales by Using Mobile Handheld PDAs and Smartphones
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to renew service contracts
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to offer additional and complimentary services. For example: Plumbers can offer to conduct a water conservation inspection in the house while they are there repairing the toilet. The inspection can identify various ways the customer could conserve water by replacing shower heads, toilet tanks, etc.
- Mobile applications can prompt service technician to offer products related to the needs of the customer. Plumbers could talk to customers about water filtration systems, and other products.
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to sell extended product warranties
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to identify various service and product needs that were noted while on site with the customer. This information can be shared with the sales team for follow-up.
These are just a few examples of how mobile software applications on handheld PDAs and smartphones can intelligently remind and prompt field service technicians to help increase the sales of products and services.
MobileDataforce provides a wide range of both mobile software applications and custom mobile software development services.
Handheld PDA Research Tools in the Emergency Department
Prospective, randomized evaluation of a personal digital assistant-based research tool in the emergency department
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2008, 8:3doi:10.1186/1472-6947-8-3
Published:
18 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Personal digital assistants (PDA) offer putative advantages over paper for collecting research data. However, there are no data prospectively comparing PDA and paper in the emergency department. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the performance of PDA and paper enrollment instruments with respect to time required and errors generated.
Methods
We randomized consecutive patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective study to having their data recorded either on a PDA or a paper data collection instrument. For each method, we recorded the total time required for enrollment, and the time required for manual transcription (paper) onto a computer database. We compared data error rates by examining missing data, nonsensical data, and errors made during the transcription of paper forms. Statistical comparisons were performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Poisson regression analyses for time and errors, respectively.
Results
We enrolled 68 patients (37 PDA, 31 paper). Two of 31 paper forms were not available for analysis. Total data gathering times, inclusive of transcription, were significantly less for PDA (6:13 min per patient) compared to paper (9:12 min per patient; p<0.001). color="#006600">Conclusions
Using a PDA-based data collection instrument for clinical research reduces the time required for data gathering and significantly improves data integrity.
Marcel P.J.M. Dijkers Ph.D. FACRM
Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Clinical Research Projects and Mobile Handheld PDA Solutions
This article discusses the use of mobile handheld PDA solutions (Palm Treos) in a clinical research environment.
Company Overview:
Craig Hospital is a non-profit spinal cord and brain trauma rehabilitation and research hospital. Based in Denver Colorado, Craig Hospital has been treating brain and spinal cord trauma patients since 1956 and has treated over 25,500 patients.
Research Challenge:
Craig Hospital recently received a government grant to perform research on 8 different forms of rehabilitation in order to understand what techniques are most effective for each of the 8 disciplines. Craig Hospital teamed up with 5 other research hospitals (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Shepherd Center, Mount Sinai, Carolinas Rehabilitation, and the National Rehabilitation Hospital) in order to make the findings representative of spinal cord injury rehabilitation practices nationwide. The data needed to be collected and sent to a main database at an outside location to be analyzed. ISIS/ICOR (International Severity Information Services/Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research) was the organization selected to perform the data analysis and to maintain the database to which all collected information was to be sent. The problem was that the hospitals and patients were all in different geographic locations, and the patient care happened in a mobile working environment which made the collection and secure synchronization of the research data to a central database a challenge.
MobileDataforce Solution:
MobileDataforce created a mobile handheld application for each of the 8 different types of rehabilitation. Each healthcare provider was issued a handheld HP iPAQ HX 2190 PDA running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system and asked to record rehabilitation progress with each of their patients in the study. There were approximately 250 mobile devices across the 6 hospitals.
By using a mobile software application rather than using paper forms Craig Hospital was able to:
- Save data entry time
- Save the costs of shipping and storing paper forms
- Ensure data accuracy through the use of data validation features
- Pre-load patients’ names and information onto the mobile device to save time and ensure accuracy
- Speed up research and analysis by downloading data directly from the handheld devices to the central research database
By selecting MobileDataforce’s PointSync Mobility Platform and professional services, Craig Hospital obtained a complete enterprise mobility platform and an experienced mobile software development team. MobileDataforce developed 8 mobile clinical research software applications that allowed for the 6 hospitals to capture information quickly, in real time, from all across the United States and synchronized it into one central research database. This allowed for research and analysis to be conducted on the data in near-real time.
MobileDataforce implemented software security features to ensure patient privacy and compliance to industry rules. MobileDataforce also helped Craig Hospital select the appropriate mobile handheld devices for their data collection requirements.
Conclusion:
Craig hospital was able to collect research data on 8 different rehabilitation disciplines from 6 different hospitals across the country and synchronize the data into one centralized database using the PointSync Mobility Platform from MobileDataforce, http://www.mobiledataforce.com/. Craig Hospital saved time and ensured data accuracy by designing a custom mobile application for clinical research with the help of MobileDataforce. MobileDataforce assists organizations around the world mobilize business and field data collection processes. For additional information please visit our website at: http://www.mobiledataforce.com/.
You can find more information on these studies here.
MobileDataforce's Office and International Visitors
MobileDataforce has also been interviewed by Fortune magazine, Forbes magazine, Inc. magazine and VAR in the past 4 weeks. Many of these interviews focused on quality of life and fast growing high tech companies in the inter-mountain region of the USA.
Our office is right on the Boise river and it is a very attractive destination for fisherman, mountain bikers and skiers. If you are a fishing fan - this Idaho Fishing Guide is a great place to learn about fishing in and around Idaho.
MobileDataforce and IBM's Maximo for Mobile Handheld PDAs
The software application is a mobile work order management application.
Global Warming & Mobile Handheld PDAs
- Energy efficiency inspection and service ticket applications for utilities
- Water efficiency inspection applications and service ticket applications
- Disaster & Damage inspection and repair estimate applications
- Public housing inspections in the Benelux
- Housing Inspections in the UK
- Canyon County Building Inspection application
Many of these projects are motivated by the need to conserve energy. In the case of both the mobile energy efficiency and water efficiency applications the purpose is to reduce the use of these two scarce resources.
The building applications and housing inspection applications are focused on compliance with government regulations. These include energy efficiency levels and environmentally sound practices.
We are asked more and more to help with inspection applications that can be used to quickly estimate damage from storms and bad weather.
Our customers are generally the company that is contracted to provide these services. Since these projects are often won through a competitive bid process, each service company is seeking ways to be more efficient so they can provide more services for less and keep a satisfactory profit margin.
Chain of Custody Applications & Mobile Handheld PDAs
Mobile Software Applications for Handheld PDAs in Africa
This is Not the Way to Mobilize Work Orders for Handheld PDAs
- Provide a service technician with a full work order on a mobile device that has a big enough screeen to read. I can still see both service technicians squinting at their tiny screens over their mochas.
- Don't make them rewrite the work order. Use a mobile work order software application on the handheld mobile device. Let them read the service ticket, fill it out, and sign the screen.
- Don't use a paper work order. Wirelessly send new and completed work orders back and forth wirelessly. There is no need for paper.
- Track inventory on the mobile work order application so inventory levels are automatically deducted when parts are used.
- Let service technicians view their schedules on the mobile device.
- Let service technicians view the status of ordered parts on the mobile device
- Track time on various projects using the mobile device. Compare actual time with estimated time.
- Complete job estimates on the handheld mobile devices and wirelessly send back to the office
- Dispatch new work orders directly to the mobile handheld device
There are many more reasons to mobilize field service operations. MobileDataforce has been helping companies mobilize their businesses since 2000 and deploying powerful work order software applications for use on mobile handheld PDAs.
Managing Remote Locations & Franchises with Handheld PDAs
- Streamline business process with immediate data transference from handheld devices to main office
- Save money, administration costs and time by going paperless
- Ensure business processes are being carried out correctly by franchisees and their employees
- Protect franchise name and reputation by ensuring processes are being completed to franchise standards
- Improve time and cost efficiencies by eliminating data interpretation and entry into home database
- Improve customer service by providing customers with prompt billing and service information
- Receive payment for service faster by getting payment on site (mobile credit card processing and or using mobile printers) or sending customer invoices and billing faster
- Ensure that employees are recording necessary customer and job information correctly on site with the use of data integrity features: data will not be sent to home office until required fields are complete
- Track sales at every location to ensure the franchising company gets their agreed upon percentage of sales from franchisees
- Ensure delivery and receipt of equipment and supplies by tracking them from origin to final destination
- Use handheld devices for onsite reference and training to help new associates learn the process and maintain the franchise reputation
- Allow field technicians to locate parts necessary for given jobs, retrieve pricing information, and provide accurate repair estimates
- Gain a technological competitive advantage over competition, which can be leveraged to smite competition and retain franchisees
MobileDataforce has delivered many world class mobile solutions for companies that have franchise models.
Handheld PDAs - More than Data Collection Devices
Your house is on fire. You can take out a handheld PDA and enter data that says, "my house is on fire," and store it as the house collaspes around you, or you can program your handheld PDA to automatically call 911, turn on the sprinklers, call your work to report you will be in late, order new carpets and cancel the evening poker game, and provide a damage estimate.
OK - so that is a silly example but the point is a handheld computer can analyze the data you enter, and be programmed to take action. Handheld computers should do the following:
- Allow you to enter information/data
- Store it
- Synchronize it with a distant software application
- Take action based upon the information
- Alert people or other computers about the data
- Analyze the data and make predictions
- Activate other computer programs to take action
- Decrease inventory numbers
- Close work orders
- Enter a new customer order
- Replace inventory with a new order
- Track packages
- Call your customers
- Reschedule an appointment
- Estimate the closest service technician
- Predict the fastest route to drive
- Analyze the accuracy of job estimates
- Conduct time tracking
- Copy and send the data to multiple destination
- Perform mathmatical computations and take action based upon the result
- Activate mechanical equipment to take action based upon the information
- Turn on and off electronics
All of these actions can be programmed to take place based upon the data you enter into a handheld computer. At MobileDataforce we work with customers on these kinds of issues daily.
Growing a Business Using Mobile Handheld PDAs
- Use wireless dispatching of service orders
- Synchronize completed service orders directly to the office accounting system
- Accept digital signatures on service orders completed in the field
- Use a mobile printer to print completed work orders
- Use time tracking on the handheld computer to monitor the time spent on each job
- Track inventory used on the handheld computer and have this information synchronized to the office so all parts and equipment usage is tracked
- Include a customer survey on the handheld device and associate the survey with each work order
- The handheld computer can remind the service technician to upsell warranties, maintenance programs and new upgraded equipment sales
MobileDataforce Acquires Treetop Technologies to Increase Capacity for Developing Mobile Software Solutions
Acquisition supports strategy for rapid growth in the enterprise mobile software applications markets for handheld PDAs and Smartphones
Boise, Idaho— January 30, 2008 – MobileDataforce® a leading provider of business critical mobile software applications for handheld PDAS and Smartphones announced today it has acquired privately-held Treetop Technologies of Boise, Idaho. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition of Treetop Technologies extends MobileDataforce’s portfolio of services to include enterprise database and web design, development and integration. “These are skills that are in high demand by our medium to large mobile application customers.” says Kevin Benedict, CEO of MobileDataforce. “MobileDataforce is experiencing rapid growth around the world and as our mobile software development projects for handheld PDAS and Smartphones grow in size and complexity, the talents of the Treetop Technologies’ team will become critical to our future success and growth plans. This move continues to reinforce our goal of providing complete mobility enablement solutions that extend from the office to the field.
Treetop Technologies was ranked as Inc. Magazine’s 18th fastest growing software company in America in 2005. Their client list includes multi-national Fortune 500 companies, technology-based firms and various public entities. Treetop Technologies has provided services and support for projects ranging from mission critical manufacturing systems to complex business solutions. “Combining Treetop Technologies with our 11 years of experience developing enterprise applications with MobileDataforce’s exceptional growth in the mobile application market will create one of the world’s leading mobile solutions companies,” explains Jason Crawforth, CEO of Treetop Technologies.
The acquisition was successfully managed and executed by Nick Miller and team at Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP in Boise, Idaho.
About MobileDataforce
MobileDataforce is a global leader in the development of enterprise class mobile software development platforms and mobile business applications for use on handheld computers, PDA phones, Tablet PCs and laptops. MobileDataforce is a fast growing company with offices in Europe, North America and in Australia to support their expanding customer base and sales channels. Privately held, MobileDataforce has been mobilizing business processes since 2000. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.mobiledataforce.com/news/www.mobiledataforce.com.
Energy Efficiency & Handheld PDAs and Mobile Software Solutions
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