mFORMS is designed to save SMBs time and money by ensuring that new or updated customer information can be sent and received wirelessly by the right company resource at the right time. By offering unique features such as pre-filled customer and job information, mFORMS will also help SMBs minimize costly errors and unnecessary data entry. Completed forms are automatically and securely transmitted from the mobile device back to the office for processing and invoicing, creating further efficiencies. In addition, mFORMS will allow SMBs to bring multiple business processes, such as work orders, timesheets and expense reports together on a single mobile platform.
“The mFORMS solution is a great example of how Rogers delivers added value to its small and mediumsize customers,” said Mansell Nelson, vice president, planning and business development, Rogers Business Solutions. “Together with our business partners, we’ve created a simple, flexible, wireless solution that will help businesses dramatically improve customer service and enhance the productivity of their mobile workers, thereby leveling the playing field for SMBs and helping to drive their business results.”
For SMBs, mFORMS will simplify the process of mobilizing a workforce by offering an out-of-the-box (yet easily customizable) mobile forms solution, encompassing the operating system, software application, wireless data network, mobile device and help desk support. Recognizing the needs of SMBs, the solution requires virtually no start-up capital versus traditional, behind-the-firewall solutions.
“In seeking greater productivity gains and responsiveness to customer needs, Canadian small and medium-sized businesses continue to mobilize their organizations through improved workflow and adoption of mobile and wireless technologies,” said Eddie Chan, research analyst, mobile/personal computing & technology, IDC Canada. “With organizations continually looking to gain a competitive advantage by accessing business-critical information anytime, anywhere, IDC Canada continues to see increasing interest in extending the rich mobile device platform to include field service and other customer relationship management applications.”
mFORMS has been optimized for superior performance on HP iPAQ Pocket PC mobile devices. HP will also provide mission-critical information technology infrastructure and services including application hosting, security management and second-level support to ensure reliable data delivery to mobile field workers.
“Cost-effective, secure mobile access to business-critical information is no longer just for the enterprise,” said Reg Schade, vice president and general manager, HP Services, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. “With mFORMS, mobility is delivered to SMBs as a utility, with the hardware, software application, network access and support services bundled in a way that is easy to buy, easy to use, and easy to support.”
Through Windows Mobile, Microsoft delivers a flexible platform that enables the creation of solutions, such as mFORMS, for the SMB market. Microsoft works with business to develop products that address SMBs needs for robust software at an affordable price.
“Information sharing between the office and field staff is becoming a critical business advantage that goes beyond email, calendar and contact updates,” added Sean Seaton, director, Windows Mobile and Embedded Devices, Microsoft Canada. “Applications that run on Windows Mobile® provide efficient, cost-effective ways to enable a highly productive field operation.”
The mobile forms technology which underpins the solution is provided by TrueContext, a privately-held company based in Ottawa. The TrueContext mExperience™ service platform enables the creation and deployment of secure, scalable, and easy-to-use mobile forms that extend traditional business processes to the field.
According to Alvaro Pombo, president & chief executive officer, TrueContext, “Historically, businesses of all sizes have struggled to build, buy and manage all the discreet pieces needed to create enterpriseclass mobile solutions for their workers. Our technology enables market leaders like Rogers to deliver secure and simple mobile solutions for customers and business partners.”
mFORMS will offer specific templates focused on the needs of SMB customers, including: service and support, pick up and delivery, regulatory compliance, field inspections and more. mFORMS is designed to simplify and speed data capture and exchange with the field, and supports: digital signatures, photographs, sketches, mobile printing and other customization.
Printable version
.