United Utilities field service engineers will use netpad, launched today, loaded with Wheatley Associates’ TODAY software, a field operative data capture and retrieval system, to service the water, gas and electricity meters of United Utilities’ 2.5m customers across the UK.
Netpad saves United Utilities time and reduces costs by enabling collection and transfer of meter information to and from workers whilst on site. Field engineers use netpad to dynamically up- and download management and scheduling data from the central database server. This enables United Utilities to communicate emergency customer requests and information to field service staff 24 hours a day. The initial roll out of 100 netpads for use throughout the UK is likely to lead to the implementation of further netpads within United Utilities’ operations.
Netpad’s powerful performance makes it an ideal tool for United Utilities’ field workers. It will allow them to maximise their time by logging onto the Internet wirelessly, to access critical capabilities such as checking and rearranging their daily schedules.
The netpad’s data processing capabilities and computing power of a much larger device allow users to fix problems on the spot thus increasing revenues by reducing the time spent on each job. Its large, high-resolution touch-display, allows users to view forms and schematics and alternate between portrait and landscape views. Additionally, the ruggedised design, absence of internal moving parts and over eight hours of continuous battery life, make netpad a tough, easy to use yet sophisticated data processing solution for mobile workers.
Guy-Franck Nakach, managing director for Northern Europe, Psion Teklogix said: United Utilities’ choice of the netpad for its outside plant operations consolidates our position as the vendor of choice in a market where time and costs are absolutely critical. We are very excited that netpad has been selected by a leading player such as United Utilities as it shows the device has been developed to meet the demanding requirements of the utilities industry both in terms of ergonomics as well as ruggedness.
The use of Psion Teklogix’ netpad will enable United Utilities to reach unprecedented levels of customer service, said Craig Edge, metering services manager, United Utilities. This unique solution will allow us to increase productivity and revenues and maintain our position as the market leader in multi-utility metering services.
Our ASSIGN/TODAY software meets the entire needs of field operations as it can be easily tailored for specific requirements such as United Utilities’ meter operations, said John Wheatley, CEO of Wheatley Associates. Our partnership with Psion Teklogix allows both companies to remain at the forefront of the enterprise mobile computing market.
SOURCE: COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
