AirClic Introduces Time Management Applications Designed for Mobile
and Field-Service Based Companies
AirClic offers its leading mobile data capture capabilities with a
robust time and labor management application, the first solution
available in the market with this integrated offering. Read more
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Selects AirClic to Mobilize its 1,300 Field Service Technicians
KMBS has mobilized its field service business processes through an AirClic solution to better track service worker resources and inventory. Read more
Keystone by Maax Mobilizes Field Service with AirClic MP
AirClic helps mobilize field service workers and track status of Keystone's 300 daily installations in real-time. Read more
View AirClic Time Management
Learn more about how AirClic Time Management can simplify your mobile
time and labor process.
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To Be Best-in-Class, Experts Say "Eliminate Paper"
Every company wants to be "best in class." Every company wants to excel—in its products, its customer service, and in the internal systems that enable the business to run profitably. In the area of mobile process, the route to best in class is outlined in a new study by the Aberdeen Group, which documents the dramatic performance improvements that companies realize when they upgrade mobile operations with up-to-date technology and processes.
The study, titled "Best Practices in Mobile Field Service: Best-in-Class Strategies for Deploying Mobile Field Service Solutions," compares companies using state-of-the-art mobile process solutions with their less-advanced competitors. Aberdeen found that best-in-class companies enjoyed worker productivity that was an average of 27% higher. These companies also saw double-digit improvements in customer retention, profitability and service revenues.
No wonder that 72% of leading companies are looking for ways to drive process improvements through mobile technology. Yet in one area of mobile process—time and attendance tracking for workers in the field—adoption of best-in-class processes has been slow. And the contrast with operational processes can be striking.
Construction professionals who use lasers to lay out buildings still record time and attendance using pen and paper. Even companies in the business of selling and servicing high-tech equipment rely on time-consuming paper-based processes to track their work in the field.
The Aberdeen study made two recommendations in particular that apply to time and attendance tracking. Aberdeen urges companies to "eliminate paper- and spreadsheet-based processes," and to "maximize value from business data collected from mobile solutions."
A solution like AirClic Time Management addresses both the process inefficiency of paper-based record keeping and the goal of gaining maximum value from information gathered in the field. With AirClic, supervisors can capture time and job status information simply and easily, in real time throughout the workday. They can capture data by employee, task, project, location or other variables. The information is then automatically transmitted over a secure wireless network and made instantly available over the web. (The AirClic Time Management solution also integrates smoothly with back-office systems, including payroll applications such as QuickBooks, Timberline, or PeopleSoft.)
The time savings can be substantial. Instead of spending several minutes filling out paper forms, supervisors need only seconds to scan in information with AirClic. And the time savings accrue at each step of the process—with the worker, the supervisor, and the office person who would otherwise have to input data manually into the company's payroll and invoicing systems. The time savings—for every employee, every pay period—add up quickly.
But even more important is having immediate access to project data. That enables management to spot problems quickly and make better, more informed decisions. Supervisors can adjust the day's schedule on the fly for optimal alignment between projects, personnel, and resources.
Finally, the Aberdeen study also examined barriers to best-in-class performance. Not too surprisingly, "the number one obstacle companies identified as impeding their progress in mobile field service is costs of hardware and software." This is where a hosted application like AirClic offers an unbeatable advantage: all the benefits, without the high cost. All things considered, AirClic offers the low-cost, low risk route to best-in-class performance.
Technology's Role in Engaging Your Workforce
What's the most important asset for any organization? A workforce that is committed to performance. The benefits of such a workforce are obvious. Employees who are committed to their jobs provide better service to customers, work more efficiently, and "go the extra mile" as a matter of course.
"The more engaged the workforce," said a study by consulting firm Accenture, "the more innovative, productive and profitable the company." Yet fewer businesses than would care to admit it can honestly claim a truly engaged and committed workforce.
The Accenture study, which was highlighted in "Harnessing the Power of an Engaged Workforce" in the firm's Outlook Journal newsletter, identified five characteristics of an engaged workforce. They were 1) Satisfaction, 2) Understanding, 3) Contribution, 4) Alignment, and 5) Retention. The study also offered a "Top 10" of "ways to positively influence employee engagement."
So, how do you "engage" your workforce? Most of Accenture's Top 10 involved HR-related policies and practices such as recruiting, training, and compensation. But the actual work processes and tools used to perform the job play an important role as well. In fact, number two on the list (second only to "Rewards and Recognition") was "Human Capital Infrastructure." Here is where technology was cited as playing "an important role in supporting engagement." The streamlining of important transactional activities including payroll, and time and attendance tracking were singled out as making a vital contribution to an environment in which employees felt more engaged in their jobs. In addition, the study found that when technology provided managers with accurate information regarding ongoing performance, they were able to do a better job of managing that performance.
AirClic has direct experience with mobile process technology producing a more engaged workforce. At one large AirClic customer, which operates resorts and amusement parks, maintenance crews used AirClic to streamline their work processes, producing substantial gains in productivity. But what truly impressed and surprised management at this company was how this group of workers became more involved in their work, thanks to the new tools and processes. When they were able to do their jobs better and faster, they saw that they were making a significantly greater contribution than they had previously. Rather than simply relaxing, because the job had become easier, they wanted to take on more responsibility.
Almost every employee wants to feel that they are making a contribution to their organization's success. And when they can see that contribution clearly, it brings out the best in people. And that is what an engaged workforce is all about.
Allen Concrete and Masonry
"Our business has been going gangbusters," says Ron Meschko, operations manager for Allen Concrete and Masonry, based in southwestern Florida. "In just the past seven months, we've increased the number of crews by 25%."
Growth is great. But it brings challenges as well. With more than 250 employees on 25 construction crews working on projects ranging from single-family homes to high-rises, Allen Concrete needed a better way to track and manage its labor costs. An accurate, up-to-the-minute process to track hours, tasks and projects was essential, both for controlling current labor costs and for accurately estimating the cost of future jobs.
The company found what it was looking for with AirClic Time Management, a solution that automates the collection and management of time, task, location, worker and other relevant project data. AirClic provides real-time tracking capability that allows management to monitor the cost of each project on a daily basis and know exactly how many hours it has taken to complete a given project. "At the end of the day, I can see my actuals and know immediately if I've made my numbers," says Meschko.
With real-time data capture, field information is instantly transmitted back to company headquarters, where it is uploaded into the payroll application. AirClic Time Management communicates seamlessly with Allen's existing back-end systems, improving efficiency for office personnel as well. "I have no doubt," Meschko said, "that we're going to realize a definite ROI in less than one year."