Companies in the service industry are exploring wireless solutions for tracking employees to save time and money while improving customer relationships. Some small technology firms say they are meeting this demand by offering cost-effective hosted software solutions to small-to-medium sized service businesses.
Xora, which offers two-way mobile access to enterprise applications, has developed GPS TimeTrack, a solution that “allows mobile operators to turn cell phones into time cards,” according to Mark Springfield, senior product marketing manager at Xora.
The hosted solution offers employees of small-to-medium sized businesses in service industries-including landscaping, delivery, installing, HVAC and security-a way to clock in and out while in the field. In addition, a GPS-enabled mobile phone allows employers to verify where and when employees were doing a job via reports sent from each employee’s mobile phone to a Web browser.
According to Xora, companies have seen cost savings of up to three hours per week per employee, mainly because unlike the traditional paper-based system, GPS TimeTrack is not error prone and is not open to abuse.
The application also benefits wireless carriers because it increases the value of the cell phone and encourages the use of data applications. “We believe we’ve found one of the killer apps for data,” said Springfield.
Xora charges a $25 initial sign-up fee, plus $12 per month per user, for the service. The solution, which was launched in February, works over GPS phones on Nextel Communications Inc.’s network. Xora said it has approximately 100 company customers, averaging 1,000 end users.
On a slightly smaller scale, Minnesota-based software development and consulting company A-Propos has developed a custom mobile-tracking solution for tile company Walstad Tile for managing its tile installers’ schedules, orders and pay.
The A-Propos solution, TileMaster, allows workers to clock in and out via cell phones from the field. The solution helps Walstad Tile accurately bill customers, pay installers and approximate the time a specific job will take in the future. TileMaster also uses GPS-enabled phones and Nextel service so Walstad Tile can track its workers.
A-Propos implemented the Walstad Tile service approximately one year ago and has since implemented several enhancements, broadening the scope of the solution. The latest version allows Walstad Tile to calculate compensation packages, including bonuses, based on reported labor hours. A-Propos next plans to upgrade the system to use PDAs to eliminate all paper work orders.
The positive response from Walstad Tile has led A-Propos to create a non-specific service that any small service company can subscribe to, which it hopes will be available by the end of the year.
WiredTime.com in Canada offers a similar service for snow-removal companies.
