Mobile workforce management - a natural extension of the Internet of Things (IoT)

From paper slips to smartphones

Coredination was born on a technology wave: when smartphones and tablets emerged on the market. We saw a possibility to use the new technology to streamline and coordinate mobile businesses in a way that in itself wasn’t impossible or hadn’t been done before, but all of a sudden was much more affordable and accessible. By leaving paper slips and sticky notes behind and adopting new technology our clients are increasing their profitability, improving their workflow and keeping tabs on their businesses in a way they haven’t been able to do before.

The next technology wave: Internet of Things (IoT)

You have probably heard of what is deemed to be the next technology wave - the Internet of Things (IoT). Those of us in the tech industry have heard of connected refrigerators and smart homes for a while now but it seems like the technology is finally catching up and IoT is about to get real. The tech media definitely seems to think so.

At Coredination we think IoT, just like the smartphone wave, is going to provide new possibilities that weren’t unfathomable before but are suddenly accessible and affordable on a whole new level. And once again, by adopting new technology we can create new capabilities for mobile businesses that will improve the quality and efficiency of their delivery while simplifying and streamlining workflows.

Work order management and IoT are a perfect match

Imagine the following scenario: Hydraulic oil in a machine has started leaking, which can have catastrophic consequences. Since the machine is hooked up (to the “Internet of Things”) and equipped with sensors it can issue an alarm that the oil level is too low. If you’re in the machinery rental business and consider this machine an asset, you’ll really dig this feature. But is that really it? From what we gather, this is as far as most IoT solutions go. Let’s take this a bit further and continue into the world of work orders and job dispatch. In the same second that the sensor noticed the low oil level, a job is automatically created and broadcast to all available service technicians. The job contains all information on the machine and the factors that led to the situation, so the technician that accepts the job can not only see how low the level currently is but also how quickly the level has been decreasing and other parameters on the machine that helps him assess how critical the situation is before he goes out in the field to fix the problem. Thanks to the machine being hooked up and having self-diagnosing sensors, a technician can be automatically dispatched to mend the problem before it escalates to a critical issue, possibly a breakdown. This means better service to your customers, less downtime, more revenue, and potentially lower operating costs. With better insight into the operational parameters and health of machinery, we also see hypothetical benefits in a more predictable, steady workflow, better planning and a happier workforce. And thanks to the combination of IoT with a work order management system you have traceability and history, not only on the work done on machinery but also the state of parameters within the machine itself (such as the oil level in the example above).

This type of scenario can of course be applied to a bunch of other types of businesses where geeks around the world are currently developing things that are being connected and opening up new capabilities. To name a few examples off the top of my head: Garbage bins notifying when they’re getting full, elevators telling when they’re stuck or a light is out, cars scheduling their own service when it’s due, packages knowing to whom and where they are to be delivered. Who knows what they’ll come up with…

The value of IoT lies within the coordinating services

The Internet of Things in itself provides amazing opportunities, but as long as people are required to install, service, repair and transport the things there will always be a need to plan and follow up on what people do. Technology itself will not complete the full circle. At Coredination we believe that technology coordinated with people within a service that combines things with people and the work they do is the key to success. This new technology doesn’t just simplify and increase the efficiency of existing business processes. It has the possibility of creating entirely new capabilities. Automation, business intelligence, monitoring and analysis on a whole new level which involves both the things we work with and us, the people, and the work we do. With so many possibilities ahead of us we need to think outside the box, be curious and strive to use the technology to create more value, improve our mobile businesses and compete with new advantages.

At Coredination, we’re currently working on integrating Internet of Things technology with our mobile workforce management service. We’re expanding the service to not only coordinate people and the work we do, but also the things we’re working with; vehicles, machinery, buildings, assets… Until now, we’ve primarily focused on what, where and when people have been doing work out in the field. Now we’re combining that information with what, where and when things are delivering value out there.

What do things mean in your line of business? What new capabilities do you see if they were hooked up and integrated into your workflow? Give us a call or an e-mail to discuss how you can ride this new technology wave to success.