Synopsis:

The Challenge: How can you ensure efficient invoicing when your busy engineers lose the paperwork?

The Solution: Provide each engineer with a PDA - a handheld computer with mobile phone capability. Use them to transmit information instantly to the office. Transmit job details and locations to engineers. Encourage email communication. Assign jobs quickly to nearest engineer using satellite tracking. Confirm approved work by electronic customer signatures.
 
The Results: Cash flow has improved, as invoices are often in the post "before the engineers have started their van's engine."

However, Broadband has provided other opportunities. The new interactive website will allow on-line access to job details and technical information, currently stored on CD's. Stock levels are replenished automatically. The condition of alarms and other equipment can now be monitored securely over the internet.

"We're growing our revenues by 25% a year in a pretty static industry - largely because of our IT investments."