Eastern Data Group | Successful business improvement for the mobile workforce

Cloud Computing Promises Blue Skies

2011-07-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Scratch the latest revolutionary IT concept and you'll usually find that underneath all the hype, there's something familiar going on. That's certainly true of cloud computing – the reinvention of client/server technology for the 21st century.

Cloud computing is all about giving your people access to server-based computer resources – systems, applications and storage – via the network, whether it's your corporate WAN or the Internet itself. Only the servers probably won't be in your computer room, like the old days. If you've decided to outsource your infrastructure, they could be anywhere in the world and your applications and systems could be spread across different locations by a hosting company which effectively takes on the technical and financial burdens of maintenance and service quality, leaving you to focus on your business without the distractions of technology overheads.

That's the theory, anyway. System performance and accessibility are unaffected. Your staff don't need to download applications to their mobile or desktop devices. They don't even need to store documents or data because everything is kept remotely in the cloud. It isn't hard to see the potential economic and administrative appeal to EDG customers of a concept that potentially gives a mobile workforce such fluid, trouble-free and secure access to their key data and applications across a much simplified model.

Conventional 24x7 hardware support and running costs go out of the window, replaced by service agreements and hosted software licenses. And the cloud grows with the requirements of the business, flexibly and exponentially, without the need to factor in the expense of planned server upgrades.

No wonder the cloud has captured the imagination of business owners and their senior IT professionals, with its promise of complete flexibility. Workloads can be shared between private and public clouds, as business requirements shift. Resource, memory and storage resources are guaranteed rather than impacted by bandwidth-hungry applications – and users. The cloud can be managed via a single, intuitive dashboard, regardless of the variety of environments it consists of.

According to a new study from market analyst IDG Research, a quarter of European IT leaders have already deployed the cloud model, at least at departmental level. Many organisations have spotted the low-risk possibility for exploring the cloud's resilience by trying it out in single projects or low-budget development programmes.

With business agility and visibility now major drivers behind any changes in IT strategy, the cloud is increasingly seen as the go-to model.

IDG Research estimates that UK CIOs are allocating as much as one third of their IT budgets to cloud computing. That's quite a commitment. And much of this is being spent on developing the appropriate skills and staff resources, use to use the cloud model effectively, you need to understand how it will support your business services and communications, and make sure that you are buying a service that will override the disruptions and slowdowns that traditionally affect corporate IT infrastructures.

But as cloud service vendors rise to the challenge of delivering performance and security levels that organisations have always demanded of their in-house infrastructures, businesses of every size should take the potential benefits – reduced costs, greater efficiency and limitless computing resources delivered seamlessly – very seriously indeed.

Truckwash has the Advantedg

2011-07-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

Truck washing specialist Moto Hospitality Limited is saving £49,000 a year following its investment in an automated mobile data system based on edg’s Advantedg platform.

Advantedg, which operates across Moto’s three truck washing sites – with more to come – has been tailored to support the specific requirements of Moto’s truck washing business, including automated data capture on rugged handheld computers, mobile printing, tight integration with back office applications, real-time management reports and automated invoicing.

Truckwash manager Paul Lipton says that by replacing manual methods with a secure, streamlined, hosted system has performed beyond expectations. “Before, any query meant we would spend a lot of administrative time searching the back office system and old files,” he says. “The search facility on Truckwash reports makes it easy to find an electronic file and send it on to a customer.”

Other benefits include reducing the cost of Moto’s paper trail, freeing staff to focus on key business activities rather than manual data input, avoiding the cost of a standalone fuel card system and the compilation of a specialist HGV operator database.

Unlock the data in your fleet

2011-07-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen your fleet as a source of business intelligence? Eastern Data’s new web-based vehicle tracking solution not only helps you save on your annual fuel bill (as much as £1,500 for an HGV covering 40,000 miles a year) and shrink your carbon footprint. It will also give you vital insight into your drivers’ timings and behaviours, enhance your health & safety and duty of care responsibilities to them and help you to improve customer service.

Armed with this information, you can monitor fuel usage, identify harsh breaking and acceleration, reduce engine idling time, spot the difference between private and business usage, cross-check fuel receipts and timesheets, help your drivers to manage their hours on the road and reduce overtime, always know the location of your vehicles (thanks to UK aerial photography and European street level mapping), keep your customers up to date with drivers’ arrival times and know the minute a vehicle returns home or reaches the depot.

Your business will run more efficiently, and you’ll make bottom-line savings from day one.

Case study 1: When a builders’ merchant implemented the solution, it slashed weekly idling times that could run to two or three hours per vehicle, saving a gallon of fuel for each idle hour.
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Case study 2: A transport company used the solution to show a commercial vehicle manufacturer that by recalibrating the throttle slightly, its vehicles’ fuel consumption could be improved by 0.5 MPG – generating immediate savings from vehicles doing more than 75,000 miles per year.
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Case study 3: A telecommunications company is using the solution to boost its customer service by telling customers the estimated arrival times of its engineers when they are stuck in traffic.
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From as little as £25 per vehicle, per month, our special introductory offer can help you exploit a new layer of business knowledge immediately. Call us on 01245 380009 for more information.

Eastern Data rated as strong in new market study

2010-07-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Following a recent study conducted by Plimsoll on UK Independent Software Companies, Eastern Data was rated as 'strong'.

Microsoft Business solutions Catalog

2010-07-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

Eastern Data have been selected to be included in the 2010 edition of Microsoft's european 'Business Solutions catalog'. The article highlights five of Eastern Data's mobile solutions, this includes screen shots and EDGs company overview.

For more information, please contact Richard Barnes on 01245 383161

Motorola launches the MC9500

2010-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Motorola have launched a new next generation rugged handheld, the MC9500. Motorola boasts that this is the 'next evolution in rugged design, ergonomics, features, functionality and performance' .

At EDG we think that Motorola have designed a sleeker, lighter yet more rugged device which we think will prove to be very popular with our customers.

Handheld mobile solutions seminar - August 2010

2010-06-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Eastern Data will be holding a mobile solutions seminar on 12th August at Motorola's offices in Basingstoke.
The half day seminar provides an introduction to Eastern Data and it's product offerings; it also enables individuals to see the latest in handheld technology.
If you are interested in attending this event or would like details of future seminars please contact us.

Upwardly mobile Peter Goodwin joins the team

2009-12-18T01:48:00.001-08:00

Peter Goodwin joins the Sales team bringing over ten years of mobile solution sales experience with him. Peter's previous employers include Microlise, Oracle, JBA International and Tradestone Software Inc. In his spare time Peter is involved in football coaching and is also a scout for Scottish Premier League Club Celtic.

An Advantedg in a recession

2009-12-18T01:46:00.000-08:00

2009 has been a challenging year for all businesses throughout the globe. However, EDG, through future proofing its products, has been highlighted in the latest Plimsoll report as an excellent performer with a strong balance sheet. Whilst many competitors remain vulnerable in the downturn, EDG remains profitable and well placed for 2010.

'Although we have witnessed one of the worst global recessions in recent times, customers migrating from paper-based delivery systems to an EDG Advantedg solution experience significant benefits and business savings. When Advantedg is coupled with a telematic solution this reduces fuel and CO2 emissions; this has the added advantage of not only benefiting the customer but also the environment' Andy French, MD

A more rugged device can save you time and money

2009-08-21T01:19:00.000-07:00

When a device leaves the office it can be exposed to dust, water and other potentially destructive elements such as shock, temperature extremes and vibration. Businesses that purchase rugged handheld computers will possess the right tool for outdoor environments. It is tempting to base buying decisions solely on a product’s purchase price, but, while not as obvious, the product’s total cost of ownership may prove to be a more important consideration.

In summary, businesses deciding which handheld computer to purchase face a high stakes buying decision: is it more cost-effective to buy a consumer-grade handheld for less money upfront? Alternatively, is it wiser to pay more money initially to purchase a more durable rugged handheld device?

What do you get for the money?
- Greater reliability- Rugged devices ensure fully functioning equipment for many years. Indirect costs related to downtime are significantly lower than that of the consumer-grade devices
- Higher performance – A longer battery life than a consumer-grade device ensuring full productivity for an 8 hour shift
- Long term security – The stable life cycle of a rugged device means you can plan ahead with confidence as you won’t be facing the maintenance and support issues that come with a mixed population of devices.
- Repair and not replace – One of our customers has been using their rugged devices for over ten years which is maintained / repaired in our dedicated repair facility.

Total Cost of Ownership
· Two years after deployment, 35% of consumer devices had been replaced compared to only 2% of rugged devices
· Three years after deployment the percentage of consumer grade devices still in use is only around 20%. After the same period, over 75% of rugged devices are still in use.
· The annual downtime suffered by users of consumer grade devices is almost double that of users of rugged devices.
Source: VDC Research Group

Mobile handheld devices are designed to increase productivity. The ability to do work on the move and in the field presents the opportunity for enhanced speed and accuracy. These advantages are lost, however, when devices breakdown, need repeated service or must be replaced. Therefore, for businesses concerned with obtaining the greatest productivity over the long term, rugged handheld computers are the clear and convincing choice.

edg are completely hardware agnostic, meaning that we only supply branded equipment from reputable manufacturers that best suit our customer’s business environment and needs. To find out more about rugged devices that suit your business, contact edg.

Medina Dairy expansion defies The Credit Crunch

2009-08-12T07:14:00.001-07:00

In June Medina Dairy Limited (MDL) completed their acquisition of 12 milk delivery depots from Dairy Crest. Within days they had also rescued several Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFoB) sites following the collapse of the UK Farming Group. This prompt action has secured the employment of many ex-DFoB employees and continued the delivery to 1,000+ food outlets.

As part of the acquisition from Dairy Crest and the rescue of DFoB, Andy French, EDG Managing Director and Nick Curties, EDG Systems’ Support Manager worked alongside Terry Ziton, Medina Director, to ensure a secure transition of data and systems. The EDG Depos and RBook solutions were deployed into all sites and ensure that a consistent solution manages the business units. EDG’s FieldMaster and RoundMaster hand-held computer solutions (now sold under the brand Advantedg) are used to manage the semi-retail and doorstep customer base. EDG sourced the servers, which are hosted and managed at their Essex Head Office, reducing the timescale and ensuring that these devices are managed remotely. The EDG software solutions include features such as:

More efficient customer service

The customer receives an accurate delivery note or invoice at the point of sale. As the customer becomes satisfied that all deliveries are accounted for correctly they become more receptive to the roundsman's selling.

Total stock control throughout the van sales operation

All stock issued to the vehicle is automatically logged by either the depot software or the hand-held computers.

Reduced losses

The audit trail details the stock position at the end of the day. It shows the load at the start of the day, the issues made, returns collected and the stock that should be returned to the depot. This report is available by the time the vehicle has returned to the depot. Therefore the stock manager uses this report to check stock back from the vehicle and can pinpoint stock discrepancies.

For more information please contact the EDG sales team on 01245 380009.

New contracts

2009-04-21T06:52:00.002-07:00

A variety of new contracts have fuelled our recent business growth:

Leading international dairy group, Glanbia, has deployed an EDG is system to 450 Motorola MC70 handheld computers and O’Neil mobile printers, with wide area (GPRS) and personal area (Bluetooth) wireless communication.

EDG is to supply, support and provide maintenance for a Europe wide deployment of handheld devices for EDF Energy. The project could total 2,000 devices during 2009.

EDG reports strong market position and confidence in the future

2009-04-21T06:52:00.001-07:00

Eastern Data Group has recorded strong sales performance for the past nine months with new areas of investment and development giving confidence for the year ahead.

A recent Plimsoll report on independent software companies rated EDG as strong and out-performing industry leaders in a market under severe competitive pressures. In fact, EDG is investing across the board to meet demand in the UK and Ireland.

We have recently increased our office space by 30% to meet the needs of our growing base of customers. This has allowed us to double the support team and increase by 25% both market and product development teams.

Repairing handsets

2009-04-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Operators of Radix and Itronix ruggedized handsets requiring support in the UK have meant growing business for Eastern Data Group’s repair service, Salvedg. We have provided a maintenance, repair and replacement service from a dedicated facility in Milton Keynes since manufacturer support ceased in the UK.

More information >>

Oiling the wheels of fuel delivery

2009-04-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

The latest Advantedg application under development will allow heating oil suppliers to reduce overheads in a competitive business with tight and fluctuating margins. In conjunction with an internet ordering system, having a handheld terminal with the delivery truck will allow orders to be converted to payment at the moment of delivery.

The system will plan loads and delivery routes from orders received, taking account of customers’ required delivery dates. Individual drivers will confirm proof of delivery and print invoices based on actual quantities pumped.

More information >>