FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Business Solutions, November 2002 Installation Review: Ruggedized Notebooks
Time is Money
VAR KorTerra, Inc. used ruggedized notebook computers and the
right software to help a utility’s field workers meet stringent
deadlines.
Utilities have strict deadlines to meet, especially when it comes to notifying customers of utility lines that may be in their work paths. Most states have a one-call center that homeowners will notify when they plan to do any digging on their property. The one-call center will then notify utilities that might have lines, pipes, etc. in the area. The utilities must send a field worker to the site to mark any lines that are on the customer’s property.
Time is Always a Factor
When a utility notifies its field workers of their assignments, time is a
critical factor. “When a homeowner calls the one-call center, the
utilities typically have just 48 hours to get a worker out to the site
and get the lines marked,” says Jeff Law, KorTerra product manager for
integrator KorTerra, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN). “If the lines are not
marked within that time period, the utility could be fined for not
complying with the law. The utility could also be held responsible if
something went wrong during the digging.”
When Georgia Power, a large utility, was looking for a way to automate the notification system it had in place, KorTerra had the right solution. “ The customer was interested in a workforce management system that would automate its paper environment” says Law. “When Georgia Power received a request to locate lines, the job order was sent to a local or regional office by fax or via modem to a printer. The field workers would have to drive to the office to pick up those work tickets and then drive to the customer site. If a work ticket came in today, the field worker would not get it until tomorrow morning. That equates to 24 lost hours and leaves the worker just 24 hours to complete the job. A manual system inherently has inefficiencies of this nature.”
The solution recommended by KorTerra incorporated their KorTerra C/S workforce management software with rugged Toughbook laptop computers from Panasonic (Secaucus, NJ). By incorporating the software and wireless technology on Panasonic notebooks, Georgia Power was able to lengthen the window they had to perform the work by eliminating the need for the field worker to drive to the office to pick up work tickets. With this solution, the worker can have the work ticket the day it is issued and still have 48 hours to get the job done.
Wireless Notification
Improves Efficiency
The KorTerra C/S software product developed by KorTerra is a workforce
management solution that was designed for the utility industry. When a
utility receives notification from the one-call center, the KorTerra
software provides the electronic means to deliver that information to
the field worker immediately. The software also collects information on
what the worker did on-site and sends the information back to the
dispatch center to ensure the customer notifications are being completed
on time.
The work order message goes out via a TCP/IP (an open computer communications language) link through CDPD (cellular digital packet data, a data transmission technology developed for use on cellular phone frequencies) wireless data transfer. The KorTerra software, which is installed at the dispatch center and on the laptop computer of each field worker, sends and receives the work orders.
Once the customer was sold on the software, it was recommended they also incorporate the Panasonic Toughbook 28 laptop to complete the solution. “Computers used in the field are subject to rather hard conditions,” says Law. “They are subject to the obvious environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain, and snow. But they also subject to spills, drops, and other accidents that would put most laptop computers out of action. Although other customers have implemented our software using other hardware platforms, a regular off-the-shelf laptop just doesn’t hold up in the field. In these harsh working conditions, there is just too much shock, to much vibration, and too many temperature extremes. Although the regular laptops can often be fixed by the vendor, the downtime of having the product out of service can cause a lot of headaches.”
A Rugged Tool for Rugged
Environments
Law likes the Toughbook 28 because it is built like a tank. The hardened
magnesium case keeps screens from getting broken, and the internal parts
are all shock-mounted so vibration and drops don’t harm the internal
workings. A special screen installed on the Toughbook also allows
information on the screen to be seen even when the unit is in the sun.
Law recommends that VARs consider the Toughbook 28 for any company that has
mobile workers. “The Toughbook is a good tool for any company where
mobile workers will put a lot of wear and tear on their computers,” he
says. “Construction companies, police departments, and utility oriented
companies are all great markets. In these rugged environments, the
Toughbook 28 is a great fit.”
“Giving mobile workers that extra 24 hours to complete a job makes a huge difference,” says Law. “The field workers can receive assignments at home, while at a site, or while on the road moving from one site to the next. This allows them more time to perform the work and ensures they will always be in compliance with state laws.”
About KorTerra, Inc.
Since 1990, KorTerra, Inc. has developed mobile computing and workforce
management solutions for the utility industry. They have worked with
major utilities, contract locators and municipalities to develop a
variety of Utility Workforce Management systems. The software
effectively manages on-time response, management reporting, positive
response, and keeps track of locating team performance in a real-time,
mobile and paperless environment. KorTerra also provides ASP services;
capabilities that allow KorTerra to host the software on their servers
with customer access to the application via the Internet. KorTerra
software interfaces with every One Call Center and is used by Utilities,
Municipalities and Contract Locators across North America. Today, over
20,000,000 tickets are managed by the KorTerra application annually. To
learn more about KorTerra and see what their customers are saying about
the KorTerra product suite, go to
www.korterra.com, or contact via telephone at 952.368.1911.
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For additional information contact:
Press Contact(s):
Chris Stendal, President
KorTerra, Inc.
18882 Lake Drive East
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Tel: 952.368.1911
Fax: 952.697.3141
Email: sales@korterra.com
