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Maintenance Resource, a Grandville, Mich., facilities maintenance contractor, has completed implementation of a field service automation initiative, equipping its service technicians with Intermec 760 Color Series mobile computers and PW40 workboard printers with integrated credit card readers.

According to the company, the new system, which includes Field Master PRO, an Internet-based service management application by Aereon Solutions, is designed to practically eliminate paperwork, enhance the efficiency of administrative processes, improve billing accuracy, reduce invoice cycle time and increase cash flow.

Part of the reason Maintenance Resource selected Intermec and Aereon is because of the system's ability to integrate with QuickBooks 2003 and ease of implementation. "Our new system gives management visibility into field operations and, for the first time, allows the technician access to customer activity logs, including sales and service histories," said Maintenance Resource President John Weeber. "We've already seen reduction in billing errors and an improvement in cash cycle time."

Service technicians now use the 760 mobile computers to gather customer information in the field and send it wirelessly over the Sprint network to the central database. Once the customer signs off on a work order, using the signature capture feature on the mobile computer, the technician sends the information back to the main office, where an invoice is prepared within minutes.

About the Intermec 760

The rugged Intermec 760 runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs. It is the first enterprise Pocket PC to offer integrated imager options to read 1D and 2D bar codes as well as image capture applications that include signature capture. In addition, it supports either Global Packet Ready Service (GPRS) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 1xRTT connectivity. This allows users to make voice calls and access enterprise data wirelessly.. The unit can also integrate up to three radio communication options, including Wi-Fi (802.11b), Bluetooth, and the aforementioned GPRS or CDMA.