PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are pocket-sized
computers such as Palms, PocketPCs, Blackberries and smartphones.
Business operations that require mobile users to collect or reference
data often look to a PDA solution to perform these operations.
PDA solutions are quickly replacing paper
for good reason. When data collected in the field must be entered
into a central database, PDAs eliminate time-consuming data entry
with their synchronization capability. Similarly, users who want
to reference information from the field can obtain updated information
by sync-ing data between the PDA and PC/server. In the case of a
wireless solution, data will be readily available on the PDA or
smartphone via a secure Internet connection.
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Example PDA & Wireless Solutions
PDA Data Collection Tools
Remote Data Management
Medical/Patient Management
Wireless Data Retrieval Tools
Quizzing/Studying Applications
Task/Work Order Management
Mobile Order Entry
Client Inventory Replenishment
Insurance Inventory
Business Calculators
Surveys & Polls
Field Service Maintenance
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Example PDA & Wireless Features
LAN/Internet Palm Synchronization
Wireless Remote Administration
Event Paging & Notification Tools
Barcoding
SMS
Internet Access
Mobile Forms
Email
FTP
Photography
Remote Faxing
Wireless LAN Applications
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Benefits
In simplest terms, mobile technology reduces duplication of effort, improves the quality of data, provides more immediate access to information, and better organizes data. This is all possible due to the fact that data is entered once into a structured format and synchronizes to and from the PDA and central database, and/or vice-versa.
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Reduction of duplicate entries - As opposed to collecting data on paper, collection with a PDA can synchronize directly into a database. The net of this...time saved. |
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Better data - By recording data in a PDA form as opposed to a paper form, one can more easily control the data that is entered with entry rules, lists, etc. |
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More immediate data - Synchronization means that updates from the Palm are available on the PC or server, and vice-versa. |
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Organized data - Having data immediately available in a structured format offers major benefits. The information can now be fed directly into reporting and business processing. |
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Realtime data and updates - In the case of applications using wireless connections, records can be accessed and updated in realtime. Wireless applications are excellent solutions if connectivity is reliable and the additional costs can be justified.
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Return on investment
- Cost of hours saved by reducing duplicated effort
- Cost of hours saved from quicker entry
- Costs saved from reduction of expensive paper forms
- Time saved scanning versus manually entering data
- Improving quality of data
- Immediate updating of data sources via synchronization
- Immediate updating of data sources via wireless
- Structured data for reporting
PDA/wireless tools used
- Pendragon Forms
- Satellite Forms
- CodeWarrior C
- ASP.NET
- .NET
- Flash
- PDF
- Microsoft SQL Server and MS Access
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