Sandpiper Corporation :: Systems Integration of Wireless, Auto ID and Mobile Computing Techologies

Newsletter

Issue 30, May 2009

Sandpiper Help a Leading Project and Construction Management Company Reduce Resolution of Defects Timescales Significantly

BIW Technologies Ltd (BIW®) provides supply chain integration services to the global architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) community. It deploys, hosts and manages access to its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications from a centrally managed facility. BIW helps constructors to work more efficiently and profitably with lower levels of risk. Businesses can progressively expand their online working capabilities, from simple collaboration through to sophisticated project control. Capitalising on BIW's sophisticated contract change and financial control applications, major contractors now have unprecedented visibility of the impacts of change on their projects and on their businesses as a whole.

In conjunction with Sandpiper, new mobile facilities are provided to support BIW’s Quality Manager application - a flexible and robust inspection and defects management solution, fully integrated with the core BIW system. Users can capture data using mobile devices supplied by Sandpiper such as the Motorola MC35 rugged handheld computer and share that data via BIW’s market-leading collaboration platform. Equally, updated information can be uploaded from the BIW system to mobile devices for reuse onsite.

Building on a well-established relationship with Sandpiper, BIW was keen to maintain continuity and level of service for its latest project. Sandpiper evaluated a number of devices and recommended Motorola’s MC35 rugged handheld computer. It was essential that the device allowed a Windows platform to run smoothly with BIW’s software.

The durable and pocketable device puts the combined power of a mobile phone, notebook, camera and barcode scanner in one durable device and offers a product life that well exceeds that of the traditional consumer smartphone or PDA. It also allows the convergence of voice and data translates into one device for employees to carry and one device for IT to manage - simplifying the mobility architecture, capital and operational costs.

The mobile element of BIW: Quality Manager has been developed specifically for Windows Mobile and the latest hardware, and gives users access to project data via hand held PDA type devices equipped with 3G, GPRS, wi-fi or direct cable connectivity.

Once ordered direct from BIW, each device is configured by Sandpiper and sent direct to the customer as part of a seamless process.

The BIW Quality Manager software is also highly configurable to suit the process requirements of each customer and its processes. Typically, the system will reflect the detailed work breakdown structure created for the project; users can drill down into that structure to identify, say, issues associated with specific rooms or a particular work package.

The complete solution allows customers to record data accurately, faster and in one process - reducing the need for re-keying of data. The collation and transmission of defects to relevant contractors is also achieved quickly and effectively; fewer paperwork bottlenecks means defects are resolved more quickly. All data is real-time giving contractors improved reporting on supplier performance and a clear audit trail of all defect resolution processes.

BIW customers deploying BIW Quality Manager include property developers, construction and project managers and main contractors, with numerous supply chain professionals including architects and engineers using them daily. One customer has deployed over 100 devices across many different projects, with one project involving the management of 70,000 separate defect items across a wide spread supply chain..

“Just as delivering accurate, up-to-the-minute data is vital to our project teams, so is the reliable provision of robust handheld devices to help capture and manage that data. We have been working with the specialists at Sandpiper since 2006 and their technical advice and support has been invaluable to us and to our customers deploying BIW’s mobile application in challenging site environments” stated Steve Cooper, BIW’s Sales Director.

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Motorola MC5590 Wireless Enterprise Digital Assistant

The MC5590 brings a new level of functionality and flexibility to pocket sized mobile devices. The smallest and lightest Motorola rugged EDA, the MC5590 packs the power of a walkie-talkie, VoIP phone, mobile computer, bar code scanner and camera into a robust enterprise class device with true consumer styling and ergonomics — and is designed to meet mobile worker, business application and IT requirements.

With the MC5590 in hand, task workers such as retail associates and managers, healthcare workers in a hospital, and servers in a restaurant enjoy the cost effective yet sophisticated mobile voice and data services required to streamline tasks and improve productivity, customer response times and customer service levels.

Features

IP54 - Built for year-round use in nearly any environment; survives 4 ft./1.2 m drop to concrete
Powerful microprocessor designed for mobility - XScale PXA270 @ 520 MHz
Microsoft's latest operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Classic
WLAN connectivity with comprehensive VoIP (VoWLAN) support
WPAN: Bluetooth¨ v2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Multiple voice modes: handset, speakerphone and BlueTooth headset
1D/2D bar code scanning plus 2 Megapixel autofocus flash-enabled optional color camera with decode capability
3.5 inch color high definition QVGA display (320 x 240) with high quality speaker, microphone and transducer

Download datasheet

Motorola Redefines the Mobile Enterprise with New 3G WAN Rugged Enterprise Digital Assistant

MC75 EDA delivers next-generation applications across diverse industries on 3G to maximize workforce productivity

No matter what your workers need to get the job done, Motorola's MC75 Worldwide Enterprise Digital Assistant delivers by combining an unparalleled number of business capabilities into an easy to carry rugged device. 3.5G HSDPA and 3G CDMA-EVDO (Rev A) support provides high performance voice and data services around the globe.

Your workers will enjoy having all the features they need right at their fingertips in one device designed to endure all day, everyday use outside the enterprise - including push-to-talk, integrated GPS with superior sensitivity and tracking capabilities, 1D and 2D bar code scanning, a high resolution 2 megapixel autofocus color camera, 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth and IrDA connectivity.

Features

Rugged, lightweight design - Passes drop-and-tumble tests, with integrated antenna and IP-54 sealing.
Powerful microprocessor - Maximizes mobility, giving desktop-like performance with minimal power use.
Increased interoperability - Enabled through Windows® Mobile 6.0, with advanced security, a flexible development platform and improved mobile messaging.
3G WWAN capability - Delivers high broadband and voice data performance anywhere in the world.
- Connects to most worldwide carriers
- Download speeds of up to 3 Mbps
- Integrated voice and data
- Future-proofed and affordable

WLAN and VoIP support - Provides cost-effective connectivity in offices and hot spots.
Assisted and autonomous GPS support - Enables robust location-based applications, boosts signals in weak areas and increasing time to first fix (TTFF).
WPAN and IrDA - Helps connect wirelessly to modems, printers and headsets, as well as legacy business equipment.
High-definition VGA display - Supports high-resolution images such as video, and remains easy to view in any lighting.
Backwards compatibility - Uses MC70 EDA accessories.
Multiple keyboard options - Include QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY keyboards.
External WWAN antenna - Improves signal reception and makes connections more dependable.
Robust memory space - Provided via 128 MB RAM and 256 MB ROM.

Download datasheet

Sandpiper will be Exhibiting at the ShD South West Regional Show

17th June - ProLogis Cabot Park, Bristol

Sandpiper will be exhibiting on Stand 29 at the ShD Regional Show - South West on the 17th June at ProLogis Cabot Park, Bristol.

We will be demonstrating the latest Intermec hardware and our FocusID solution. The FocusID Managed Service Solution supplies and supports AutoID systems for Logistics, Supply-Chain and Enterprise Mobility Operations. Whatever the mix of hardware and software services, be they in-premise or field based operations, FocusID’s inherent flexibility ensures that equipment levels are maintained to match fluctuating operational demand levels.

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Sandpiper :: Systems Intergration of Wireless, Auto ID and Mobile Computing Techologies