Cox Communications selects Racotek for mobile data communications with field service technicians; Connecticut & Louisiana cable operations select Racotek.MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 1995--Racotek Inc., (Nasdaq: RACO RACO Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists RACO Rear Area Combat Operations RACO Rand Athletic Club Orienteers (South Africa) RACO Remote Alarms and Controls ) a provider of mobile data communication software products and services, today announced that Cox Communications Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television and telecommunications services in the United States. It is the third-largest[2] cable television provider in the United States, serving more than 6. has selected Racotek's KeyWare(TM) mobile networking software  This article is written like a personal reflection or and may require .Please [ improve this article] by rewriting this article in an . product to communicate with more than 140 field service technicians at its operations in Connecticut and Louisiana. Cox Communications in Connecticut is currently installing the Racotek software and is using mobile data to send and receive information with more than 40 technicians. Cox Communications in Louisiana has completed installation of the Racotek software and is currently using mobile data to send information to more than 100 technicians. Both Cox operations are using Racotek's mobile networking software product with Fleetcon(TM) workforce management Workforce Management (WFM) encompasses all the responsibilities for maintaining a productive and happy workforce. Sometimes referred to as HRMS systems, or even the larger ERP systems (Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP). There are many software vendors within this space. application software provided by Arrowsmith Technologies Inc., a Racotek business partner. "Connecticut's cable regulatory agency regulatory agency Independent government commission charged by the legislature with setting and enforcing standards for specific industries in the private sector. The concept was invented by the U.S. rates our system as one of the best providers of customer service in the state," said Gary McCollum, New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. director of network development for Cox Communications. "But we wanted to be even more efficient and respond faster to our customers' requests for service and installation. Racotek's KeyWare enables us to extend our automated customer service and fleet management systems to our people in the field. It means we can communicate better with our people, more efficiently manage our resources and provide superior customer service." "Each of our field service technicians in Hartford already performs at least one additional job per day because of the mobile data system and we haven't even completed installation yet," said David Colli, field services manager for Cox Communications in Greater Hartford Greater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered around the state's capital of Hartford. Hartford's role as a focal point for the American insurance industry is known nationally. The vibrant music and arts scene defines the region's culture. . "In Hartford, we have measured an increase of ten percent more work being completed by each technician and we believe that is just the tip of the iceberg tip of the iceberg n. pl. tips of the iceberg A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden: afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg. ." When a customer service representative determines that a technician must be sent to a customer's home or business for service or installation, an order is entered into the CableMaster(TM) billing system software provided by Information Systems Development Partnership. Arrowsmith's Fleetcon software obtains the customer information from CableMaster and automatically assigns a work order to a qualified technician who is near the customer's location and able to meet the customer within a two-hour period. All of the necessary information is handed to Racotek's KeyWare mobile networking software on a server located at each of the Cox Communications' offices. KeyWare immediately relays the dispatch information to the selected technician's portable computer. KeyWare delivers the mission-critical information that technicians need including the customer's name, account number, location and all of the applicable technical specifications that the technician may need to perform service at the customer's home. "In the past we were able to assign the work orders, but we couldn't tell the technicians where to go or what to do until they called the dispatcher Software that determines what pending tasks should be done next and assigns the available resources to accomplish it. It may execute other programs or generate a list for human operators to follow. See scheduler. via voice radio or telephone," Colli said. "Inevitably, several field service technicians would call in at the same time and that meant our people would be told to stand-by. They were sitting by the side of the road awaiting their next assignment while the dispatcher was trying to deal with all the traffic. Now, service assignments are relayed automatically, even if the technicians are out of the vehicle. Racotek's extension of our fleet management system means we can run our operation smoother and faster. Racotek helps us work smarter -- not harder. They provide us with the technology and tools we need to deliver unmatched customer service. It gives us an important edge as we face new players entering our market." Minneapolis-based Racotek provides mobile networking software to extend corporate information systems to people in the field. Racotek's product, KeyWare, serves as an interface between a customer's information systems and the components of a wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. system, including existing application environments, multiple wireless networks and most portable computers. In addition, the company provides professional services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. , systems integration, training and end-to-end wireless system support. Cox Communications Inc., (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :COX) is the nation's fourth largest multiple system operator, servicing some 3.2 million customers. Cox is a fully integrated, diversified broadband communications company with interests in domestic and international cable distribution systems, programming and telecommunications technology. Editors note: Racotek and KeyWare are trademarks of Racotek Inc. Other trademarks used herein belong to other companies. CONTACT: Racotek Inc., Minneapolis Patrick J. Milan, Communications, 612/893-3919 or 74171.1357@Compuserve.com |
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