Astea Mobile works with Alliance and FieldCentrix solutions, replacing paper-intensive, manual field service processes with standardized, automated and streamlined operations. Global mobile workforces are empowered with wireless access to the real-time information they need — when and where they need it — to eliminate inefficiency, enhance customer service and improve service margins and contract profitability. As work orders are scheduled the correct field engineer is notified via his or her wired or wireless device. Service technicians are armed with all the information they need to complete a service or maintenance job.

Work orders are sent wirelessly from the office and include customer account and job site information, equipment history and contract and warranty data — onsite, at the press of a button. Technicians have the ability to capture and submit service ticket information without the need for paperwork or for re-keying into the back office system. Service technicians can review and accept assigned jobs on their mobile devices as well, increasing productivity and accelerating call response.

Astea Mobile also allows technicians to manage their own schedules in the field while keeping the home office updated in real time. The solution also supports complete parts management from the field technician’s standpoint. It allows them to post parts used against the work order, request parts if they are not in van stock, track the technician’s van stock, receive inventory and ship parts back to the warehouse or depot for closed loop tracking of RMAs and vendor claims. Astea Mobile also provides optional real-time GPS tracking. When enabled it allows Alliance, FieldCentrix or ServiceVision back office users to view the current technician’s location for the purpose of intelligently scheduling, even while the application is in the background. This flexibility provides the office with a more accurate reflection of schedules, job scope and resources, enabling the operation to reduce the travel time and distance between jobs.

The technician can perform their job, using their wireless device, even when they are out of communication range the device will perform normally and synchronize when wireless communication is resumed. Astea Mobile also enables the service technician to communicate, via instant messaging, with other engineers, corporate off