Enhancing Business Operations with Mobile Computing

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Currently, sales reps in many companies rely on simple note taking and observation in the field. Usually, the synchronization of these notes with other sales reps and the manager does not take place until at the end of the day, or possibly later. With the advances in mobile computing and high-speed persistent networks, sales reps could provide updates in real-time to other sales reps and their managers. Furthermore, critical instructions could also be relayed to the field sales rep immediately, thereby avoiding costly delays by scheduling another visit to the site at a later date. Encore Market Engagement is eager to extend the prototypes developed from a previous R&D initiative with Sheridan to create a fully implemented mobile app for their sales reps. Encore is interested in this collaborative R&D mobile computing project, comprised of: - Maximizing sales reps' in-car time for business purposes: Encore's clients currently use a data acquisition/sales force tool (EnCompass) for the iPad. The goal is to extend the prototypes developed into full commercial implementations so that sales reps will be more productive while in transit. - Sales rep customized routing algorithm: A flexible, customizable algorithm for sales reps is needed to generate routing schedules and to provide options by which sales reps can adjust their schedules if necessary (e.g., a high priority issue needs to be addressed). The solution to this problem will involve cloud computing and mobile computing resources. The benefits of this project to the partner include a technology solution that will result in increased sale force efficiency by streamlining processes, and ultimately increasing Encore's client profit margins by maximizing their return on investment. The benefit to Sheridan is increased student engagement in applied research and real-world challenging problems. The benefits to the research discipline include new knowledge and expertise that can be disseminated and transferred to Canadian companies, locally, provincially and nationally.