At Computer Faire`s Brainstorm 2002 conference, mobile messaging solutions expert AmVia illustrated the benefits of e-mobility through a practical, interactive demonstration of remote access to corporate information via cellphone.
Technology news site ITWeb and print partner Brainstorm magazine hosted the business Information Technology (IT) conference, Brainstorm, with 2002`s theme, `Restoring Faith in IT`.
Danie Gordon, messaging guru at AmVia, says a lot of hype exists around e-commerce, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) technology and mobility, which means expectations and workable solutions do not always converge.
"AmVia`s mission at the Brainstorm session, `Beyond e-hype: The reality of e-business`, was to practically demonstrate mobility products - having remote access to business-critical information via mobile devices and being able to act on it from anywhere, at any time."
Employing Xiam`s Short Message Service (SMS) information routing technology, AmVia enabled forum participants to query corporate databases via their cellphones. Information could be extracted on client details, stock availability and pricing. In addition order placement was possible.
"During the demonstration an imaginary mobile sales person selling hardware sent a specific buyer`s name in a SMS text message to this company`s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application. The system immediately replied via SMS with the buyer`s telephone number enabling him to set up a meeting right away", Gordon explains.
"When the buyer has a request for stock, the salesperson does not have to go back to the office to check stock availability, but SMS the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application with the word `query.item`. "He again immediately receives an SMS with the available stock and prices at the company`s various branches. "
Gordon explained that the salesperson could give the buyer the relevant exchange rate for the imported stock by simply dialing a voice number on his cellphone. "Since the application picks up his Caller Line Identification (CLI), and instantly disconnects upon detecting the call, it means he does not pay for the call, and the triggered exchange rate is SMS`d back to him from the ERP system."
The informed salesperson can now SMS the product code, quantity and client name to the ERP system, and receive an SMS back to confirm that the order has been placed and processed, Gordon adds.
"The SMS technology allows mobile workers to gain instant access to corporate database information from any SMS enabled PDA device without having to rely on human interaction which could pose delays. With remote access the salesperson had the ability to close the deal there and then."
Using Captaris` Infinite Mobile Delivery software and WAP, Gordon says the demonstration participants could also use their cellphones to log into a corporate e-mail system and in realtime retrieve and send messages, check the office calendar, schedule appointments and lookup contacts.
"The demonstration allowed conference participants to experience firsthand the versatility and ease-of-use of AmVia`s powerful mobile messaging tools, which deliver real productivity gains for mobile workers," he concludes.
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