In my two previous jobs, I was issued a notebook 'puter & Blackberry/Cell Phone, and a printer. I worked out of my house in both. I'd gotten used to the ease of communication and sending reports in, ordering stuff, looking up IOM's, etc. Current job, a fancy blackberry-like cell-phone with a camera, that I can talk, message and email from, but no web access. ( Who could read an IOM on a 1.5 x 2.5 screen, anyway?) EVERYTHING IS PAPER. . here. service reports, parts inventory, time sheets, and. . . if you have a substantial repair, must fill out a form, and FAX it to the office for the service manager to quote to the customer. Weekly time sheet includes the van mileage, which every mile must be accounted for. I have made spreadsheet that I use on my personal computer at home to automate the calculations, and I print it out and save each week on the 'puter. Turned in weekly, service manager gets a NavTrack GPS report and checks against reported times and locations. If a manual is needed, it is up to the service manager to get it, print it out, and then we pick up ( a paper copy) later at the office. In the previous job, I'd accumulated over 200Mb of manuals that I'd saved. I am trying the Mediafire thing mentioned elsewhere on this forum. I mentioned a couple of times to the service manager, I'd get a lot more done for you, if they'd provide a notebook with wireless. He said that ain't gonna happen here. I am in a "survival" mode with my personal finances right now. If things get substantially better, I am considering one of the tablet machines with a wireless service for the net. I work in the local area, have yet to do an overnite trip for work, since being aboard since 4/11. What kind of technology does yall's outfits provide, what do like dislike?
Ours is fairly paperless...laptop with aircard running dispatch and billing software, but compared to some its old school. Buddy of mine operates 100% from a tablet, the software tracks the time on the call (gps verified) generates the ticket, customer signs right on the tablet, bill goes out that day.
I have a lap top with no wireless service I could tether my iplone to it but why? I have a app on my I phone and can access any program from the field on my personal puter.
Just started at a place that gave me a BlackBerry, iPad & a laptop They still have us fill out paperwork though because they've yet to figure out all the quirks in paperless.
as far as model and serial number... nothing beats taking a picture of the data tag with a smart phone....lol
we're stuck in the 60's. no gps, no blackbeerry, no tablets, no internet access, all paper generated (which gets lost ), no gas cards, no company credit card, paper time sheets, no spread sheet job costing........ I ain't complaining.
When ever somebody wants a business card, I seldom have one with me that doesn't have vital information on the back of it
