Tuesday June 16, 12:48 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc.
Multiple Utility Customers Select MDSI Mobile
Workforce Management Solutions
RICHMOND, B.C., June 16 /CNW-PRN/ - MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: MDSIF
- news; TSE, ME: MMD - news) announced today it has signed contracts with several new and
existing utility customers for its Advantex-Utility mobile workforce management solutions. The
contracts underscore the continuing adoption of MDSI's solutions by the utility industry. The
combined value of the contracts is approximately C$7.5 million.
MDSI mobile workforce management systems facilitate the necessary interaction between the
mobile workforce and the customer. Advantex-Utility provides utility companies with the ability to
schedule appointments with the customer and assign the resulting work to the appropriate field
personnel. Advantex-Utility then provides the management tools to ensure that field service
technicians with the proper skill sets and inventory arrive on schedule and complete work accurately
and in a timely manner. Combining Advantex-Utility with mobile devices and wireless data networks
enables utility field service technicians to access, query and update enterprise applications and
databases. In addition, Advantex-Utility allows field personnel to work in a pro-active mode, such
as by selling additional products and services to the customer base.
In addition to the Advantex-Utility application, MDSI provides a full suite of project and
post-implementation support services. Recent utility customer contracts that have not been
previously announced include:
- Colorado Springs Utilities - The Colorado Springs municipal utility
delivers gas, water and electric services to approximately 494,000
combined services customers in Colorado Springs and the surrounding
area. Advantex-Utility will allow Colorado Springs Utilities to
increase productivity and improve resource planning while MDSI's
user-friendly system will enable approximately 300 field service
technicians to complete more work to a higher degree of customer
satisfaction.
- Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) - CNG distributes natural gas to
approximately 141,000 customers in 21 Connecticut communities,
principally in the Hartford-New Britain area and Greenwich. CNG
will upgrade an existing 150-user MDSI mobile workforce system with
the latest version of Advantex. As a part of the project, MDSI will
supply new third party mobile devices for the field technicians.
Enhancements to the current CNG system include a new graphical user
interface that replaces the existing text-based screens used by
technicians in the field.
- Knoxville Utilities Board - This municipal gas, electric, water and
wastewater services utility serving customers in Knoxville, Tennessee,
Knoxville County and portions of seven counties surrounding Knoxville,
will deploy MDSI's Advantex-Utility mobile workforce management
solution to its field service technicians. Advantex-Utility will help
the Knoxville Utilities Board facilitate an overall reduction in the
cost of providing field services, while at the same time enhance the
level of service provided to its expanding customer base. The MDSI
mobile workforce management system will provide an integrated
appointment scheduling system for booking customer appointments as
well as integrated map-based dispatching capabilities.
- City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities - Richmond, Virginia's
Department of Public Utilities, the seventh largest municipally-owned
gas utility in the United States, has recognized the benefits from its
existing MDSI mobile workforce management system. Rated in 1996 by
the American Gas Association as having the best natural gas emergency
response procedures in the United States, the City of Richmond relies
on the MDSI system as a key component of its automated service
dispatching system. City of Richmond will upgrade its current MDSI
system to take advantage of the integrated appointment scheduling and
workload distribution benefits of Advantex-Utility.
MDSI has also contracted with BGE Home Products and Services of Columbia, Maryland, the
unregulated products and services division of Baltimore Gas & Electric, to install its
Advantex-Utility mobile workforce management solution. Approximately 150 field service workers
equipped with mobile computers will receive order details and send completion information via a
wireless network by using the fully integrated Advantex-Utility software solution. With this solution,
BGE Home Products and Services will be able to more effectively manage its field workforce and
better service its customers in the areas of appliance repair and maintenance.
''In our business, customer service is a key differentiating factor. Advantex-Utility empowers our
customer service representatives, dispatchers and field workers with access to up-to-the-minute
account information and the ability to service the customer fully in one call or visit,'' states Fran
Mergler, V.P. Finance & Administration, BGE Home Products & Services. ''BGE Home Products
and Services is dedicated to meeting and exceeding customer expectations. With Advantex-Utility,
we are in the position to do just that!''
Regarding recent contracts, Erik Dysthe, Chairman & CEO of MDSI states, ''These contracts
reflect increasingly common trends within the utility industry - an emphasis on enterprise wide
solutions, a commitment to customer service, and providing unregulated products and services
outside of the regulated utility environment. In each situation, the Advantex-Utility implementation
will allow these organizations to proactively respond to their rapidly changing business environment.
The recent decision of these utilities to upgrade their solutions with MDSI reinforces our efforts not
only to secure new contracts, but also validates our efforts to work closely with our existing
customers as they go through significant changes.''
MDSI is a leading provider of mobile workforce management solutions to companies seeking to
improve their competitive edge.
SOURCE: MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc.
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