An innovative new way of turning hand written paperwork into electronically transmittable data is set to transform the way in which tyre businesses process information from mobile technicians and other remote workers.
Using state-of-the-art hardware, experts at Cam Systems have been working with an affordable electronic ballpoint ink pen and developing software allowing a workforce to capture information on paper at one location and transmit it via a Bluetooth enabled device, to another.
The so-called Cam-ePen system is expected to be particularly popular with tyre dealers providing on-site service and roadside breakdown assistance. It will also play an important role in capturing workshop records and job cards or timesheets, in fact practically anything that is currently being documented on paper can be adapted. It means paperwork based reports and signature authorizations can be completed instantly with real time data exchange linked to a central data management system.
The ePen uses a tiny built-in digital camera to register the pen's movement across the surface of the paper, storing the user’s handwriting as series of map coordinates. When completed, the user ticks a special boxed area on the form with the ePen, which instructs the pen to send the stored data to Cam Systems’ secure web based application network via GPRS, for processing. The digitally captured information from the ePen is then mapped onto an electronic image of the paper form which results in an exact of copy of the handwriting.
Each form has a unique identification number which is transmitted along with the data; the Cam application network identifies this number and automatically knows which form to select from the template list.
Once processing is completed, the form is delivered via internet connection to the customer’s central database for final processing. For the mobile worker, it's an automated process that starts with filling out a familiar job sheet and ends when the completed form arrives at the back office. A message is then received on the user’s mobile phone confirming that the information has been sent successfully.
Simon Gilchrist, Cam Systems product development coordinator, explains.
”Many sectors of the tyre industry are still heavily reliant on a paper record system, which makes the introduction of the digital ePen a real breakthrough. It means that real-time job tracking, billing and other paperwork based processes can be transformed electronically, saving huge amounts of administrative time and greatly improving efficiency.
“The ePen can be delivered with relatively low operating costs and minimal training requirements. It will eliminate many manual data entry and scanning processes and move customers’ data far faster and with much more accuracy than ever before,” confirms Simon.
It is hoped that the Cam-ePen is the start of an exciting development project which will achieve complete electronic communication between a company’s head office and its remote staff. The next phase will be to move forward utilising the ePen and paper technology in combination with Smartphone and PDA technologies.
“The current process we’ve introduced with ePen is a one-way system where the mobile worker sends completed paperwork back to the head office for processing. The offsite operator is then instructed to the next job or returns to the depot for additional information” says Simon Gilchrist.
“By attempting to integrate Smartphone technologies with the ePen we could eventually provide two-way digital form technology, allowing the mobile worker to complete paperwork on-site, send it back to the office electronically and then be automatically instructed to the next job by text message. All job information, customer details and even job location information such as postcode or GPS location, will be transmitted to the Smartphone/PDA from the office” he adds.
Using such a system could then bring many additional benefits, including automatic recording of vehicle location via satellite tracking, text communications, and even the hours a driver has worked. Cam customers could also be able to transmit data to and from remote locations.
Integrating existing Cam-ePen solutions with Smartphone technologies could bring additional benefits to the management of mobile fitting staff including:
Cam Systems managing director, Mike Allen, believes that developing solutions using existing hardware such as the Cam-ePen with Smartphone technology will be of major benefit to dozens of tyre businesses.
“As an IT provider we have a responsibility to investigate and develop these new technologies where we feel they would benefit our customers. The Cam-ePen and Smartphone developments are results of this process and I believe that in time they could revolutionise the way some of our customers trade, keeping them several steps ahead of the competition” said Mike.
For more information on the Cam-ePen please contact Simon Gilchrist on +44(0)1453 891000 or visit the Contact Us page of our Website.
