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02 september, 2003

Successful mobile data capture cuts corners at Spärrservice


Swedish-based Spärrservice is one of the pioneers when it comes to improving business processes with mobile data capture technology. The newly developed solution from ReadSoft and Vodafone has made it possible for Spärrservice to cut corners when handling and following up order forms. Mobile data capture is made possible by ReadSoft's software FORMS in connection with the Vodafone-service Notera-Blankett, plus a digital pen equipped with Anoto functionality.

More than 450 000 people use Spärrservice to protect their keys, credit cards, IDs, cell phones and other valuables. When Spärrservice decided to implement a new business system, they also chose to take a leap into the future when it came to the sales out in the field. Their vision was to use new technology to modernize and speed up sales, making their process more efficient.
 
"Our first impression of the mobile concept was futuristic. It felt like something straight out of a science fiction movie," says Lars Selegran, IT-manager at Spärrservice. "When we were presented with the products, the decision was easy, we had to get this!"
 
Today, some 20 salespeople use the ReadSoft-concept. As soon as customers decide to buy a service, they fill out a form using a digital pen equipped with Anoto functionality. The tiny camera within the pen captures what has been written and stores the information. When the salesperson checks a checkbox on the form, the pen sends the information to a cell phone using bluetooth. The phone sends the information onwards with the help of the Notera Blankett service from Vodafone. Seconds later, ReadSoft's software FORMS receives the information and interprets what has been written on the form and the customer's order is activated. Instead of a week's processing time, the order is activated instantly.
 
"We've been able to cut a lot of corners time-wise out in the field. Instead of archiving paper forms in binders, the customer information is now available electronically. The fact that we are now able to send invoices to customers the instant they sign the order form means better financial control and also a faster cash-flow into the company," says Lars Selegran.
 
How does the ReadSoft concept work?
ReadSoft's FORMS is not only able to capture information from scanned papers. It can also interpret electronic media such as email, web, and different image formats. By using digital pens with Anoto functionality, the image of what has been written on for example an order form is sent to a cell phone. The phone sends the information directly into any computer equipped with ReadSoft's FORMS software. The image is interpreted, the information is verified and transferred into a target system in exactly the same way as if the form had been scanned. The major benefits of mobile data capture is that the time between filling out a form and entering the information into the target system is reduced substantially.
 
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