Movement in times of crisis?
How mobile IT is creating future prospects

Nowadays it is not always easy to have a positive view of the future. A global crisis is decelerating entire commercial sectors and is forcing businesses to attain potential savings while at the same time maintaining the highest possible efficiency. Skeye has specialised in optimising these processes for more than 30 years now. Mobile IT in particular is opening up a variety of options not only to beat the crisis but even to emerge from it stronger. Dr. Andreas Müller, the head of development at Skeye, explains how mobile IT is creating solutions for the increased demands of customers.

Dr. Müller, mobile terminals are nowadays still often at best regarded as supporting aids that are hardly suitable for replacing stationary systems.
Is this image outdated?
Absolutely, yes! The image of chunky, unwieldy handheld units with low storage capacity and slow or even insecure data transmission that can only be integrated into existing systems with difficulty has long been a thing of the past. Today, mobile IT refers to ergonomically designed, light-weight units that function with speed and efficiency and also cope with large volumes of data without any problems. Data transmission using a WLAN or GPRS, the recording of data using laser scanners, imagers or RFID − our high quality handheld units have been designed to support all mobile work processes in an optimal way.

Mobile IT today therefore supplements stationary systems with further options?
Of course, because our objective is to provide support to employees in the course of trade, field service or logistics during all mobile applications. They do not need a gigantic piece of equipment for this: all information, functions and features are combined in a single device. Regardless of whether this involves process or customer data, targeted navigation, technical functions, like remote control and diagnosis, or simply communication − employees can execute all required applications on the handheld unit that is specifically tailored towards the requirements of the business. Our equipment can here be operated in an optimal way through sunlight-readable displays, as well as through the combination of a keyboard with a touch screen. Versatile options, a huge volume of data and high speed increase the productivity of employees − they are able to work just as fast and effectively as colleagues at the office.

However, especially in the areas you mention, it can be necessary to carry out additional work steps − for example, the printing of labels and delivery notes. What options does mobile IT offer when it comes to peripherals?
Well, very few limitations remain in this regard today. Required peripheral equipment, like printers or even sensors within trucks, can be connected without any problems − of course, Skeye offers individual overall solutions for all applications here too.

Does this mean that, through the deployment of mobile IT, employees can increase their productivity and therefore satisfy the requirements of customers?
Correct, and not least because an increase in productivity of course also means a reduction in costs, especially since the customer-specific solutions offered by Skeye contain precisely what the customer actually requires. Especially in times that are not always easy from an economic perspective, the focus is after all on the effectiveness of and return on an investment. And it is precisely that which we at Skeye offer our customers: the optimisation of work processes through specifically tailored solutions. For example, our equipment is particularly robust and therefore durable − an important aspect when it comes to a cost-benefit calculation. An additional advantage for Skeye customers lies in the fact that they can obtain everything from a single source − manufacture, customer-specific supply, mainte-nance and service − we are the people to contact for all issues and combine all required expertise within our company. What is important to us is not only process optimisation − our objectives are specific solutions that distinguish themselves from the competition.

Using mobile IT, it is therefore not only possible to optimise processes but also to open up new business segments?
Of course! Using mobile IT, it is also possible to implement ways to provide services that have up to now only been provided on a stationary basis. Just consider the sale of foods or beverages at sport stadiums, at the cinema and in theatres, or self-scanning solutions at the supermarket. And what about the example of the mobile sale of lottery tickets? As you can see, it is possible to open up many new branches of business through innovative ideas.

Well, it looks like we can expect Skeye to deliver quite a bit more in the future.
I am convinced that standing still is not an appropriate way to conquer difficult times. We are a specialist for mobile solutions − and we will keep moving.