Command Alkon MOBILEconnect suite
Website: www.mobileconnect-cai.com
What it does: Extends Command Alkon products to mobile devices
Devices: Smart phones and tablets
Since early 2013, Command Alkon has been developing new ways for the construction materials industry and its customers to access critical information anytime and anywhere. “Our customers are always looking for ways to automate and streamline their processes and build on their investments,” says Mandy Cherry-Daniel, MOBILEconnect product manager.
In response, Command Alkon introduced MOBILEconnect applications with each focused on a specific need:
MOBILEcommerce lets producers and customers check project and order/delivery updates, view account balances and credit status, and print statements, invoices, and tickets using Command Alkon’s document management solution.
MOBILEsales allows sales staff to track bids, submit quotes, and view order backlogs while spending more time with customers outside the office.
MOBILEticket (available in the second quarter 2015) paperless ticketing solution simplifies the material delivery process and improves invoice accuracy. It reduces the cost of printing, paper, and transferring tickets from the field to the billing office, as well as drivers’ yard time.
The mobile products access real-time data from customers’ existing desktop applications, including COMMANDseries, Integra, Apex and/or COMMANDbatch dispatch systems. “We’ve addressed customer concerns about security by partnering with Amazon Web Services, the industry leader in hosting cloud-based applications,” says Cherry-Daniel.
“MOBILEconnect products work with customers’ existing processes, but also allow them to make improvements,” says Cherry-Daniel. For instance, users of MOBILEticket who migrate from paper to electronic tickets will likely change their ticket management process. “Our first MOBILEticket customer noticed an immediate decrease in the time drivers spent waiting for paper tickets,” she says.
Command Alkon will release several more apps in 2015, including MOBILEhauler (ticketing solution for transporting materials from third-party locations), MOBILEincident (customer incident resolution), and PLANTconnect (plant performance tracking). “Our product features will continue to be driven by customer needs and requests,” says Cherry-Daniel. “Feedback from early adopters has also been invaluable.”
