Top Tablets for your Service Business!

Published in Field Service Software, Mobile Devices, Service Company Tips, Training & Tips on September 22nd, 2011

If you’re a field worker and constantly on the go, a tablet could be the quickest and easiest way to access Connect2Field when you’re at work. Tablets are lighter than laptops and have large, clear screens which are enjoyable to use.

 

For all the criticism the iPad and other tablets get for being "just toys", they actually have a lot of qualities that make them great productivity tools—at times better than laptops or netbooks. Here are our reasons why:

 

  •   They boot up quickly; you can load your web browser to use Connect2Field in a matter of seconds
  •   They are light and portable – especially important for fieldworkers who are constantly moving from job to job
  •   The battery life is incredible

 

However great tablets are, there are a few downsides you may want to consider:

 

  •  Price – You tend to get “more” for your money with a laptop. An iPad costs upwards from $579 but you may be able to buy a basic  netbook for $200
  •  Some people may find the touch screen more difficult to type with 

 

Here are our top 5 tablets for your service business:

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

 

 

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 is CNET’s favourite Android tablet – which has to count for something! It is lower down the list with 6 hours battery life. Also known as the Galaxy Tab 750, it comes with 10.1 inch TFT LCD touch screen display that supports 1280x800 pixel resolution and 149 pixels per inch. It runs on the Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. You get a fantastic 8 megapixel camera and it comes in fairly lightweight compared to other tablets at 565g; great for fieldworkers who are constantly moving from job to job and need to access Connect2Field! Prices starting from $524. This controversial tablet, as a result of a legal injunction from Apple, cannot currently be sold in Australia or in parts of Europe but we think that this is a good option for our US customers.

 

Connect2Field rating: 4/5

 

 

Apple iPad 2

 

 

Being the top selling tablet of them all, Apple’s iPad 2 is a failsafe option for your service business – particularly when you note that they have a 63+% tablet market share. There is an extensive range of apps and ultimately they are the best albeit the most expensive tablets. The iPad 2 has an impressive 10 hours battery life and comes with a 9.7 inch LED-backlit multi-touch display with 1024x768 pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch. The iPad 2 runs on Apple’s iOS operating system. The Apple iPad 2 has two major advantages over rest of the tablets — several ready to use apps and clear video chat facility with FaceTime. However, if you want to stand out from the crowd you might want to opt for a different tablet option due to the sheer popularity of these devices! Prices from $579.

 

Connect2Field rating: 4.5/5

 


HP TouchPad

 

 

Cheap…if you can get hold of one! We recently were lucky enough to purchase one from Harvey Norman for $98. With 1GB RAM, 8 hours battery life and a Screen Resolution of 1024 x 768 it has a pretty good spec. It’s slightly heavier than others at 740g but we are really enjoying using it, it has surpassed our expectations. The negative factors being that there is no 3G and given that it runs on the Web OS 3.0 operating system and Web OS is no more, the apps are extremely limited. However browsing and Email access are both very simple and enjoyable to use so it would be a great investment to access Connect2Field on the go. Prices starting from $98 for 16GB version, but in limited supply (as far as we know…).

 

Connect2Field rating: 4/5

 

 

Motorola XOOM

 

 

The Motorola Xoom hosts a sizable 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 capacitive display, 3G connectivity in addition to front and rear facing cameras, HD video capability, and loads of wireless options. It has an impressive 8 hours of battery life – ideal if you’re working full days and needing to access Connect2Field constantly. The Motorola Xoom was the first Android 3.0 Honeycomb based tablet (now 3.1). One of the standout features compared to other tablets is that you can add up to 32GB Micro SDHC card to the tablet but it comes in as one of the slightly heavier tablets at 730g. Motorola has attempted to protect itself by offering free hardware upgrades in the future which will give the tablet access to the 4G LTE network. It is an impressive iPad 2 competitor however this comes at a price; starting from $529 to be precise.

 

Connect2Field rating: 3/5

 

 

BlackBerry PlayBook

 

 

You could assume that by naming BlackBerry’s tablet offering the “PlayBook” it implies that it may not be suitable for the workplace. This is not necessarily true. Yes, tablets are a brilliant way to play games (‘Angry birds’ is so much more fun on my TouchPad than my iPod Touch) but the PlayBook has many redeeming features to suggest it could be perfect for your service business. The PlayBook runs on the QNX operating system, has a reasonable 7 hours battery life and it does a great job at displaying PowerPoint presentations. It has the Flash ability that the iPad2 lacks and it looks really sleek. It has a cool five megapixel at the back of the device, 1GB of RAM and 16, 32, or 64GB of storage. It has a 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution and is available starting at $400.

 

‎Connect2Field rating: 3/5

 

All in all tablets are a fantastic gadget which is ideal for those on the move – perhaps who don’t own smartphones but still want to access the web on the go. If you can accept you may be paying more for less “technically” then a tablet will work for you.

 

We’d love to know how you are getting on using your tablet in the field so feel free to let us know!


The Connect2Field Team

 

 

Top 10 Applications for Field Service Businesses

Published in Cloud Computing, Saas Technology, Service Company Tips on February 4th, 2011

 
 
 
After blogging recently about recommended Apps for the Service Industry, we decided to centralise the recommendations into one Top 10 List that we think any business, whether service based or not should have!
 
 
Speed: It's faster to load up any site, including Connect2Field 
Compatibility: Connect2Field is designed to work with Google Chrome
Works on Mac and PC: It doesn't matter if you are on a Mac or a PC, it will work perfectly
Searching: Searching on Google is made easier
 
Choosing a browser is important, as this is the interface in which you connect to Connect2Field…. Using a browser which is slower (like Microsoft Internet Explorer) will have an effect on the experience and performance of Connect2Field… 
 
 

Running your own Exchange Servers can be painful and a costly exercise - you have to cater in the costs of infrastructure ownership, hosting and support costs. At Connect2Field we use Google Apps for our mail.
 
Google Apps mail gives you the flexibility and scalability of working in the cloud from anywhere in the world.
 
We found some of the most useful components of Google App mail is the integration with other Apps like Snapengage for live customer help chat and Google Documents so you can share all your Excel, Word and PowerPoint documents in real-time.
 
Google Apps have also just released Desktop Notification services for Google Chrome, which alerts you of new emails, even if you're not looking at your browser..
 
If you don’t want the costs involved of running and maintaining your own exchange or mail server move to Google apps today
 
 
Counterpaths Bria, in conjunction with Localphone.com VoIP Solution is just perfect for any small business. These products can reduce your phone bills dramatically and give you additional features like Voip numbers to call from your Mobile to even further reduce your costs.
 
 
Tweetdeck allows you to manage all your Twitter and Facebook accounts with multiple column and search queries from one location. You're not getting the full effect of Twitter until you start using a product like TweetDeck.
 
5. Skype
 
Skype has now become the business grade chat and video call program. We used to use MSN Messenger as every company did, however we found their Video and Connection wasn’t really reliable. You can use Skype for VoIP, however we found their service to lack quality and it can often be more pricey then Localphone.
 
 
Whether you’re running a service business or just have family or friends contacting you for support and IT related questions, Gotomeeting is the ticket. Built on Citrix, you can connect with customers and share screens while talking through VoIP provided by the application. This enables you to demonstrate products, share PowerPoint presentations or just help someone install a basic driver. This product is a must for any business that needs to perform presentations or offer IT support.
 
 
Remembering all login details and passwords is a nightmare! These days most people will have well over 50 different logins and passwords. By using 1Password you can store all the details in a secure digital safe allowing you to access them with just one password. It really is a massive time saver. 
 
 
Wordpress is not really an app but a service, however we couldn’t live without ir. Wordpress allows you to create blogs and websites with ease and with the Iphone app you can keep creating posts while on the road.
 
 
Depending on the type of work you're doing, sometimes you need to create tutorials/lessons/manuals for your customers. ScreenSteps is a program that allows you to build these tutorials easily. It's such a great program that it should be kept a trade secret .. Opps too late, the word is out! :) 
 
10. Online Accounting Applications
 
Using an Online Accounting application allows you to access your accounts from wherever you're located. They also allow you to streamline your back office. Try looking at Saasu, Quickbooks Online, Xero and Kashflow.
 

 

 
We would love to hear if you have any additional Apps to recommend or if you have any comments about our Top 10!

Using Twitter to help your Field Service Businesses

Published in Cloud Computing, Mobile Devices, Online Marketing, Service Company Tips on January 27th, 2011

 
In today’s day and age, social marketing/media has become more important then just advertising your service business through local pages, magazines, Direct Mail or TV.  
 
One application, which has changed they way the world does business, is Twitter.
 
Twitter allows you to connect to your Venders, Suppliers, Potential Customers, Existing Customers, Investors, Journalists, Authors ….Pretty much anyone you can think of. 
 
By connecting to these people you expand your exposure in the market place, and become more connected within your industry all for Free.
 
The best way to use twitter is with a client-based application like;
 
Tweetie     – Mac only.
 

Some of these products have IPhone apps, which are highly recommended for tweeting on the GO. 
 
If you not using twitter sign up here.  Once you have registered, follow us @connect2field.
 
Good Luck and Good Tweeting :) 
 

5 Tips for your service business in 2011

Published in Service Company Tips on January 11th, 2011

 

At Connect2Field we are always looking at ways to improve the running of a service business. We thought we would share with you our top 5 tips for 2011
 
1. Start using Twitter: Twitter is an amazing tool. On the surface it may just seem like a gimmick, but using Twitter can be a real business tool. Twitter can help you find out info, get new business and create brand awareness. It’s really simple to get started… Sign up for an account here.
 
2. SEO enable your site:  SEO (Search Engine optimisation) helps your site to be ranked on Google for particular keywords. Effective SEO can really help your business rank highly on Google. Make sure you are using Wordpress as your backend as this really helps with SEO and allowing your site to rank. Our quick tips for ranking well are:
a.     Use Twitter and link back to your site
b.     Write regular blog articles which include your keywords
c.      Write comments on other people’s blogs and link them back to your site.
 

3. PR Websites:  Source Bottle constantly posts opportunities to be involved in media articles.  It is a really easy way to be interviewed about a subject that you specialise in.

 

4. Coupon Sites: Websites like Spreets allows you to offer a special of your service for a discounted price. This is a really simple way of attracting new customers with minimal risk and expense.  Try offering a special for your service in a normally quite period.

 

5. Cloud Computing: Look at moving your business to the ‘cloud’ using products like Google Apps & Google Docs, Connect2Field, Online Accounting applications like Xero, Kashflow & Saasu you can really start making improvements to your business and save money!
 
 
Good luck with 2011 we hope it’s a successful year for your service business.

Tips for SMBs during the quiet periods

Published in How to, Service Company Tips on December 21st, 2010

As we come into the Christmas break most companies usually slow down or close all together.

This gives owners time to reflect on the year, and plan for the next.

 

So here are a few tips what you can do during your quiet time.

 

 

Improve Your Business
 
Look at your current business flow. Think to yourself, how can I improve my productivity, and decrease double handling. To give you some examples;   
 
Are you still using Microsoft Excel, or Outloook to manage your customer’s information?
 
CRMs can greatly improve the way you interact and target your customers. Set up sales processes, and track against your marketing and sales goals to see which are working for you, and which are not. Keep all the communication between you and your customers like, emails, phone calls, proposals/quotes even birthdays…
There are many different CRMs on offer. If you looking for a more advanced CRM look at; sugerCRM or Salesforce. If you require a simple to use, low cost CRM, look into at using Connect2Field, it helps you manage all your customer details and provides you with an account history of all your customers. Which ever you choose you will improve the relationships with your current, and prospect customers.   
 
Is your accounting system working for you, or are you working for your accounting system?
 
The days are over of accounting systems designed just for accountants. Sure a few that still exist, however so many new accounting apps have been created in the recent years which a perfectly suited for SMBs, and some come with an SMB price ;).
Make sure your current account package is best suited to you. Don’t be afraid of change. It’s not difficult to switch from one system to another with the export and import features built into most accounting packages. Connect2Field directly integrations with the following,; Saasu, Kashflow, Xero and Quickbooks, and moving to an online accounting system can have huge benefits for your company.
 
Make your business found in Google
 
Have you heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) before? 
SEO helps your potential customers find you easily through surfing the web on search engins like Google. It really can help you increase the traffice to your website.
 
Here are a few tips to help build your SEO.
 
Firstly, build your website to be SEO friendly. This article gives you a good idea on how to do this.
Once you have optimized your website, create a blog and talk about what’s going on in your business, and industry. This helps you build and online audience, and in return increase your SEO. This does take some time but the results are well worth it
 
Find website listing relevant for your company IE http://www.plumbers.uk.com/ some are free, some charge based on how many customers click on your Ad. Either way these greatly help your SEO.
 
Additional tools to help you connect with your customer like snapengage  assit in converting website visitors to customers. These guys offer an excellent service in connecting to your customers with a live website chat, this will really help increase your website sales.    
 
We hope the tips give you some ideas on things to look at for 2011. The Connect2Field team wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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