National Datacomputer (NDI)'s alliance with Micronet gives the firm exclusive rights to market, sell and support an innovative and comprehensive mobile accounting software solution throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. NDI says that it will be better able to target major food and beverage distributors by providing them with what it claims is a highly efficient solution.
The new software to be offered by NDI, named RouteRider LE, enables seamless integration of any host environment to mobile computers running on any wireless handheld device that supports Microsoft's Pocket PC or Windows CE. Featuring a full-colour easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), RouteRider LE allows road warriors to spend more time selling and serving customers by automating ordering and accounting functions.
More specifically, it eliminates the need for cumbersome paperwork by providing detailed customer history and ordering information, fulfilling and placing orders on-the spot, and performing all required calculations. RouteRider LE runs on devices manufactured by Intermec, Hewlett-Packard, Symbol and others allowing the mobile workforce to match the tool to the job function.
"The introduction of RouteRider LE provides leading edge technology and features that are currently deployed by many successful companies," said John Ward, National Datacomputer president. "The technology used to help manage the food and beverage industry's routes has changed significantly in the past few years.
"In keeping with our commitment to give our customers a competitive edge, this alliance capitalises on the technology strengths inherent in the Micronet application and our many years of application development, marketing and support expertise."
NDI designs, manufactures, sells and services computerized systems used to automate the collection, processing and communication of information related to product sales, distribution and inventory control.
Micronet sees the alliance as the perfect opportunity for the company to expand into the lucrative US production sector. "Following the very positive feedback from both small and large distributors in a variety of vertical markets, our strategic partnership with NDI opens up an exciting opportunity to not only expand upon our success, but also to enter the US market with a company with many years experience in route accounting," said Micronet chief executive Haim Markovitz.
Middleware components such as communications servers, email servers and database servers are also available to meet customers' needs.
Route accounting gives manufacturers the opportunity to access information to and from enterprise systems. The solution allows mobile workers to complete customer transactions quickly as well asperform order management on site. By enabling workers to view currentorders, discounts, promotions, sales histories, approved credit options, etc., workers canspend less time at each location, leading to more frequent contact with a greater numberof customers.
Another firm, Dimension Data, points out that automated route accounting systems require fully integrated solutions. The right combination of hardware, software and communications, it says, is the key to success. Dimension Data's Mobile Enterprise Route Accounting Solution includes a variety of applications, communications and mobile device options.
For example, the Mobile Enterprise Route Accounting solution suite includes delivery management software to fulfill and update existing orders, handle returns, andkeep track of vehicle inventory, and asset management software to track the location of returnable containers.