TBS Enterprise Mobility

Taskmaster is TBS’s enterprise mobility product suite which enables companies to radically improve the efficiency of the field worker, reduce costs of processing information and improve customer satisfaction. This is achieved by providing data driven, configurable, mobile Smart client solutions on handheld computers, providing clients’ enterprise information to the field worker in a format and style commensurate with their needs. TaskMaster is an enterprise strength solution that will work for 50 to tens of thousands of field workers.

TaskMaster utilises intuitive, easy-to-use electronic forms and menu driven selection lists; resulting in detailed, quality information being quickly entered in the field environment. Once this information is captured it can then be transmitted via any wireless network for immediate processing by an enterprises IT solution, thus mobilising the enterprise.

Solutions – Technology:

The following modules comprise the components of the TaskMaster solution:

1. TaskMaster Application Server
2. TaskMaster Communications Server
3. TaskMaster Mobile Client Application

Below is a high level summary of each of the components of the proposed TaskMaster solution.

TaskMaster Application Server:

The Application Server comprises a number of key TaskMaster components in itself which enables the automation, management and safety of the field force.

TM Host:

The TM Host component is the heart of the TaskMaster system and controls the allocation of work to the field workers, stores the workflow configuration and manages the communications between the Host system and the PDA.

TM Interface:

To allow seamless integration into the customer enterprise system, TBS have developed a standard interface into the TaskMaster system which supports XML, Web Services and a variety of plug-ins.

TM Mercury Server:

This provides the customer with the capability to automatically ‘push’ jobs directly to the field worker over the GPRS/3G networks. This is ideally suited to any emergency or reactive work that needs assigning in real time.

TM Monitor:

Using TM Monitor, full administration and monitoring tasks can be carried out remotely and dynamically from any location. TM Monitor provides customers with the ability to remotely check job status, administer TaskMaster users (field workers) - adding, editing details, deleting. AS well as checking user connection statistics - number of calls collected, processed, received etc.

TM Studio:

TM Studio is a Rapid Development Tool that can be provided to our customers to create, manage and modify complex workflows with the TaskMaster system. Any changes that are made using TM Studio are deployed wirelessly upon the next connection from the PDA.

TM Alert System:

The TM Alert system provides event driven alerts via text message (SMS) or email to our customer’s customer on the progress of a call. An example of how this would be typically used is to automatically send a text message containing ETA information on what time the customer should expect the field worker to arrive.

Device Management:

The TBS Device Management application provides our customers with the capability to perform essential management tasks typically associated with the device being returned to base, over the air. These tasks include application updates, device allocation and provisioning, publishing security policies and performing inventory checks. Additional operations such as a remote device wipe can also be initiated from the Device Management tool should a PDA be lost or stolen in the field.

Device Security:

TBS understand that the data being transferred to and stored on the PDAs can be sensitive and as such, we have ensured that the TaskMaster Smart Client is fully secure by adopting the following security measures:

• Encryption of local data with single sign-on to gain access and decrypt data
• Works while connected or disconnected
• Self Service Pin / Password reset via security question and answer all stored and encrypted locally on the device
• Automatic fail safe actions for lost or stolen devices
• Access control to handheld device applications
• Limitation of access to external interfaces such as Bluetooth, camera and microphone

Personnel Safety Locator: Remote worker safety – now a business imperative:

The TBS Personnel Safety Locator (PSL) works on a GPS enabled Windows Mobile PDA and provides companies with the first product to integrate duty of care and location based monitoring tools to protect and monitor remote workers. The TBS Personnel Safety Locator helps companies achieve the following:

• Accurately track field workers to ensure their safety
• Comply with health and safety laws
• Integrate field worker location with workflow for greater efficiency
• Easily implement personnel protection with existing IT systems and business processes

TBS TaskMaster and Personnel Safety Locator can effectively integrate field worker tracking and protection functions with bespoke, audited risk assessment procedures - all managed in real time via handheld PDAs.

TaskMaster Communications Server:

The Communications Server enables the intelligent synchronisation of information between the customer enterprise systems and hand held devices. The TaskMaster Communications Server provides session managed, compressed and encrypted transportation of data throughout the system. This ensures that not only will your data be secure, but also helps to keep communications costs down.

TaskMaster Smart Client:

The TaskMaster application resides on the hand held device as a single executable application. The processes and workflows associated with the system are configured and stored in the TM Host system and downloaded to the PDA on the initial connection. Once downloaded, the TaskMaster Smart Client will render the form configuration to match the screen size and layout of the PDA in use. Should any changes be made to the configuration of the system, the TaskMaster Smart Client will simply download these changes only rather than all the configuration, again helping to keep the communications costs down.

For more detailed information on the Taskmaster enterprise mobility product suite go to the members section of our web site.