BOND HELPS PHONE CLIENT PUT E-PEN TO PAPER

Paul Enguita of Cellular Solutions, demonstrates the new E-pen with Bond MD Derek Curtis

Experts at business solutions specialist Bond have been helping field sales staff at communications specialists Cellular Solutions make sure information collected on their sales calls at customer offices arrives back at the base before they do, with the help of new technology.

The Cellular Solutions sales force uses electronic pens and special paper forms to record customer data, which is then sent back to the office via a Blackberry or other handheld device.

The pens work by capturing handwriting and transforming it into pen strokes, using a wireless ink pen on paper embedded with a digital pattern. Graphical images of original documents and business forms can be collected along with data and delivered as XML files.

The interface software that the Bond team implemented now monitors the data traffic and automatically updates the central Sage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system which sits on servers at Cellular Solutions’ offices in Sunderland.

The new system means staff have up to date information at their fingertips to help them foster customer relationships, with a system that provides an instant overview of business and an accurate management, reporting and marketing tool.

Bond managing director Derek Curtis said: “The new application improves efficiency through faster and more effective data handling and will bring significant benefits for Cellular Solutions.

“The ability to have information automatically integrated into the central CRM system before the field sales staff even get back to the office gives the team a powerful marketing tool that helps them get closer to their existing and potential customer base.

“Although this particular project involved installing the software interface with Sage CRM, it can be used with any major CRM platform. The result is an ideal framework for anyone with a mobile workforce, such as financial services or the home improvement sector, or any business looking for more efficient management of customer relationships.

“As a Sage Circle of Excellence winner ourselves we were pleased to be invited to work with Cellular Solutions, which has a similar approach to using best of breed technology to constantly improve levels of customer care.”

Mike Bowers, managing director of Cellular Solutions added: “With Bond’s help we have already seen the benefits of the new framework, which is giving us instant access to information that is up to date on a minute by minute basis, and providing us with an essential platform from which to forge closer client relationships that will keep us in front of a very competitive market.”