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An Investment in Wireless Networking can Save Time and Money

PFW Password - Fall 2001 We have all heard the phrase "there are only so many hours in a day," and we are all aware that every time we reduce the number of steps it takes to perform a specific function we decrease the likelihood of making mistakes, and increase productivity. The big question is - how often do you evaluate the tasks you perform every day, then consider ways of streamlining the things you may take for granted?

The dealership environment today includes many tasks that must be looked at and evaluated in order to make them more cost-efficient and productive. One of the questions that needs to be asked at your facility is: how can wireless networking help you? An example of how it can help is to look at your process when it is time to do a physical inventory count of parts and equipment.

The count would usually take place after hours because the system needs to be shut down to do the count. This requires the dealership to pay extra wages out for people to come in and physically do the hand count. Once the inventory counts are done, the counts are then entered into the system and verified by running a variance report. Only when the count is done can your parts, service and sales departments return to using the system.

If your dealership had a wireless device, the physical inventory counts for parts and equipment could be done during regular business hours. Counts can be entered into the wireless device, whether it is a laptop with a wireless card in it or a handheld palm device. The dealership does not need to shut down the system or pay out extra wages when using wireless devices and PFW's Parts or Equipment Inventory Count programs.

Other cost-efficient and productive benefits of having a wireless connection in your facility would be:

• From the main store you have a building that is not currently connected to your system and you require it to be - a wireless solution is your answer.
  
  
• Your employees can view service diagrams from anywhere in the shop; therefore, more time can be spent on servicing equipment.
  
  
• You can even rearrange the front office without losing a step and worrying about things like where are the wires located and is there enough wire to be able to move things according to the layout diagram - with wireless, you can move things around without any worries, and there is no time spent waiting for the wires to be moved first.

Doug Dexter, Parts Manager for Grant County Implement, tells us, "We have been remodeling our office space and showroom, and wireless has allowed us to set up and move around as needed to keep functioning. Wireless eliminates the need for running cabling, our new parts counters are individual islands, and the fewer wires the better."

Cris Robustelli, Systems Administrator for Jesco, Inc. says, "Wireless has been a great addition to our company; we have been able to put equipment in places that would normally be very expensive to do." When talking about the impact of wireless on his bottom line, Cris adds, "When our owners saw what we saved by not having to wire our new building as well as the versatility of this equipment, they were very happy, and of course that helps me in the long run."

David Emond, Vice-President of Total Power, explains why he looked at a wireless solution: "The decision to purchase this technology made sense for us because we had trouble with our wired LAN, didn't like the disruption or expense of moves, and like the flexibility it gave us for meetings, training and troubleshooting."

The next time you take a walk through your dealership, take a close look at what you and your co-workers are doing, and how you are doing it. There may be a better way. Mobility by Design, the wireless networking division of PFW, has helped many equipment dealers save time and money with a custom fit wireless solution, and MbD can help your business, too.