In our Monday post I provided information about M2M technologies and as promised, today we’re going to take a look at the components of an M2M solution.  According to Field Technologies Magazine, understanding the components of an M2M solution is the first step to success and they include:

1. Product/Asset: the product or asset you’ll be monitoring and communicating with is the first component of the solution.
2. Wireless Module: for your product or asset to be able to communicate, it must be embedded with a wireless modem or cellular module.
3. Wireless Network: wireless connectivity is required in order for the module to be able to communicate the data gathered from your asset.
4. Software: a software application is necessary to make sense of all of the data flowing from your M2M-enabled assets.
5. Platform: the platform is the home of your M2M software solution.  Many platforms are cloud-based, which enable easier deployment and reduce IT management costs.
6. Value-Added Service Provider: according to Gartner, M2M projects that leveraged a third-party service recognized 30% to 50% faster deployment.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about complete M2M solutions.

M2M, or Machine-to-Machine, refers to technologies that allow both wireless and wired systems to communicate with other devices.  In M2M communications, a remote sensor or meter gathers data and sends it wirelessly through a network to a software application that translates the data into meaningful information and routes the information to a backend server.

Vending machine monitoring is a good example of an M2M application.  Remote sensors can automatically collect stock levels, vending temperatures, sales transactions and also send alerts on stock shortages or theft.  This information is transmitted in real-time to the back office and field workers. Some of the most common M2M applications include:

• Remote Monitoring
• Measurement and Condition Recording
• In-Field Data Collection
• Fleet Management and Asset Tracking

Be sure to check back on Wed. to learn more about the various components of M2M solutions.

Lets’ Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about M2M solutions.

In our Jan. 12th post I announced that Motorola Solutions introduced the new MC2100 Series Mobile Computer.  As a follow-up, today I’m providing this video from Motorola Solutions that takes a closer look at the value-priced MC2100 and its features.  See how the MC2100 Series enables the affordable automation of data capture and inventory management applications.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about the MC2100 and inventory management applications.

I recently read a very interesting article in Computerworld that described the ways the rules for enterprise software applications are changing.  Computerworld offered 3 new rules for enterprise software to be successful.  These included:

1. Make it appealing – Enterprise software must be user-friendly and work well on all commonly used browsers and mobile devices.  According to Gartner analysts, business strategies for application development need to consider three user groups: B2B, B2E (employee) and B2C (consumer).
2. Make it transparent – Real-time data is more important than ever before.  Employees that have access to up-to-date information have a competitive advantage.  In addition to real-time data, users are also interested in having information presented in graphical form with tables and charts.  These analytic tools help users discover trends and improve decision-making.
3. Update it often – Employees expect and want frequent updates to the applications they use. And with the increasing use of cloud-based software, updates are easier than ever to push out to users.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about enterprise software applications.

Mobile field inspection solutions enable you to manage your assets more efficiently by eliminating the need to travel back and forth between the field and the office. Empower your employees with mobile devices that transmit real-time information to your back office database and other employees. Mobile Epiphany’s industry-leading software integrates into any business process, so regardless of industry we can create workflows for any asset and any task. See for yourself, check out this great new video.

Let’s Get Mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about end-to-end mobile field inspection and asset tracking solutions.

During NRF 2012, Motorola Solutions introduced the MPM-100 that will be available in April. This exciting new Mobile Payment Module enables the process of any type of payment—anywhere and anytime. When pairing this small multi-payment module with your mobile computers via Bluetooth, workers can accept:

• Credit (capture signatures on mobile device)
• Debit
• Loyalty and gift cards with magnetic stripes
• Chip and PIN-based credit
• Near Field Communication (NFC) payments made via mobile phones

The versatile MPM-100 also boasts the highest level of data security and offers cost-efficient PCI compliance.

Stay tuned in the coming months for additional information about this exciting new device.

Let’s Get Mobile! Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about mobile payment processing solutions.

As we mentioned last week, NRF 2012 was quite an exciting event and attendance was overwhelming.  DecisionPoint joined Motorola Solutions in their partner booth and experienced greater than expected traffic, as retailers assembled to learn more about the latest mobile technologies and solutions.  This great video from the floor of the NRF 2012 EXPO Hall features Brian Bukowski, Motorola Solutions VP of North American Sales, discussing the theme during NRF and how retailers can improve the shopping experience with mobile solutions.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about our mobile retail solutions that improve the customer experience.

I recently read an interesting article in Field Technologies Magazine that included some tips for a successful mobile deployment.  According to the article, one of the most important items that companies often overlook is ensuring that employees are properly trained on the mobile solution and they understand the reason for the transition.

We talk a lot about the productivity and efficiency improvements that mobile solutions provide, but unless employees understand how to use mobile technology you won’t realize these benefits.  Tips from the article include:

1. Get your mobile workers involved early on
2. Help them understand how they will benefit from the deployment
3. Plan for proper training

DecisionPoint understands the importance of proper training, that’s why our MobileArc Field Workforce Automation Solutions include expert professional services for technical set up and user training.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. to learn more about our end-to-end mobile solutions.

DecisionPoint would like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth during the NRF 2012 EXPO.  We hope you found the event as exciting and beneficial as we did.  For those of you that didn’t have an opportunity to visit with us, or missed the show this year, be sure to visit DecisionPoint’s NRF webpage to learn about the mobile retail solutions we demonstrated during the EXPO.  Our tablet-based ordering applications highlighted two vital areas of retail operations where customer service and productivity can be improved with mobility.  Also, check out the Motorola Solutions NRF microsite to catch up on the buzz after the show.

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about our end-to-end mobile retail solutions.

On Monday, I provided a brief definition of cloud computing and its expected growth as reported by Gartner.  As a follow-up, today I’d like to take a look at the key benefits that cloud computing solutions offer.

1. Cloud-based solutions don’t require any upfront capital equipment purchases.
2. Maintenance and updates are automatically taken care of by the service provider.
3. Cloud computing solutions are easy to implement.
4. Cloud computing is highly-scalable.  As your applications grow, you can add capacity as needed.
5. Reduce overall hardware and IT support costs by outsourcing. 

Let’s Get Mobile!  Contact DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. for additional information about cloud-based mobile applications.