Mobile Epiphany announced the release of Touch Inspect, “an enterprise
class, media-enhanced, geospatially intelligent, asset-centric field
data collection and worker decision support application.”
Mobile Epiphany’s CEO, Glenn Kletzky states “Even though the solution
was originally designed around the geospatial and non geospatial work
flows associated with field data collection, our configuration tool set
is so flexible and easy to use that I have seen some of our partners
develop a true work order dispatch and fulfillment system in less than
4 hours. Others have designed very slick proof of delivery concepts. It
is hard to pin down the limits of our unique configuration tool set.
And we are not a toolset or “application platform” that allows
programmers to develop applications–that complexity is completely
absent in our tools. People are tired of “platforms” that take minutes
to buy and many months to develop within. Our application is already
built. You simply configure it to meet your industry’s needs in a
matter of hours and start using it almost immediately.”
Touch Inspect (whose handheld mobile edition runs on Windows Mobile 6,
6.1 and 6.5 and whose Mobile PC and tablet edition runs on Windows XP,
Vista, and Windows 7) was designed to collect a wide variety of data
types in the field using capabilities far beyond simple forms and
barcode scans. The application uses GPS to allow workers to map the
location of individual assets as well as search for them by proximity
to the user. Using an array of multimedia features, users can gather
more detailed visual information about assets as well. For example, a
utility inspector could take a picture of a metal power pole then use
the drawing tool to circle rust spots in the picture and save it to the
inspection history. Inspectors who see the pole at some later date
could then call up the picture for comparison, to see if the rust spots
have grown, and decide whether or not to recommend maintenance. Mobile
epiphany refers to this as one part of field decision support.
The new application also solves data problems associated with other
solutions. Data loss is prevented by storing information on the
handheld device itself, then transmitting it to the database when a
connection is available. Even if the connection is lost, the data is
safely stored on the device for later transmission. Another noteworthy
feature is the ability to transmit data in real time and auto-generate
reports in moments.
Unlike other applications which require server setup time and cost (not
to mention that everyone doesn’t have their own IT department), Touch
Inspect allows their system to be purchased monthly (Software as a
Subscription) or hosted quarterly, meaning the users do not have to
even think about server technology. That approach makes functionality
that was traditionally only available to the largest of corporations
now readily available to small and medium size business users. It is
designed to be configured in hours and start running almost
immediately. And for the larger enterprises that insist on housing
their own servers, Mobile Epiphany makes the technology available in
that format as well.
As the name implies, the interface is finger-touch based with large,
color-coded graphics and minimal, but bold and easy-to-read text for
faster navigation. Other design features such as multi-function buttons
keep the screen uncluttered while still allowing for high levels of
intuitive functionality. And because Touch Inspect™ is easily
configurable, it allows users to define their own work flow, meaning
that the application can be specifically tailored to any industry that
needs enterprise level asset inspection among a host of many other
mobile data needs.
