Mobile Gateway Solutions partners with Vodacom to Mobilise Sales Forces

3/3/2008 12:00:00 AM

For a business driven by field sales operations, timely, relevant and tactically important information, coupled with real transactional ability, is vital.

Vodacom Business is a strategic mobile business solution provider that provides an extensive range of mobile communication-based solutions that are customer-centric, technology-driven, cost-effective, innovative, and generate sustainable value.

Vodacom Business is constantly seeking joint business opportunities with new business partners to add value to customers in all industries.

The Partner
Mobile Gateway Solutions (Pty) Ltd (www.mobilegateway.co.za), established in 2005, offers the combined specialised team knowledge of 44 years in the field application market.

The Business Challenge
For a business driven by field sales operations, timely, relevant and tactically important information, coupled with real transactional ability, is vital.

But many organisations are hamstrung by cumbersome, expensive, manual sales and fault-logging processes, which slow down customer service, sales and cash flow.

These companies are often plagued by data integrity issues as a result of human error. Even those who have issued laptops or cellphones to their salespeople seldom give them mobile connectivity or the applications needed for a truly mobile workforce. Ineffective and inefficient processes slow down response times and sales cycles, and have the potential to create bad service and dissatisfied customers.

The Solution
Now Vodacom Business has partnered with Mobile Gateway Solutions to create a technology-driven, end-to-end mobile sales-team solution.

The pre-sales team works with customers to understand their business processes, scope technical requirements, and ensure that the correct business process flow and technical capabilities are reflected in the solution.

The solution is based on connectivity to a wireless network, which allows field agents to place orders for products or services directly from their cellphones or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). It can be integrated with supply chain or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to provide seamless sales reporting and financial control capabilities.
The mobilesales solution is scalable, priced on a per-seat basis, and is supported by Vodacom Business's dedicated call centre. The solution is suitable for both new and older phones, as long as they have colour screens and are WAP-enabled.

The Benefits
The many benefits provided by the joint MobileSales solution offered by Vodacom Business and Mobile Gateway Solutions include:
Field agents have access to stock-level information in the field and can provide more accurate delivery forecasts for their customers;
Sales staff can place orders as soon as the customer indicates a desire to purchase. Purchases no longer need to wait for manual processes to be logged and are less subject to human error, because the relevant data is only captured once at the point of sale;
The salesperson can have the order on delivery before leaving the client's premises;
A reduction in paper usage;
Improved cash flow;
Improved sales staff efficiency;
Radical cost savings on travel and mobile phone usage;
Shorter order-to-invoice lead times.

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Vodaworld Magazine - Mar 2008