Spirit Data Capture Limited, the independent mobile computing and data capture specialist, has provided Associated British Ports (ABP) with M3 Orange rugged PDAs. The new devices are being used for measuring and billing the energy use of ABP’s tenants. They have already streamlined the process whilst also boosting the accuracy and reliability of the meter readings.
ABP is the UK’s leading port operator and owns 21 ports in England, Scotland, and Wales. Each port has a large number of tenants, who have to be billed for their electricity and water consumption. ABP’s Projects team recently explored more effective ways of measuring the tenants’ energy use, which led to the roll out of new billing and consumption management software.
The team then searched for a versatile handheld solution that would interface directly with the new software. Business Analyst, Baljit Rakkar, explains: “One of the most important aspects was ruggedness, as these devices are used in harsh working conditions on the docks. They also had to be very reliable, as our meter readers check 200 to 300 meters over just a few days.”
The ABP Projects team conducted a Google search of possible suppliers and came across an established independent consultancy, Spirit Data Capture Limited. Spirit recommended the M3 Orange, a lightweight but very rugged and durable PDA with an IP rating of 65. It has a choice of operating systems as well as Bluetooth, WLAN and GSM / GPRS / 3G connectivity.
Baljit comments: “The M3’s specifications met all of our needs and we particularly liked its ruggedness and its battery life. We’ve started using them in our South Wales ports. Our meter readers find the M3 devices easy to use and carry. A key benefit is that anyone can read a meter by swiping the barcode, so they don’t need to know anything about the meter itself.”
Spirit has also been providing support for the M3 Orange handheld devices. Baljit concludes: “Spirit’s service has been really good. They were very helpful and also recommended the mobile reader software, which we otherwise wouldn’t have found. We fully intend to use Spirit again in the future for any other handheld requirements we might have.”
Spirit Data Capture
Helen Jones
Tel: 01928 718800
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