Mobile phone solution boosts company sales

Until a year ago or so, computerization of Republic Chemical Industries’ manufac-turing, financial and business processes meant nothing to its sales representative based in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

That the company’s compute-rization efforts was geared toward enabling its sales agents to place their orders online and be able to predict their arrivals through an online tracking system was irrelevant to salesmen in remote locations without computers and Internet connections.

This changed drastically, however, in 2004 when Rep Chem adopted a new solution that allowed its remote sales agents to communicate with the computer system at the head office through their mobile phones.

The program, called the PocketWise Sales Order and Call Plan Mobile Solution, allowed the Kidapawan sales manager to send his order via GPRS, then get notices as it was processed through various departments.

This kind of information would have taken the salesman several long-distance phone calls to the head office.

According to company officials, the ability to anticipate the delivery of orders has boosted sales significantly.

Under the system, Rep Chem sales representatives send their orders for adhesives and sealant products using their Sony Ericsson P900 mobile phones.

The solution eliminates a number of things such as human error in inputting the data, manpower needed to handle the orders and the need for sales reps to use a landline or fax machine.

After an order is received, the program informs the sales rep through his mobile phone the status of his order every time it moves from one Rep Chem department to the next. Moreover, delivery time from the date of order was reduced from one week to one day.

Using the same program, sales reps log their activities for the day on their mobile phones, making it easier for Rep Chem to track their whereabouts and performance.

According to Rey Constan-tino, trade sales manager of Rep Chem, the new system boosted the sales of their 34 sales reps nationwide by 19 percent.

The solution provided by eScience Corp. is one example how local companies, abreast with current trends in technology set by handset manufacturers and other players, are capable of achieving.

eScience has created similar programs and business solutions for over 20 local firms, including Petron, PruLife, URC, Philamlife, FedEx, Pfizer, New York Life, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

eScience is not only offering its expertise to local companies, but has even begun marketing the program in Australia where interest in the solution is high.

"Through PocketWise, we were able to bring the office closer to the field," says Richard Dagelet, president of eScience.

His firm recently placed the Philippines in the global spotlight by garnering two international awards for a mobile phone-based business solution for a global insurance firm and a keypad game set to music.

After 18 months of using the PocketWise Sales Order and Call Plan Mobile Solution, Rep Chem and eScience are now talking about creating an upgraded version of the program which can track the activities of sales reps and even accommodate their sales reports.

Constantino says it took Rep Chem sales personnel just a few weeks to master the program. He is confident they will be able to master new procedures as more features helpful to the organization are installed in the system.