B2B Integration : A Practical Guide to Collaborative E-commerce

Wireless Technologies 365
the power of mobile technology among a company's own employees.
They are the focus of this section. Externally oriented mobile applications
reach customers and clients through their handheld devices.
Internally focused mobile applications that eliminate or hasten
repetitive or time-consuming processes permit companies to reap the
benefits of improved operational efficiencies with the provision of
means for employees to access and to transmit data at the point of need,
and employees are empowered to be more effective and productive and
thus streamline business processes.
Some examples of B2E applications are:
• Field workers can access project records remotely while in the field
or onsite at a client's offices. Claims adjusters in the field can
immediately complete electronic forms on a handheld device and
upload their reports to a central server, saving time and improving
accuracy.
• In places such as hotels, casinos and department stores, employees
can roam the premises, while retaining access to the company network.
• Before meeting new or existing customers, sales representatives can
access the latest inventory levels, product line data and pricing
structures.
• Factory workers can track product batches as they progress through
production or assembly without needing to return to a fixed terminal.
• Consultants and other business professionals can avoid manually
updating contact lists on their PDAs or daily planners by 'synching'
these devices with a central company database. Interestingly, this can
also be configured to be accomplished upon entry or exit of an
employee to an office's local wireless LAN.
12.5.5. B2B, B2C, B2E and wireless
B2E like B2B and B2C has, heretofore, been wired, though it is
evolving towards wireless applications. So long as there is a need for
(a) ubiquitous access to information; (b) convenience and accessibility;
(c) personalization; or, in the near future, (d) localization, there is a
possibility that wireless can play a role. The most salient present