Click here for Web enabled technicians

The Internet is becoming an important communication tool for companies which provide services to caterers, such as equipment maintenance or vending machine back-up.

Tessaract, which claims to be Europe's leading supplier of service management systems, has just launched a Web-enabled version giving browser-based access for field technicians to remotely input and extract data via hand-held devices. Their customers will also be able to remotely log and monitor calls via the Web.

As well as a remote access, system facilities include help desk, response-critical call management, parts control, workshop control and quotations.

The system works on a "pay-as-you-go" basis which allows users to eliminate the traditional cost of software ownership and minimise their IT overheads.

Users of Tessaract service management systems include combi-steamer manufacturer Rational, which reckons to have cut the time spent on each service call from an average 10 minutes to six minutes by using the system.

Tessaract