OPTUS AND MICROE POCKETWIZ PARTNER TO SAVE HOMEWARES COMPANY BAYLISS $80,000 PER ANNUM

Australian company Microe Pty Ltd, an Optus Mobile Solutions Partner, has developed an innovative mobile database solution called pocketWIZ™ that has helped Bayliss, a 67 year old flooring and homeware company, save almost $80,000 in annual operating costs.

Through the Optus Mobile Solutions Partner program, Optus works with companies that are specialists in their field, such as Microe, to develop tailored mobile data solutions that really meet the needs of business.

The Bayliss family has been providing flooring solutions and homeware products since 1938. The company specialises in developing stylish area rugs, entrance mats and gardenware that are sold in high volume through a network of retailers throughout Australia.

Bayliss needed to enable its salesforce to make the fast, informed decisions required in the high volume consumer retail environment, even when out of the office. Using the pocketWIZ Sales Automation module, sales staff can now easily take orders, check stock availability and pricing all in real-time from their O2 XDA Pocket PC - a combined mobile phone and hand held computer. Data is immediately synchronised between the O2 XDA and Bayliss' accounting system, Arrow, via the Optus GPRS network.

Bayliss Managing Director, David Bayliss, said the company sought a way to increase customer satisfaction and service levels.

"We wanted to provide sales reps with a tool to reduce potential order errors by displaying the correct customer pricing and stock levels required to answer the main customer purchasing questions immediately. This would also ensure our customers get what they order more quickly.

"We estimate that PocketWIZ has saved the company almost $80,000 in annual operating costs. It costs only a few cents to send an order back to the Bayliss' office from the customer site. Sales orders are easily imported into our accounting system, removing the need for data entry, and packing slips are sent immediately to the warehouse, assisting the continuity of work flow.

Michael Stansen, Managing Director Microe, said that the pocketWIZ solution increased productivity for sales reps by allowing them to stay on the road.

"Now the sales reps can create sales orders on the spot while they are with the customer. They can view the latest stock availability, pricing and amounts owed by the customers with no phone calls or paperwork and can even capture the customer's signature 'on glass' using the O2 XDA. We provided Bayliss with a solution that was customisable to fit in with the company's current business operations for as little as $3.50 per day per rep - the cost of a quick lunch.

"We partnered with Optus as the Optus GPRS mobile data network is a cost effective and reliable way to send out information such as the latest prices and stock availability while simultaneously receiving orders back at head office. Bayliss also uses the Optus network to stay in contact with our sales staff via emails they can access on their O2 XDA," Mr Stansen said.

About Microe
Microe Pty Ltd is an Australian Owned Company specialising in innovative mobile wireless data solutions. The pocketWIZ family of products are custom designed, wireless database driven solutions that can integrate with existing business operational software. All solutions are totally scalable to grow with a business' needs and can be customised to suit any type or size of business. For more information visit www.microe.com.au

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