Multi-Modal Approach

With proven advantages over paper-based operations, voice-directed solutions improve customer service while reducing operational costs and delivering significant productivity and efficiency gains. Vulcan Voice's integrated, multi-modal approach offers all the benefits of voice direction while maintaining the flexibility to use other technologies where appropriate.

Specialized voice-directed systems of the past used proprietary hardware and software optimized for a single task. They couldn’t be used elsewhere in the enterprise, and their voice-only design bias limited their data capture capabilities. By contrast, Vulcan Voice marries rugged mobile computers on a standard software platform with integrated scanners, keypads, displays, and touch pads plus robust next-generation voice recognition software to deliver all the benefits of dedicated voice devices without their limitations. It lets you:

• Use the appropriate technology: Users can call up voice-based instructions when it’s faster for them to hear instructions than to read displays. They can employ voice input to capture data or confirm an activity. Or, they can use the screen to scroll through lists for form-based data capture, or the bar code scanner or keyboard to capture complex data.

• Optimize labor allocation: Multi-modal data capture capabilities allow supervisors to dynamically allocate employees throughout the day. Because not all applications are suited to a voice-only interface, it’s more cost-effective to equip employees with devices that are easily switched to other modes as required.

• Utilize the same devices across different shifts and  purposes: Since multi-modal voice-directed solutions can run multiple applications, investment costs can be spread over multiple business areas rather than tied to a specific operation. Shared use eliminates the need to purchase duplicate devices, further reducing the cost of operations.

Sample Applications

These industry-specific applications are ideally served by Vulcan Voice and an appropriate handheld computer:

Route accounting: Whether it's delivering perishable or nonperishable goods, your sales and delivery workforce needs to serve customers in real time, en route. Vulcan Voice lets you track your goods from dispatch to onsite servicing to end-of-day reconciliation. You can:

• Verify and finalize route truck loading

• Receive new orders in real time

• Input orders

• Print invoices and reports

• View order history

• Capture competitors' pricing

• Give clients graphically displayed sales analytics

• Send the day’s data to the dispatch host

• Automatically check for application upgrades and downloads

Field service: Vulcan Voice delivers faster response times, faster problem resolution, and reduced travel costs through:

• Verification of asset IDs and ability to view service history

• Capture of data on actual parts used and work performed

• Real-time voice or visual troubleshooting, repair, alignment instructions

• Signature capture and service report printed onsite

Manufacturing and warehouse operations: Collect data in real time; move material receipts, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods into and out of the facility more efficiently and improve margins through:

• Receiving and put-away

• Documentation of parts incorporated in product assembly by lot, batch, or serial numbers

• Demonstrated compliance in the event of a product recall, with precise information easily accessible

• Statistical process-control information scanning and electronic completion of reports

• Asset and product location

• Value-added services such as kitting or custom labeling

• Order picking

• Inventory/cycle counting

Retail operations: Keep retail store managers, clerks and supervisors on the sales floor, where they can:

• Read e-mail, assign tasks, work on reports, void transactions, and check prices from any location in the store

• Keep in touch with department heads and associates with voice over Wi-Fi instead of public address systems

• Perform shelf inventory and stocking

• Free up valuable time to focus more on the customer

• Boost in-store efficiencies and reduce hiring needs

Healthcare: Supporting features include:

• Asset tracking: ability to locate IVs, infusion pumps, monitors, wheelchairs, ...

• Verification and update of cleaning and calibration data

• Patient tracking