DELIVERING HIGH VALUE, BUNDLED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS

inCode bundles extensive knowledge of the telecom industry with a distinct set of services and proprietary tools to deliver precisely the high-value, integrated solutions that clients require. Below are sample case studies from inCode’s extensive history of successes as a specialist in telecom consulting.

Case Studies are available for both Operators and Enterprises.

Operators

Building an MVNO to Complement a Wireline Offering—in Six Months

Challenge: A well-known investment group purchased wireline assets in a western state from a major U.S. operator. This group felt that the wireline operation needed a complementary wireless division to drive growth and help offset wireline churn. The investors asked inCode to recommend and quickly develop a market entry strategy.

Solution: inCode analyzed buy, build, agent and MVNO options for the investors and quickly recommended an MVNO strategy. inCode rapidly activated an experienced launch team that developed all service plans for voice and data, as well as network architecture for wireline/wireless integration. The inCode consultants developed key business processes for wireless.

Results: inCode engineers deployed the network and conducted a drive-test of competitive wireless networks in the service area to determine quality and coverage. In less than six months, the investor group activated its first wireless customer.

Evaluating Technology Standards for a Major Handset OEM

Challenge: Two internal groups at one of the three largest global handset manufacturers were developing dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handset products. The groups were using competing technology standards. The client wanted an independent consultancy to recommend one standard for development and funding over a multi-year period. In addition, the client needed an evaluation of the addressable market, estimated time to market and rough developmental costs.

Solution: Using third-party research and interviews with inCode clients, inCode analyzed the addressable market. inCode also interviewed global wireless operators who had announced plans to offer dual-mode products and assessed their commitments to each of the standards. inCode then developed timelines, milestones and risks, as well as financial models, for each standard.

Results: The inCode analysis enabled the handset manufacturer to decide on a technology standard and win developmental funding for initial and future years. The analysis also helped the client to understand key drivers of its customers’ businesses and potential risks affecting customer buying decisions. The manufacturer has received commercial orders from three global wireless operators.

Developing a WLAN Market Entry Strategy

Challenge: An international fixed-line operator needed to increase EBITDA above a level possible in its regulated business. The operator needed to develop a business entity to pursue WLAN business in a remote, low-density service territory. However, the client did not have wireless strategy or technical expertise in the WLAN market.

Solution: inCode identified market opportunities and recommended the most attractive new businesses. Then inCode developed a go-to-market strategy for serving two segments of the oil and gas industry in the operator’s service area. inCode prepared a technology and market trial including wireless backhaul, WLAN and VoIP technologies to provide voice and data services.

Results: The operator’s executive and management teams were educated on the oil and gas industry and appropriate wireless technologies to serve it. The client could effectively evaluate multiple technologies while testing the target market for voice and data services. In addition, the operator had a solid basis for making decisions on strategic direction for next-generation technology.

Analyzing WiMAX Market Potential and Competitive Landscape

Challenge: One of the world’s largest equipment manufacturers needed an independent evaluation of the emerging wireless broadband market, as well as a recommendation on a product roadmap for its global operations.

Solution: inCode put together a team of North American and European experts, who conducted extensive research to evaluate market trends, opportunities, spectrum allocation, vendor activities and WiMAX initiatives across three major regions. The team prepared a scorecard based on operator purchasing criteria, identified top vendors and ranked them. Next, inCode specialists forecasted market size and prepared economic models for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e adoption.

Results: inCode delivered a list of key markets and customer opportunities to the manufacturer, which also received an independent perspective on WiMAX technology, time to market, applications and challenges. inCode also provided insight on competitors’ market strategies. The manufacturer used these deliverables to frame its business strategy and complete a WiMAX product roadmap.

Enterprises

Ensuring Customer Satisfaction with Wireless Logistics Solutions

Challenge: Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., a 40-year-old manufacturer of top-quality residential cabinets, needed to update aging bar code technology for tracking shipments. To provide complete customer satisfaction, Wellborn pledges to deliver accurate shipments with the shortest lead times possible. However, record keeping delays from manual information handling were an obstacle to faster, more efficient shipping.

Solution: inCode designed and phased in a new wireless system that enabled truck drivers to simply park their rigs at wireless “hot spots” and download all shipment data from new handhelds to Wellborn’s corporate computer system. inCode’s expertise in radio-frequency technology, bar code scanning, private fleet-delivery software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) helped Wellborn solve its business challenges.

Results: Wellborn now has upgraded technology, a strong proof of delivery solution and the ability to grow into a real-time enterprise. Manual record keeping and overhead tasks for shipping clerks have been eliminated. Wellborn also has faster access to shipping data for analysis by its director of transportation.

Increasing Efficiency for Recycling Operations

Challenge: Louis Padnos Iron & Metal Company collects metal, paper, plastic and other scrap from multiple customer sites for recycling in the United States and other countries. With 15 locations and 4,000 industrial containers, the company needed to replace an inaccurate system that relied partly on mobile computers and partly on paper forms to track and validate pickups and deliveries. The recycler also needed to integrate wireless terminals with Shared Logic RIMAS NT/P software, its primary accounting and operational application, and with an internal scrap management system.

Solution: Within six months, inCode switched on a turnkey system including hardware, software and services. inCode also created a custom proof-of-service solution that eliminated errors from paper shipping records. The new system integrates fully with corporate software.

Results: Louis Padnos increased container and vehicle utilization, enhanced customer service and reduced administrative costs. In addition, dispatchers can now make real-time adjustments to routes. The company now estimates that performance improvements will increase current averages of 92 percent efficiency and 14 percent downtime to 100 percent efficiency and 10 percent downtime.

Improving ROI with Field Service Automation

Challenge: PEAK Technologies, an independent service organization with operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, needed to replace its cumbersome, manual service-call dispatch system. The company’s 330 customer engineers—about a third of whom work from home offices—repair printers, as well as forms handling, barcode and auto identification products. When customers called headquarters to request service, the data was entered into an ERP system and engineers were paged. They kept paper records, which were subject to errors and delays.

Solution: inCode designed a system that transmits service requests to engineers’ mobile terminals within seconds. Using their mobile devices, engineers can now call up relevant service information on customer equipment and instantly determine the location of replacement parts. Engineers record time and materials usage and the wireless application automatically generates an invoice at headquarters. The software also prompts up-sell and cross-sell opportunities.

Results: Improvements in efficiency included a 14,000-hour time savings and a $2 million revenue gain. The changes are equivalent to adding 66 people to the field service team. In addition, faster billing has improved PEAK’s cash flow.

To learn more about inCode capabilities for improving business results, go to Capabilities for Operators or Capabilities for Enterprises.

Find out how inCode helps companies become wireless leaders. Simply send an inquiry to info@incodetel.com.