DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions, a leading provider of turnkey, automated preventive maintenance (PM) systems, introduced WinTrack PM for the Windows Mobile platform at HITEC. The lodging industry’s annual technology exposition and conference was held June 25-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
WinTrack PM is the cornerstone of Mintek’s Lodging Asset Management Suite, which also includes the Web-based Maintenance Portal, Asset Director and Alerts. WinTrack PM software incorporates handheld devices and bar coding to add efficiencies to PM, rounds, inspections and work order processes.
“Our new version of WinTrack PM will be Web-based, which will offer greater security, automatic backup and the ability to access it anytime, anywhere,” says Lind Hutton, Executive Vice President and COO of Mintek Mobile Data Solutions. “It will also offer a user-friendly interface.”
As part of the enhanced WinTrack PM rollout, Mintek is introducing the Web-based Work Order Kiosk. The ASP application enables anyone outside of the engineering department of a hotel—housekeeping, general managers, f&b staff and others—to submit work orders via a browser-based system. The status of each work order—whether “Open,” “Assigned,” or “Closed”—is visible along with the name of the engineer assigned to perform the task.
“Work Order Kiosk is a noteworthy addition to our Lodging Asset Management Suite,” Hutton says. “It will save time and make it much easier to submit and track work orders.”
New Hardware to Support Enhanced Software
Mintek is also introducing new hardware to support its newly upgraded WinTrack PM—Motorola’s (formerly Symbol) MC series of terminals that feature color screens, increased RAM, and powerful processors that dramatically increase scan times and eliminate duplicate scans. Windows Mobile devices include wireless radio options and function using Bluetooth, WAN, or WWan systems (Sprint, Nextel, Cingular).
The MC series of terminals will replace the Motorola SPT 1800 series currently running the Palm operating system. Ahead of Motorola’s recent announcement to “end of life” the SPT1800 series, Mintek began the transition to Windows Mobile Pocket PCs. The new devices are available in different styles and models to match user needs.
“In the technology business, there is one constant and that is change,” Hutton says. “It seems as though it was just yesterday that Symbol Technologies introduced the SPT 1500 Palm-based terminal when in fact is was April of 2000. The device migrated through several versions including the SPT 1700 and then the SPT 1800. Now the ‘end of life’ has passed and the old Symbol devices are no longer available.”
“The upside to this event is that the newly designed devices significantly outperform the SPT 1800,” Hutton adds. “The MC series of Windows Mobile-based terminals provide users with a wealth of new options, features and capabilities. Motorola has proven again that it leads the industry in technology advancements.”
Since the introduction of the Motorola MC series, Mintek Mobile Data Solutions has been aggressively re-engineering its current applications for the Windows Mobile platform.
“This is just the beginning,” Hutton says. “With our comprehensive Lodging Asset Management Suite of solutions, we will continue to focus on providing superior solutions to the lodging industry under budget and on time.”
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