Mercer Human Resource Consulting, the world"s largest firm of its type, has announced the successful pilot of a Microsoft Windows Mobile-based solution that allows its workers to increase efficiency by better utilising the traditional travel downtime. Part of a wider roll out of Windows XP, the new technology has reduced help desk calls by 15% and allowed IT to support the progressive culture of a company like Mercer.
Mercer has employees spread across 23 offices in the UK, with clients similarly spread geographically. This means that senior consultants often have considerable "dead time" when travelling between meetings. The pilot has seen 50 senior consultants at Mercer"s business issued with Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs. These devices provide easy access to e-mail and allow them to record their timesheets anywhere. Nigel Cowton, Workforce Services Manager said: "Windows XP has provided the reliability we needed during the migration - we"ve seen a 15% reduction in support calls. Rolling out this technology will allow us to fit in with the way people work. Mercer is an HR consultancy and the IT department is very much part of the business. The value of the mobility solution is that it enhances how people work and improves responsiveness."