NetMotion Wireless Seven Essential Practices for Utility Mobile Data Deployments eBook

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7 essential practices for
UTILITY MOBILE DATA DEPLOYMENTS
eBook

2. 7 essential practices for
UTILITY MOBILE DATA DEPLOYMENTS
eBook
keep it simple and
seamless
ensure continuous
connections
use multiple networks
know how you’re
covered
#1 prepare to scale up
and out
make it manageable
enforce airtight
security
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7

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introduction
Two factors are driving the increasing adoption of
mobile data deployments within the utilities industry:
NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN YOUNGER
WORKERS. The utility workforce is highly skilled,
experienced, and fast approaching retirement age.
As addressed in a study by the American Public
Power Association, utilities that are not building
a technology-enabled workforce will likely find it
difficult to recruit younger workers.
DEREGULATION AND PRESSURES
FOR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
With the right combination of mobile
technologies, workers make fewer
trips to the office, don’t have to
re-enter pen-and-paper reports,
and spend more time in the field
completing tasks.
The insights into best practices in
this guide are drawn from the 2011
“Mobile Technology Use
in the Utility Industry”
benchmark survey of 50 utilities,
who serve approximately 10%
of U.S. households, that have
deployed mobile technologies.

4. #1 keep it SIMPLE and SEAMLESS
In mobile environments, workers roam between various cellular, Wi-Fi and wired networks,
consistently use computing devices, and expect uninterrupted use of open applications
throughout the workday.
Utilities have found that a mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the essential “glue”
that ties together these multiple networks. A MOBILE VPN HANDLES LOGONS AND
CONNECTION HANDOFFS TRANSPARENTLY, AND DELIVERS A SINGLE, SEAMLESS
MOBILE COMPUTING EXPERIENCE.
According to a recent survey conducted by NetMotion Wireless of top IT decision-makers in
utilities, after adding a mobile VPN to their deployments:
• More than 70% of utilities said that their FIELD WORKERS COULD COMPLETE MORE
WORK ORDERS PER DAY, with increases of three to five more job tickets among those
who could quantify the results.
• Almost all (92%) found THE DEPLOYMENT OF A MOBILE VPN TO BE EITHER “VERY
IMPORTANT” OR “IMPORTANT” for the success of their mobile deployments.

5. ##2 Connectivity problems while using wireless
networks are the most common source of
frustration in a mobile data deployment. Workers
often lose connections and need to re-log in
to their computer. Applications that are open
during those interruptions often crash, requiring
workers to not only log in again, but re-enter the
data they lost.
A MOBILE VPN KEEPS CONNECTIONS ALIVE
through drops and interruptions in wireless
coverage. Workers need to only log in once, at
the beginning of the shift.
ensure CONTINUOUS CONNECTIONS
27%of utilities surveyed indicated
that the ability to persist
applications through
intermittent network coverage
was their primary reason for
deploying a mobile VPN.

6. #3 use MULTIPLE NETWORKS
Reliable coverage throughout the utility service area often requires using multiple networks.
45%of utilities said that the
ability to use multiple
networks was their
primary reason for
adopting a mobile VPN.
Among the utilities surveyed:
• More than 40% USE TWO OR MORE
CELLULAR CARRIERS to connect throughout
their service areas.
• 15% SUPPLEMENT THE CARRIER
NETWORKS WITH SATELLITE
CONNECTIONS, which are often the only
available option for crews in remote locations.
• 45% TIE INTO WI-FI NETWORKS WHERE
AVAILABLE -- often useful for downloading
large files, such as GIS and mapping files.

7. ##4 know how you’re COVERED
With public cellular networks – often from multiple carriers – providing the essential
connectivity, it is important to know that networks are delivering as promised and that the
organization isn’t paying for little-used connections, especially considering the cost of
those connections.
Software is now available that maps, monitors and measures cellular connections
and network use by field technicians. By deploying this cellular network
management software, administrators know when and where:
• Non-essential applications are
OVER-USING EXPENSIVE
BANDWIDTH
• Cellular coverage is SPOTTY OR
NON-EXISTENT
• Multiple carriers are NEEDED OR
ARE SIMPLY REDUNDANT
Armed with this information,
administrators can cancel
unnecessary plans and align the
organization’s investment with the
need for data access.

8. #5
prepare to scale
UP AND OUT
A recent NetMotion Wireless survey of top IT
decision-makers in utilities indicated that:
20%of utilities declared that
access to more applications
is the primary reason for
deploying a mobile VPN.
More than
• FIELD TECHNICIANS, METER
TECHNICIANS AND LINE
CREWS ARE THE MOST
PREVALENT MOBILE USERS;
many utilities are also expanding
mobile access to street light
servicing and tree crews.
• Roughly 70% OF UTILITIES
HAVE DEPLOYED GIS /
MAPPING and Mobile Workforce
Management applications.
• FLEET MANAGEMENT, ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND CRM ARE
EITHER ALREADY IN PLACE,
or are the next applications to
"go mobile.”
A best-in-class mobile VPN allows any application designed for a wired network to be
accessed reliably in a mobile setting.

9. #6 make it MANAGEABLE
Managing mobile devices across a dispersed workforce is a challenge, and more so in
large deployments. In fact, 15% OF UTILITIES IDENTIFIED THE ABILITY TO CENTRALLY
MANAGE MOBILE DEVICES TO BE THE OVERRIDING REASON FOR ADOPTING A
MOBILE VPN. A reliable “connection-aware” link allows devices to be managed “over the
air” as easily as desktops and laptops on a wired network.
Nearly all utilities reported that, after
deploying a mobile VPN, there was an
immediate reduction in IT support tickets
related to mobile deployment problems,
with decreases as high as 80%.
By using a mobile VPN in conjunction with cellular network management
software, administrators gain visibility into how devices and applications are
consuming cellular bandwidth, so THEY CAN USE POLICIES TO FINE-TUNE
THE DEPLOYMENT FOR THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE. A
granular view into where and when devices encounter connection problems
aids in troubleshooting and allows many problems to be prevented proactively.

10. #7
Ensuring security of data flowing to and from
mobile devices was identified by 15% of utilities
as the primary driver behind adoption of a mobile
VPN. A mobile VPN that supports best practices
for utilities:
• SUPPORTS AES ENCRYPTION, meeting
FERC/NERC requirements;
• CREATES A SECURE TUNNEL at power-up
without worker intervention; and
• PROVIDES A SINGLE SIGN-ON that
supports two-factor and multi-factor
authentication via smart cards,
RSA SecurID tokens, or device
certificates.
enforce
AIRTIGHT SECURITY
A secure, seamless and
simplified user experience is
at the root of the significant
productivity gains that the
surveyed utilities achieved.
A MOBILE VPN DELIVERS A
POSITIVE USER EXPERIENCE
THAT SPEEDS ADOPTION OF
THE NEW FIELD TOOLS.

11. CONCLUSION
Mobile technologies have been widely deployed among utilities, and have delivered proven results
for those who adopt a best-practices approach as described in this guide. Ultimately, THE PAYOFF
IS IN GREATER EFFICIENCY and, for forward-thinking utilities, THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT A NEW
GENERATION OF WORKERS.
NetMotion Wireless supports such a best-practices
approach with two software products:
The MOBILITY XE® MOBILE VPN maximizes mobile
field worker productivity by maintaining and securing
their data connections as they move in and out of
wireless coverage areas and roam between networks.
LOCALITY™ CELLULAR NETWORK PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE gives organizations the
insight and visibility needed to optimize their mobile
data deployments.

12. To learn more about best practices for field service mobility or
to receive a more detailed version of this eBook, visit
NetMotionWireless.com.
Or contact us at:
1.866.262.7626
info@netmotionwireless.com
ABOUT NETMOTION WIRELESS
NetMotion Wireless develops software
to manage and secure wireless data
deployments for organizations with mobile
field workers. Their products address
the unique challenges introduced by the
use of wireless, enabling customers to
maximize the return on investment in
workforce automation. More than 2,000 of
the world’s most respected organizations
across multiple industries including utilities,
healthcare, telecommunications, public safety,
government, insurance, manufacturing,
and many others use NetMotion Wireless
products. Founded in 2001, the company is
headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
© 2012 NetMotion Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.