Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced that pdvConnect, a cloud-based workforce management tool, formerly branded as NextMail, is available under a new name with new features. pdvConnect helps businesses reduce voice traffic and "on hold" times from field employees while enabling them to communicate with the dispatcher or front office more efficiently.

pdvConnect helps businesses reduce voice traffic and

pdvConnect helps businesses reduce voice traffic and "on hold" times from field employees (Photo: Sprint)

Among the new features is a Web-based dispatch console. Similar to emergency room triage, pdvConnect's dispatch console allows office workers or dispatchers to prioritize inbound communications by the business significance, message subject or urgency, instead of the order the calls come in. Messages can include time and location stamps or photos that document events, pinpoint issues or identify trends. All messages are archived for future reference or can be saved to a customer's back office system. Workers' statuses and locations are visible on the console map so they can be rerouted to the closest customer job site.

"We have been a long time user of NextMail, now pdvConnect," said Michael Flood of Flood Brothers Disposal/Recycling Services in the Chicago area. "It greatly improves our communication from our field workers while helping reduce time 'on hold' that caused our drivers to lose valuable productive time. With pdvConnect's GPS tracking capabilities and Web-based communications console, we can now see where our drivers are on their routes. What we have found especially valuable is being able to use the service to put together management reports that detail the extra revenue we generate, captured in the documentation. Each month, it amounted to thousands of dollars in additional revenue!"

Timely, concise communication benefits to dispatchers and management

  • Easy-to-use Web-based dispatch counsel and reports
  • Prioritize inbound calls
  • Track employee locations
  • Receive and store photos and job site details
  • Communicate instantly with individual or multiple employees
  • Improves the driver-to-dispatch ratio

Communication improves workflow for field employees

  • Spend less time on hold waiting to speak to office staff
  • Easy to document events using voice, text, photo and location stamps
  • System automatically confirms when a message is opened
  • Ability to enter time cards on-site

"Collaboration between customer-facing employees and management is critical for business success," said John Dupree, senior vice president-Business Sales, Sprint. "For many field employees, their cars or trucks are their offices. They expect the same level of connectivity on location as they are used to in their offices and homes."

pdvConnect can run on all Sprint phones, including those with Sprint Direct Connect (push-to-talk capabilities), and it is available through all Sprint sales channels.

Growing with the Customer

"During the last several years we've significantly enhanced the value of our solutions to help businesses increase the productivity and efficiency of their mobile workforce and improve call center and dispatch operations in the office," said John C. Pescatore-president and CEO of Pacific DataVision (PDV). "The new pdvConnect name best reflects that added value and our focus on connecting businesses with their mobile workers."

Sprint Network Vision

To support the growing need for data, Sprint is rolling out a new 3G/4G network designed to provide faster data speeds, improved quality and easier connectivity. Sprint expects customers to benefit with better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage and fewer drops/blocks. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in 2012 and now offers service in 110 markets. For the most up-to-date information on Sprint's 4G LTE coverage, please visit www.sprint.com/coverage.

As part of its Network Vision plan, the company has been migrating iDEN-based Nextel Direct Connect customers to Sprint Direct Connect on the new wireless network. Sprint is redeploying iDEN spectrum to support CDMA and LTE wireless traffic.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Sprint
Randy Spolter, 703-592-8507
randal.spolter@sprint.com