Konica Minolta Launch Blackbay Solution

Konica Minolta has always been a market leader in their use of innovative mobile technology. This need for innovation goes back to 2001 where Konica was one of the first companies to take advantage of the new cellular data networks. Konica sought to take a leadership role by changing the service model and becoming a purely customer focused business without the inefficiencies and inaccuracies of the past.

Konica researched their business and found areas were they could significantly improve their efficiency and accuracy in handling data. An exercise looking closely at their stock management process found that when a spare part was used in the field and then replenished back to the technician that the part was handled 14 times, they wanted to get this back down to being handled only once.

To achieve this Konica worked in conjunction with a mobile solutions specialist to develop a PDA based application that interfaced into their back office AS400 Service Management System. Despite the early success of this system, their current mobile solutions specialist was unable to deliver Konica's requirements for additional functionality and in 2005 after many frustrating attempts Konica chose to look elsewhere.

It is at this point that Konica Minolta turned to Blackbay and their Service Connect Platform. Konica required a solution with more functionality and flexibility and Blackbay was able to deliver this. Blackbay have a very good understanding of the service business and quickly came to grips with what Konica required “…they insisted on a very detailed signed off scope and specification and got it right on paper before anything happened”. Blackbay also saw the need for urgency and “…set an ambitious timetable for delivery, meeting, and even improving on these times throughout the project”.