Fort Worth Transportation Authority Mobile Solution Assessment

Fort Worth Transportation Authority is the entity that runs “The T” public transit system.  The T was created to meet the mobility needs of Tarrant County and the North Central Texas region.  The T annually provides service to more than 7 million passengers on buses, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express.  Anyware was contracted to provide a Mobile Solution Assessment through a special program being offered by a national wireless carrier.

During initial meetings, several ‘pain points’ in the business processes were discussed.  To show how mobility can solve these pain points, Anyware performed the MSA with the following goals in mind:

• Create a high-level strategic plan to utilize mobile solutions at The T
• Enable mobile users to increase productivity and work efficiently when away from their desks
• Extend existing enterprise applications to mobile computers

The MSA evaluated at a high level the current business requirements, IT architecture, social and environmental factors, and enabling mobile and communication technologies that might be used to satisfy the goals described above. The primary objective of this effort was to understand and establish a clear picture of the current state and known future requirements of The T operations and recommend an approach to enabling The T’s mobile requirements.

The T’s mobile requirements were identified to be:

• Extending email, calendar, and contacts to mobile devices
• Selecting a single Operating System Platform for Mobile Devices and recommending specific devices
• Addressing Device and Software Security
• Extending enterprise applications to mobile devices

Anyware assembled these requirements by interviewing key Stakeholders at The T in the Information Technology, Fleet Management, Facilities Management, Sales, Planning, and Transportation organizations.  The recommendations that followed the MSA were based upon the information gathered during these interviews and Anyware’s expertise in Mobile Technology and Information Technology in general. 

Point 1: Extend email, calendar, and contacts to mobile devices

• Anyware recommended that The T utilize NotifyLink.
  Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be MEDIUM priority.

Point 2: Selecting a single Operating System Platform for Mobile Devices and recommending specific devices

• Anyware recommended that The T standardize on Microsoft Windows Mobile

• Anyware recommended the Audiovox 6600 on the Sprint network for non-rugged, wireless voice and data usages.

• Anyware recommended the Symbol 8800 series for rugged, Wi-Fi data usages.

• Anyware recommended the Dell Axim X50 for non-rugged, Wi-Fi data usages.
  Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority

Point 3: Device and Software Security

• Anyware recommended that The T utilize CREDANT’s Mobile Guardian software.
  Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority.

Point 4: Extend Enterprise Applications to a Mobile Device

• Trapeze and Ellipse:
  • Anyware recommended that The T continue utilizing Terminal Services.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority.
• Paper Forms:
  • Anyware recommended that The T further investigate business processes prior to deploying any paper form replacement solutions.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be MEDIUM priority.
• Ridership Planning and Analysis:
  • Anyware recommended that The T engage Anyware in a custom solution development engagement.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority.
• Sales:
  • Anyware recommended that The T consider using a contact management tool that is capable of associating pictures with a contact’s information
  • Anyware recommended that The T deploy Margi Presenter-to-Go units to the Sales Staff to enable presentations from a handheld.
  • Anyware recommended that The T further investigation be done into software currently being utilized by The T for its POS system.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be MEDIUM priority.
• Compressed National Gas System Monitoring:
  • Anyware recommended that The T investigate the CNG System to determine if PowerTerm Mobile from Ericom Software could be utilized.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority.
• Incident Management:
  • Anyware recommended that The T deploy Audiovox 6600 devices to Field Supervisors.
  • Anyware recommended that The T utilize photograph and video software bundled with the Audiovox 6600.
  • Anyware recommended that The T utilize Resco Audio Recording for Pocket PCs.
    Based on interview results, Anyware believed this requirement to be HIGH priority.