Here's a great automation story from Kent Goodwin of GIC Real Estate describing GIC's process for tenant work orders. "Engineers are armed with wireless PDA's that are programmed to integrate our FM software with our accounting software. A tenant's e-mail or call is dispatched via e-mail to engineering. First available engineer visits the tenant's office to solve the problem. Work order is opened on the PDA by selecting a pre-set screen. Engineer diagnoses/solves problem. Engineer closes out the work order on the PDA and hits send. System automatically calculates charges, generates an invoice for billing purposes, and sends an e-mail to the tenant notifying them that the work is completed."

"We have accomplished this with our FM software, Mainsaver, and accounting software, MRI. The PDA programming and system integration work is performed by Buildfolio. ... The end result is greatly enhanced efficiency, and the best part is that it frees our engineers from spending time in an office typing up a work order." ... So it's not surprising that Jim Young tells me that next year half the exhibitors at Realcomm (San Francisco, June 3-4, 2004) will be building automation services.

--Peter Pike / ppike@pikenet.com