If you’re looking to make your project management a more efficient process, former Cestrian boss Phill Reynolds thinks he has what you need. And he wants to sell you it.
If you know what OPOC is you’re one of the few in
the know. But that’s unlikely to be the case for long,
because following the recent sale of major UK print
company Cestrian, former managing director Phill
Reynolds has set up a new business selling OPOC,
or ‘Online Proof Of Completion’ – a clever software
tool that makes data collection at remote sites more
efficient, allowing businesses to track and improve
live projects.
During his time at the helm of Cestrian, Reynolds
had the foresight to understand that print was merely
a part of the overall solution required by customers
– so, with an IT savvy team he began developing
bespoke tools to streamline the entire process, from
accepting artwork through to job completion.
First came ItsApproved, designed to automate the
process of initiating a print job, chasing artwork,
proofing, obtaining approval and then creating printready
images in minutes. “This solution was proven to
make efficiency savings of over 70% and has grown to
produce over £5m of Cestrian’s annual turnover,” says
Reynolds.
Hot on the heels of this success, ItsFitted was next
to revolutionise Cestrian’s print services according to Reynolds, by creating a tool to measure, manage and
track display installation teams. It was adopted by some
of the business’s top clients, whose feedback led to the
creation of additional features.
These products set the stage for OPOC, which is a
professional field management tool – ideal for handling
projects such as surveys, audits and large-scale display
installations underway across multiple locations. It can
be adapted for almost any industry, but print is obviously
its home territory and an initial focus.
With Cestrian acquired by 3a-Group, owner of European
print giant Arian, Reynolds’ attention is now dedicated to
the growth of OPOC after an initial three-year development
phase.
How does OPOC work?
No more stacks of paper, no more messing around
manually, no more waiting for information to be uploaded
or sent, no more lost or missing details… and no more
guessing where people are.
Instead, a Cloud-based desktop platform links
seamlessly with mobile devices, using an app to monitor,
gather, collate and control information from field agents.
Data is streamed instantly to the control centre, where
thousands of details are clearly displayed and made
available for use.
The primary features of OPOC are:
Fast setup
There is an OPOC team dedicated to getting the
package up and running quickly at any business, with
clear instructions and a tailored training session. The
Cloud-based platform means there’s no installation, so
businesses can simply log in and build a project.
Accessible mobile app
OPOC is available to all field agents via an easy-to-use
mobile app, developed for both Android and iOS devices.
It’s quick and easy to install – and free to use – to
enable efficient, accurate work on any project.
Easy location management
The app uses Google to provide accurate mapping and
geocoding, allowing management of site locations and
geographical positions. Managers can assign locations
to local field agents, while field agents can manage
their routines, create directions and filter best routes.
Reliable progress tracking
With GPS to capture field agent locations, progress
can be tracked, monitored and measured. The app
automatically geostamps location, time and date, from
the start of the job to the finish.
Offline data capture
Poor signal? No signal? The OPOC mobile app has
been designed to operate offline, so field agents are
unaffected by loss of internet connection.
Data is stored on the mobile device, then streamed
to the control centre as soon as reconnection is
established.
Site survey data
OPOC has the ability to send a site survey request to a field agent. The field agent then populates the app,
simultaneously updating the control centre with the
same live details.
Simple subcontracting
OPOC allows a job to be subcontracted many times
and remain tracked. Providing all subcontracted
parties use the app, all information will be streamed
to the control centre.
Web API
The system was built from the ground up to enable
easy integration, so the API allows simple connection
to third-party systems.
Buy or build?
The system is also responsive to the changing needs
of clients, with ongoing updates and the addition of
bespoke new features – plus the provision of support
and security. The solution means that clients can
avoid spending substantial time and money creating
their own product.
Who can benefit from using OPOC?
Reynolds stresses that Cestrian’s extensive industry
experience has been vital to creating OPOC, which is
immensely versatile and can be useful to businesses
of all sizes, from multinational companies to oneman-bands.
Typical sectors include field sales,
field marketing, auditing, point-of-sale installation,
training, mystery shopping, sampling, product
demonstrations and other experiential activities.
For big brands, it’s useful for coordinating field
activity across a nation or even across the globe,
producing cohesive reports that can be sent with one
click to any email address. For sole traders, multiple
control centres can be operated via OPOC, for
managing different projects. Likewise, one field agent
could access multiple jobs for different businesses
via the mobile app, with the ability to prioritise by location and thus increase efficiency.
The OPOC team can advise on which model
of OPOC is best for different organisations. For
example, an Enterprise option is a good fit for a
business running many large projects, while the
Business option helps SMEs with teams of field
agents but on a limited budget.
Don’t take Reynolds’ word for it – you can trial
it for free for yourself. Get all the info at
www.opoc.co.uk
