Mobile working system to enhance productivity
Mobile working system to enhance productivity
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
The efficient use of time and money is essential for Jakartans
struggling to get to work amid notorious traffic congestion.
With studies showing the average traveling speed in the
capital is 14.75 kilometers an hour, several major companies have
set up a mobile working system that enables their employees to
work outside the office.
As well as blue collar and white collar workers, the system
suits the new group of "collarless" employees who do their work
at home or from a more convenient location.
"Coming to the office prior to a meeting with clients is a
waste of time. Employees don't have to do that anymore. They can
do their work anytime, anywhere without sacrificing their quality
time with their families," said Irfan Setiaputra, the managing
director of Cisco Systems Indonesia, a local arm of California-
based Cisco System Inc.
The mobile system uses Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony, the
communications foundation of the Internet, which is used to
transport voice and other kinds of data, and Virtual Private
Network (VPN), which accommodates the needs of remote employers
and distant offices.
The Internet and network system company understands that a
mobile working system could improve the company's sales
activities, enhance customer satisfaction, create savings, better
control of businesses and increase employee's productivity.
"(By applying the system) we expect between 30 percent and 40
percent increase in employees' productivity," he said, adding
that Cisco is applying the system and encouraging its workers to
work out of the office to build better relations with potential
clients.
To apply the IP Telephony, Irfan explained, a company should
have Internet basis with back-end system where all complex data,
transaction processing, application development, system
architecture and integration work take place.
"The cost of building the system ranges from US$25,000 to
$50,000. It can even cost up to $5 million, depending on the
amount of connections to the PCs, number of employees and if the
company has purchased it to be sold to other vendors," said
Irfan.
Cisco's clients -- mostly multinational companies in oil and
gas and banking sectors -- have applied the mobile working system
using IP Telephony.
Nazri, an IT manager at an automotive company using IP
Telephony, said the system has helped his company to make long-
distance connections with representative offices located outside
Jakarta.
"Even though the system enables the company to save on
connection costs we are still having some trouble operating the
hardware," he said.
Achmad, 43, an employee at a multinational oil company in
Central Jakarta, said that instead of using IP Telephony, his
company is using a leased-line connection, which supports the use
of VoIP.
"We have been using the leased-line for quite a while. This
kind of system enables us to connect to our offices in remote
areas as well as abroad," said Achmad, who has experienced the
advantages of using a leased-line when he was on duty in Korea.
He pointed that IP Telephony was not useful for behind-the-
desk employees like himself.
"The system is useful for those dealing with marketing and
clients. Even people who have the possibility to work outside the
office are better to choose the regular dial-up connection," said
Achmad. (001)