Security company puts BlackBerrys on patrol

Security firm Securiplan has rolled out BlackBerrys to boost the productivity of its senior management.

The company, which has 4,000 staff in 1,200 sites in the UK, has rolled out the messaging devices to 130 managers, doing away with the need for them to check their email and file online forms via their laptops.

As well as responding to emails faster, field staff are using the BlackBerry service from LAN 2 LAN to complete audits online, register queries in real-time as well as publish information for clients on their extranet when out of the office.

According to Len Melcer, IT director for Securiplan, one spin off benefit for staff is to be seen responding to email more quickly - dealing with issues as they arise, rather than having to prioritise contact with customers.

Melcer said: "The mobile applications we are developing in house are the most important thing. Email is a secondary benefit."

He said the company explored using GPRS and laptop data cards before settling on BlackBerrys.

The company had looked for a mobile solution that was cost-effective, said Melcer, but one that would also not put too much pressure on the IT department in terms of administration.

Once the company had decided to use smart phones, Microsoft devices were put under the microscope alongside the BlackBerrys. But the Windows phones didn't fit the bill as, according to Melcer, "they were designed to attract you to use the web or download music".

The company is exploring further uses for the devices including barcode readers, in order to check staff are making their site visits as planned, GPS positioning and signature recording.