Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Currently, sales reps in many companies rely on simple note taking and observation in the field. Usually, thesynchronization of these notes with other sales reps and the manager does not take place until at the end of theday, or possibly later. With the advances in mobile computing and high-speed persistent networks, sales repscould provide updates in real-time to other sales reps and their managers. Furthermore, critical instructionscould also be relayed to the field sales rep immediately, thereby avoiding costly delays by scheduling anothervisit to the site at a later date.Encore Market Engagement is eager to extend the prototypes developed from a previous R&D initiative withSheridan to create a fully implemented mobile app for their sales reps. Encore is interested in this collaborativeR&D mobile computing project, comprised of:- Maximizing sales reps' in-car time for business purposes: Encore's clients currently use a dataacquisition/sales force tool (EnCompass) for the iPad. The goal is to extend the prototypes developed into fullcommercial implementations so that sales reps will be more productive while in transit.- Sales rep customized routing algorithm: A flexible, customizable algorithm for sales reps is needed togenerate routing schedules and to provide options by which sales reps can adjust their schedules if necessary(e.g., a high priority issue needs to be addressed). The solution to this problem will involve cloud computingand mobile computing resources.The benefits of this project to the partner include a technology solution that will result in increased sale forceefficiency by streamlining processes, and ultimately increasing Encore's client profit margins by maximizingtheir return on investment. The benefit to Sheridan is increased student engagement in applied research andreal-world challenging problems. The benefits to the research discipline include new knowledge and expertisethat can be disseminated and transferred to Canadian companies, locally, provincially and nationally.