CASE STUDY / STREHLOW - MEDICAL DEVICES & HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

RAPID HELP DUE TO EFFECTIVE FIELD RESOURCE SCHEDULING

"On the move for your health" - true to this motto, the family-run company Strehlow GmbH has been successful in the healthcare sector for more than 25 years and is one of the leading companies in the medical aids market.

The results:

Service quality significantly improved with shortened customer response times
More efficient processes in dispatching
Consideration of industry-specific frameworks including warehousing and procurement
Implementation in just 1 week

How Strehlow has achieved success:

FLS Solutions:
FLS VISITOUR

Industry:
MEDICAL DEVICES & HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

The challenges:

Introduction of software-based scheduling and route planning for the delivery of medical aids by medical professionals
A large number of restrictions in the planning process, including conditions from warehousing and procurement
Rapid go-live
Scalability of the planning solution
Increased service quality through short response times

Over 290 employees provide people with medical aids - in the home, in hospitals, in rehabilitation and in facilities for the elderly. In addition to simply supplying and repairing the aids, the range of services also includes counselling, prevention and support on health issues.

THE CHALLENGE: ACTING QUICKLY AND SKILLS MATCHING

This full service places high demands on employees and the organisation of deliveries. Above all, quick action is required, as the products are usually needed by the patient the day after the order is received. To ensure that customers are present at the time of delivery, the planning team has to coordinate a large number of delivery dates with customers on a daily basis.

In addition to this time restriction, employee skills also play an important role in route planning. Florian Hänschke, project manager for process and information management, emphasises in this context: "Our aim is to improve the quality of life of our customers. Good on-site advice plays a major role in this. To achieve this, we must ensure that the employee who handles the delivery also has the appropriate qualifications for the medical device or medical care."

Strehlow offers countless different medical devices and medical services, which, in addition to the above-mentioned framework conditions, places an additional demand on the scheduling of appointments.

THE SOLUTION WITH FLS VISITOUR

In 2012, FLS VISITOUR was chosen as the software for professional appointment and route planning. Strehlow was impressed by the flexibility of the system, which offers individual parameterisation and open scalability.

"We never had the impression that FLS wanted to sell us a software package in a hurry. FLS examined our processes and IT environment very closely in order to configure the system precisely for our needs."

Florian Hänschke, Project Manager, Strehlow

SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICE QUALITY

The implementation of FLS VISITOUR in less than a week proves that provision can be made in conjunction with a careful process analysis 'FAST LEAN and SMART'. Since using FLS VISITOUR, service quality has increased sustainably while planning effort has decreased. Strehlow is growing continuously, and the framework conditions in this market are becoming increasingly demanding. The FLS software 'grows' with these challenges and thus ensures continuous efficiency in the service business.

This achievement was supported by the high level of IT expertise at Strehlow. Together with FLS, new goals are set each year to map the planning of other areas of the company with FLS VISITOUR.

The results at a glance:

Service quality significantly improved with shortened customer response times
More efficient processes in dispatching
Consideration of industry-specific frameworks including warehousing and procurement
Implementation in just 1 week

More Information:
strehlow.info

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Author
JEREMY SQUIRE
UK Managing Director
Call +44 1183 800189
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Jeremy Squire is a business leader and solutions consultant with over 20 years experience in field service scheduling and route optimisation software solutions. He is one of Europe's most recognised and regarded voices in field service technology.