How does your company connect with remote employees?

[StarsFan4Life]

A question was presented to me today that kind of stunned me. How do we connect with our employees outside of our offices?

Odd question? Let me explain.

Our company consists of around 4500-5000 employees. Of those employees, we only have around 1300-1500 end node computer users in each workplace. The rest are drivers (transportation business).

How can we connect with these employees better? Most live in rural areas and don't have access to the following:

Broadband Connection
PC/Laptop
Email
Social Networking

Give me some ideas....really drawing blanks here.

 

[Gibson486]

You cannot get the cell phones or some transponder device? I mean, even UPS has this pad they bring along to track all their packages.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Sounds like Phone is probably best option...

 

[Ns1]

cell phones or satellite phones?

(assuming 3g/4g not available...)

 

[JulesMaximus]

Carrier pigeon

 

[IndyColtsFan]

A question was presented to me today that kind of stunned me. How do we connect with our employees outside of our offices?

Odd question? Let me explain.

Our company consists of around 4500-5000 employees. Of those employees, we only have around 1300-1500 end node computer users in each workplace. The rest are drivers (transportation business).

How can we connect with these employees better? Most live in rural areas and don't have access to the following:

Broadband Connection
PC/Laptop
Email
Social Networking

Give me some ideas....really drawing blanks here.

It would help if you would tell us what you mean by "connect with these employees." What kinds of information are you wishing to share or push to them?

 

[herm0016]

type if information is critical. either satellite comm link to the truck or smart phones are about your only options. We have satellite connections on some of our trucks that work well, make it just like being in the office.

 

[PsiStar]

There are some pretty sophisticated systems available. A former employer of mine, Motorola Communications, had trucking system designs with GPS & dash mounted displays with keyboards. Everything could be known about everything & everyone. Although most of the companies that were interested in the total product were the ones that hauled hazardous materials.

That was several years ago & I have gone on to other interests, but there must be current technologies that are at least capable.

 

[FoBoT]

snail mail them colorful pamplets

 

[MrChad]

 

[Tweak155]

I'm a remote employee myself for a pretty big company. We use internet and phone.

For just communication - you can probably get away with dial up for e-mail

 

[Dr. Zaus]

True.

 

[DaWhim]

citrix, i think.

 

[kranky]

Explain what kind of "connection" you are talking about.

Do you mean how to maintain communications with them about company issues on a periodic basis? Or how to reach everyone immediately in some type of emergency? Or what?

 

[rudder]

cell phones or satellite phones?

(assuming 3g/4g not available...)

cell phone.. I would imagine sat phones would cost a hella lot more to use. Unless you are in the sticks at&t or verizon can hear you now.

and by cell that could be like an ipad or android tablet with 3g to run apps.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

There are some pretty sophisticated systems available. A former employer of mine, Motorola Communications, had trucking system designs with GPS & dash mounted displays with keyboards. Everything could be known about everything & everyone. Although most of the companies that were interested in the total product were the ones that hauled hazardous materials.

That was several years ago & I have gone on to other interests, but there must be current technologies that are at least capable.

Can you find out what vendor this GPS was?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Laptop + VPN + Smartphone (just started replacing BBs with iPhones.)

Tethering is an option, but even our offsite people are in the metro area, so it's not like we need sat phones or something.

 

[guyver01]

How can we connect with these employees better? Most live in rural areas and don't have access

carrier pidgeon

usps

telegram

telegraph

 

[ViviTheMage]

We have MANY remote users, in mines/rural areas, and they use air cards with boosters in their vehicles.

They connect via 1x/evdo/4g on a laptop/aircard or blackberry. The laptop users now use Cisco AnyConnect VPN.

 

[anxi80]

smoke signals

 

[PsiStar]

Can you find out what vendor this GPS was?

It was Motorola. Looks like they still have fleet management systems