Real Vision Bolsters Mobile App with Useful New Features

September 18, 2012 Alex Woodie

Real Vision Software, the developer of the Real Vision Imaging (RVI) content management application for the IBM i OS, has added several new features to its mobile app. The new features tie into RVI running on the IBM i server, and will help field workers make better use of their Apple‘s iOS devices as they service customer accounts. The company has also unveiled versions of the mobile app that run on Android and Windows Mobile 7.

In an August posting to the RVI blog, Real Vision Software revealed four new features for its RVI Apple app, which the company first delivered about a year ago. At that time, the mobile app was only available for Apple’s iOS, which powers the super-popular iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices. Since then, the company has developed versions of the app that also run on Google‘s Android and Microsoft‘s Windows Mobile operating systems. However, the apps remain separate, and had separate features.

The new features in the RVI Apple app include a new GPS map locator button, support for importing and indexing pictures taken with the Apple device, new workflow and approval functions, and support for signature capture.

The new GPS map locator button is designed to help delivery drivers, salespeople, or other field workers easily locate the physical location of their customers. With the simple touch of a button on their touch-screen iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, the workers can pull up a street map that displays the customer’s address.

The new photo capture and index function in the RVI Apple app provides a way for field workers to take pictures with their mobile devices and then automatically load them into the RVI imaging system. This feature will be useful for documenting damage to deliveries, and could also handy for an insurance adjuster. Existing pictures residing in the iOS “camera roll” can also be imported into RVI.

Real Vision has also enabled mobile workers to access their RVI workbasket from the Apple devices. This means that the workers can perform the same types of workflow, routing, and approval processes from their Apple devices as they can from a desktop computer.

Finally, support for signature capture will allow field workers to document proof of delivery with their Apple devices. Real Vision had worked with Quadrant Software to enable remote signature capture last fall, and this new feature in the RVI Apple app appears to be based on that functionality.

The RVI Apple app requires RVI 8.0, and is available with all versions of the product (RVI Basic, Spool File, and Complete) as a freebie for customers on maintenance. It can be downloaded from the online Apple App Store or via Apple’s fat-client program, iTunes.

Real Vision Software is also touting an Android version of the app that can be downloaded from the Google app market, which is called Google Play. It’s also selling a version of the app that runs on Windows Mobile 7. It can be downloaded at Windows Phone Store.