.KEYWORD brazil
.FLYINGHEAD THE WORLD VIEW
.TITLE Brazilian businesses realize the versatility of Palm computing
.DEPT
.SUMMARY A number of diverse companies throughout Brazil have discovered the incredible benefits of distributing Palm handhelds to their employees. In this article, Contributing Editor Steve Niles will take you on a tour south of the border to take a look at how Palm handhelds are being used in a wide array of Brazilian businesses.
.AUTHOR Steve Niles
In the May 2001 issue of PalmPower’s Enterprise Edition at http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200105/latin001.html, I told you about a number of beverage manufacturers in Brazil that have incorporated Palm computing into their production process. Well it’s not just Brazil’s beer and soda bottlers that have discovered the incredible benefits of distributing Palm handhelds to their employees. A number of other diverse companies have done the same, so let’s travel together south of the border once again to take a look at how Palm handhelds are being used in more Brazilian businesses.
.H1 Sul America Seguros
Sul America Seguros (at http://www.sulamerica.com.br) is a major Brazilian insurer that has recently employed Palm handheld technology in order to streamline operations while improving sales and client service.
The solution was created with the assistance of Palm and one if its local software developers, Montemicro of Rio de Janeiro. About 400 Sul America sales representatives now have increased freedom to work away from the office without giving up easy access to critical company systems. The solution makes use of the Palm IIIxe and UNIX technology, allowing for remote entry and retrieval of data from the company’s databases. The solution also allows for faster payment calculation, access to the Internet, and data transmission through a telephone line, among other things.
Sul America Seguros has integrated Palm OS technology with their Portal do Corretor. Provided you can read Portuguese, you can learn more about their "Palm Top Project" at http://www.portaldocorretor.com.br/palmtop.asp.
The entire system took only four months to deploy at an estimated cost of US$250,000 and demonstrated immediate results. According to Henrique Zanetti, vice president of Administration and Computing for Sul America, the company expects to increase the number of Palm handhelds being used by the organization to 5,000 units over the next few months. The company’s goal is to dramatically improve the sales team performance and client service.
.H1 Unibanco
Unibanco (at http://www.unibanco.com.br) is Brazil’s fourth-largest financial institution with more than one thousand branches throughout the country. Unibanco customers have been able to take advantage of a program called 30 Horas (30 Hours), meaning that at any time of the day or night, no matter what day of the week, customers can access their Unibanco accounts via the Internet, telephone, or at a 30 Hours Drive Thru, located in some 30 Hours Branches. Now, however, Unibanco is offering a new service called Hand Banking 30 Horas that gives customers access to balance statements, investments, funds, and money transfers using any Palm handheld.
Hand Banking 30 Horas was launched in May of last year and now has more than 2,000 registered users. According to Unibanco’s product and project manager, Mois
