Version 4.2 Features – Week 1 of 3

In this first post in the series highlighting the new features included in the 4.2 Release, we will discuss the new MC User Community.   The Community provides a supportive environment where customers looking for assistance can post questions, relying on other Customers and MC Staff with expertise to provide answers and suggestions.

Note: Customers using the hosted Maintenance Connection Application are currently utilizing the new 4.2 release and can access all features described in this series. Customers with onsite installations can look forward to being upgraded to the new release shortly after the beginning of the year and will receive an email notification when the download is available.

To access the this new community forum, open the Applications Menu and select MC Community…

 

The first time you access the MC User Community, you will be prompted to register. Once you have completed the registration process, the User Community will open, displaying recently posted questions.

 

You can use the tabs at the top and categories listed on the left to search for particular topics. The default Answer (Open Questions) Tab lists questions that are still awaiting a response. The Discover Tab is especially useful to search for helpful postings of resolved questions.

To post your own question to the MC User Community, click the “Ask a Question” Button at the bottom of the dialog:

 

You will be prompted to enter your question and provide additional details as needed. Once the question is posted, it will be made available to the general MC Community. As members of the MC User Community notice questions for which they have expertise, they can post answers.

 

For more information on the User Community, be sure to check the MC Community Chapter of the Online User Guide.

Coming Postings…

Next week, in our second blog in the series on new 4.2 features, we will discuss the Smart Share feature that allows your organization to share reports, procedures and KPIs with other members of the MC Community.

Poll: Features We Are Thankful For

With Thanksgiving this week, we figure it is an appropriate time to gather some feedback about which features our customers are most thankful for in 2009. Take a minute to vote and see how your opinion stacks up against other Maintenance Connection users.  

11/27/09 Update – Here are the survey results:

Take the survey | View survey results

Announcing The 2010 MCRV Tour

On the Road to Success…

Looking ahead to March, April and May of 2010, Maintenance Connection will be holding local training seminars in 22 cities. We’ve had great response and amazing turnout from our previous regional training seminars, and in this tight economy – we are creating an opportunity for you to take your CMMS skills to the next level without having to travel far. This will also be a great opportunity to train some of those MC users who have not been able to attend the regional seminars in the past.

Several key MC trainers will be boarding a 35 foot motor home in March to drive around the country visiting customers and holding these one-day seminars. We’re very excited to meet customers face to face as we travel the country in 2010.   During the trip you can keep up with the RV through video blog posts, photos, and Twitter.   Be sure to let us know some great restaurants and sites that we should see in your city.

Check out http://www.mcrvtour.com to learn more about the trip and sign up today! Space will be limited to first 20 people signed up at each location. 

Helpful Tips in Reporter Guide

The Maintenance Connection Reporter Guide is used extensively to obtain instructions for running reports, modifying report criteria or establishing report setup. The guide also includes numerous helpful tips for using the more complex features of the Reporter.

Since the Online Reporter Guide is not accessible from within the Report Setup or Report Preview Windows, it is recommended that you open the Online Reporter Guide while in the Report Lookup.  The guide will open in a separate browser window that you can keep open while you proceed to modify or run your reports.  This window can then be accessed whenever assistance is required.

To open the Online Reporter Guide, click the help icon to the right of the search field in the Report Lookup (you can also select Reporter Guide from the Help menu if the Reporter has not yet been opened):

You can use the TOC and Search feature to quickly obtain help. Following are some quick examples of useful information/tips found in the guide:

Assistance in Defining Report Criteria Expressions (such as date expressions):

Tips for Creating and Distributing Smart Reports

Following are some additional tips that you might find useful:

MRO Mobile – Real-Time Access from a Mobile Device

As mobile devices with Internet access become more commonplace, customers are increasingly looking to MRO Mobile to give technicians access to MC data from the field. MRO Mobile extends Maintenance Connection to your mobile workforce, providing real-time access to work orders for viewing, assignment or updates.

To keep up with the increased graphics afforded by the latest mobile devices (such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile Smartphones and Pocket PC*), the upcoming release of Maintenance Connection will showcase an enhanced user interface.

With MRO Mobile, maintenance staff can access their assignments, as well as all open work orders. In addition, they can create new work orders on the fly, access information on assets, and even update inventory counts.

The tool makes it easy to review work order tasks, check out a part, make an assignment, or even get quick access to maintenance history on the asset. Technicians can also easily complete or close out a work order.

MRO Mobile is accessible from any mobile device with a live connection to the Internet (or Intranet for onsite installations). For more information about pricing or implementation, contact your Account Manager or Customer Support.

Note: Maintenance Connection also offers a Windows Mobile PDA application that operates offline, updating system data with periodic synching to the main system.

*iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Blackberry is a registered trademark of RIM, and Pocket PC and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft.