Fujitsu Personal Systems’ Stylistic 500 Streamlines Searle Pharmaceuticals’ Sales Force Operations
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — January 15, 1996 — Fujitsu Personal Systems is helping Searle pharmaceuticals, a $ 1.5 billion subsidiary of Monsanto Company, solve a complex problem: How does one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies improve its sales force's ability to maintain accurate and timely sales and inventory reports, while at the same time reducing unnecessary paperwork and redundant tasking?
For Searle, the answer is to literally put the power of the company's information systems into the hands of its sales representatives. With the goal of increasing customer focus, profitability and productivity, Searle has recently equipped its national sales force with mobile computers from Fujitsu.
The Fujitsu Stylistic 500s are being implemented by Searle as a core component of its Territorial Management System (TMS), a program designed to use technology to provide efficient control and management of information, enabling sales representatives to dramatically increase their understanding of their customers and sales territories. Prior to implementing the Stylistic 500s, Searle's sales force utilized electronic tablets, which were limited in functionality to simple capabilities and did not allow for seamless integration with the company's IS operation.
Searle's sales force in the past had to mail sales ordering, expense, and inventory reports to corporate headquarters for the information to be input to the main corporate database. Using the Stylistic 500, Searle's representatives can now download critical reports directly to the database on a daily basis, cutting processing time down by four weeks. On-line reports regarding customers, inventory, and competitive products are also available to representatives at the touch of the stylus.
"The Stylistic 500 allowed us to meet our primary objectives: to find a mobile computing device that was not only light weight and cost-effective, but also powerful enough to support capabilities such as customer information, data sharing, analysis, electronic signature collection, on-line reporting, faxing and e-mail," said Mike Adatto, director of sales, planning and administration for Searle. "We were also impressed with Fujitsu's commitment to providing mobile sales automation products in this competitive industry."
"Businesses such as Searle, which rely on people in the field, demand one-to-one compatibility between desktop and host-based applications and the mobile environment. Searle came to us with a variety of business goals and the Stylistic 500 proved its ability to meet each one to our customer's satisfaction," said Lou Panetta, executive vice president of Fujitsu.
Searle's Stylistic 500 configuration includes a 260 MB hard drive with 12MB of RAM, battery-operated floppy disk drive, a 28.8 modem, and on-board faxing capabilities through the use of the PCMCIA modem.
Measuring 7.2" x 10.7" x 1.5", the Stylistic 500 is a 2.6-pound tablet computer designed for mobile workers running high-end decision support applications in such industries as insurance, utilities, sales automation, and healthcare. Powered by an Intel 486 DX2-50 CPU, the system features 4MB RAM expandable to 20 MB; two Type I/II PCMCIA version 2.0 slots; one ATA slot for either 170MB or 260MB 1.8" hard drive; and an 8-inch transmissive backlit, 64-level VGA screen. The system operates on standard Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, which can be purchased in most consumer retail outlets.
Searle, a wholly owned subsidiary of Monsanto Company, is a research-based corporation that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and other healthcare solutions worldwide.
Fujitsu Personal Systems, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is a leader in providing solutions for data collection and decision support applications through the development of super portable palmtop, pen-based and communicating computers. Its solutions are designed to meet the needs of applications where light weight, small form factor and long battery life are essential. The company, which has offices throughout North America and Europe, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujitsu, Ltd. Corporate headquarters can be reached at 408/982-9500. Product information can be obtained by calling 800/831-3183.
CONTACT:
Fujitsu Personal Systems, Inc.
Wendy Olver, 408/982-9500
or
Searle Pharmaceuticals
Mike Adatto, 708/470-6072
or
Walt & Sommerhauser
Stephanie Edwards/Lynne Wall, 408/496-0900
sedwards@waltsom.com