Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has deployed iPass  Mobile Office and Mobile Broadband services for its field sales force. The iPass services provide easy-to-use, on-the-go 3G cellular broadband connectivity for BIVI's traveling sales representatives, many of whom live and work in rural areas with limited options for Internet connectivity and corporate network access. BIVI, based in St. Joseph, Missouri, is a global leader in biological research, development and manufacturing for the animal health business producing an extensive line of biological and pharmaceutical products for cattle, swine, horses and domestic pets. Its 180 field and sales representatives had previously faced daily challenges getting their company-issued tablet PCs connected to the BIVI customer-relationship management (CRM) system, which contains up-to-the-minute information that is critical to their success. With iPass Mobile Office and 3G Mobile Broadband, the field team now can access the CRM system anywhere there is a cellular signal, which has saved time and costs and greatly increased productivity. The iPass Mobile Office all-in-one connectivity solution integrates Wi-Fi, Ethernet and dial-up services with 3G broadband, providing a single user interface that uses their existing corporate login/password, enabling the reps to easily and successfully connect virtually anywhere. Previously the sales force had to find connections on its own, and reps acknowledge that the options when traveling were limited and costly. The BIVI IT department piloted the iPass service after learning that a sister company was evaluating an iPass remote access solution. It tested the iPass 3G cards and service with 15 representative users and determined that the iPass offering met its service quality and coverage needs while also providing cost benefits over using multiple services for connectivity. The deployment has also made life easier for internal resources at BIVI. Previously, when the IT department needed remote access to a user's machine for troubleshooting or routine maintenance, the service had to be scheduled well in advance, and the user sometimes had to travel. Now that service can be arranged much more easily and conveniently for both the user and the IT department. In addition, BIVI has expanded the iPass program to encompass connectivity for traveling office-based workers.
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