TAAP’s mobile software technology has recently been rolled out by two more companies who provide delivery services for various NHS Trusts in the East Midlands and Hertfordshire.

TAAP’s technology aims to improve their processes because it allows access to delivery information in real-time, and captures information such as photographic evidence of packages, and the receiver’s signature.

One particular solution was delivered in 30 days from the initial enquiry to the finished system.

The systems use mobile devices and secure web portals to transfer and store data, whether it relates to the collection and delivery of people (patients, hospital staff etc.), packages, or larger items such as furniture or medical equipment.

One of the systems enables a variety of different vehicles to be selected depending on the type of collection/delivery job – it may be that a patient needs to be collected from a particular location so a minibus is chosen, or a parcel needs delivering to a specific hospital department so a small van is assigned.

Depending on a client’s process, jobs are either created within the secure web portal then sent to the individual operator’s mobile device, or created by the operator personally on the mobile device. Once a job is complete, the details are displayed within the client’s secure web portal. Managers can view and search for data when they require information on specific deliveries.

Applications are delivered via the TAAP Store, where TAAP delivers business applications in the cloud using Microsoft Azure. The TAAP platform is layered onto Azure and therefore benefits from the investment Microsoft has made in nonstop computing and which provides resilience and scalability for the largest of its clients.

Photographs and signatures are displayed as part of the electronic documentation saved in the secure web portal, as well as details such as the description of the item(s). This electronic document can be emailed as a pdf file to anyone involved in the process, as proof of the transaction taking place.

Mobile hardware and airtime are also supplied by TAAP through its network of partners as part of the overall delivery system package, to ensure that appropriate devices are used, and data requirements for secure and rapid transfer are met.

Steve Higgon, product architect, said: “TAAP’s systems provide improved processes for the client so that all records of deliveries can be created, searched for, and saved electronically, which in turn provides NHS Trusts with improved customer service.”

Extra features such as location-based services can be incorporated into TAAP systems so that drivers are able to send messages automatically to customers when they are in close proximity.