Case Study: French Heating & Air Installation achieves 15–20% productivity gains with Avanade

French Heating & Air Installation - Customer Case Study

A leading French heating and air-conditioning service provider with 250 offices and 3,000 field technicians found its paper-based work processes were slowing technicians, consuming office staff time and introducing data errors: techs had to pick up and return job sheets daily and data was rekeyed into IT systems. To modernize operations and improve customer service, the company engaged a joint Avanade–Accenture–Microsoft team to redesign how work was done.

The team replaced paper with a mobile information system—custom Windows Mobile apps on Motorola handhelds (with barcode readers, GPS and peripheral sensors) connected to a SQL Server backend and the existing ERP—and trained all staff in rollout. The change automated data capture, enabled real-time rerouting and parts tracking, and cut routine office tasks by 75%; technicians handled 1–2 more calls per day (boosting productivity 15–20%), reduced office visits from twice daily to one every two days, and achieved 100% data automation with rapid user acceptance.