ALASTAIR SORBIE The modern capabilities of enterprise management software enable accurate resource allocation
Using real-time scheduling and enterprise management systems enables companies to improve efficiencies in asset management and service delivery, as well as maintain cost efficiencies during boom and bust periods, says enterprise applications company IFS CEO and president Alastair Sorbie.
IFS specialises in linking project- and asset-intensive companies’ back-end management and reporting processes to their front-end service delivery and operational functions in real time.
This improves the oversight and control of these functions on a daily basis, subsequently improving return on investments over time, as well as enabling more efficient supply chain management and maintenance scheduling.
However, the significant benefits of such systems include the ability to improve the productivity of field engineers and technicians by actively routing them in real time, as well as managing costs and expenses cognisant of historical information and current operational data, explains Sorbie.
The wealth of contextual information that enterprise management systems provide enables close alignment between daily operations and the more strategic management of the company.
“Companies must explore the new capabilities that modern industrial information technology systems can deliver to enable them to maximise the potential benefits and returns of expensive resources, including equipment and employees.”
Scheduling field operators in real time enables them to complete more jobs in a shift, improving their cost effectiveness for the company. IFS’s systems also enable field operators to be rerouted if bad traffic is detected on their current route, allowing for work hours to be spent more productively while improving customer experience, Sorbie adds.
Further, IFS’s system also enables all job information to be sent directly to the field operators to ensure that task requirements are clear, while jobs are scheduled based on the various skills sets of operators.
The prevalence of mobile devices and connected technologies, including sensors and wearable devices, has added significant functionality to enterprise management systems, specifically for industrial companies.
“Site visits can easily become progress reports, as photos and updates can be uploaded in near real time. Foremen can then provide updates every day, enabling much more precise planning, resource allocation and supply chain management, subsequently reducing waste and costs.”
These modern capabilities of enterprise management software extend to monitoring production and processes, enabling real-time assessment of performance, precise resource allocation and timely interventions to correct faults.
“The capabilities of modern enterprise management systems are revolutionary and companies in Africa should consider refreshing their enterprise management technologies to improve their operations and longer-term strategic planning and execution,” concludes Sorbie.