Aurora Energy rolls out workforce mobility program

State-owned electricity distributor Aurora Energy has begun the process to replace its paper-based fault response system with a mobile alternative for its field workers.

The Tasmanian utility has started deploying Intergraph's InService software, running on Motion Computing's field tablets, to 375 of its approximately 400-strong field fleet.

The former paper-based solution had been time-consuming and prone to human error, Perry Rogers, operational technology manager of Aurora's distribution business, told iTnews.

Aurora contact centre staff previously informed field workers of an incident by phone. Once the job was complete, the field workers were then required to go back to the office to close out the paperwork.

It meant the paperwork for a job could take the dispatch team weeks or even months to complete.

Now, the field dispatch team work with one source of data on an electronic system that allows incidents to be closed on site.

“The team will now be able to close the jobs on site at the time. More efficiently dispatching, receipting and closing out the work will help us to deliver improved customer value," Rogers said.

Rogers said he expected the real benefits of the mobility system will be reaped when critical incident management events occur, such as a natural disaster.

Perry Rogers and colleague Pat Luttrell, project manager mobility, will present on this project during the Enterprise Mobility workshop at CeBIT 2014 on Wednesday 7^th May.