How to Submit Your Questions

Transcription

1 October 2009 CRN Project #07-19 How to Submit Your Questions Step 1: Type your questions here. Step 2: Click on the Send button. The Links Box

2 Mobile Workforce Technology: Agenda The Benefits of Deploying Mobile Technology How do Co-ops ops Effectively Introduce Mobile Technology? How Should Mobile Technology be Planned & Implemented? Technical Tips on Introducing Mobile Technology Things Co-ops ops Should Avoid when Introducing Mobile Technology Mobile Technology: Author Perspective Page 4 Polling Question This concerns one type of mobile technology: Automatic Vehicle Location system or AVL. Does your co-op: op: Already have an AVL Don t t have an AVL, but are in the process of getting one Don t t have an AVL and have no plans to get one Page 5 Today s s Speakers Bill Durham Mike McGannon Page 6

3 Page 7 The Benefits of Deploying Mobile Workforce Technology Success is measured by elimination of process steps, resource reduction & improved ROI. Intangible benefits include: geography based workflow, faster outage response & improved customer service. Mobile Technology Deployment Cost Savings Extrapolations Assign time frames and costs to existing procedures. (Disconnects) Assign time frames and costs to the Mobile Workforce Application. Determine the reduction in the number of steps or human interactions. Multiply the savings by the number of occurrences (Disconnects) per week, month, or year to determine savings or ROI. Page 8 How do Co-ops ops Effectively Introduce Mobile Workforce Technology? Deployment strategy should leverage existing telecommunications investments. Focus on Field Operations area needing improved workflow. Target Service Requests/Tasks that are: Specific Repetitious Regularly Requested Require Resource Scheduling Effect Customer Satisfaction Page 9

4 What is the mobile technology deployment goal? Interface/integrate with existing: Systems Databases Infrastructure Page 10 Co-op s s overall technology planning process (pyramid) incorporates: Mobile Deployments Telecommunications Mobile technology planning never done standalone. (1) Project Start-up --Organization & Resources --Co-op Business Strategic Plan (7) Done (6) Formal Plan (5) Tech to Support Bus Initiatives (4) Determine Business-Driven Impacts (3) Determine Technology-Driven Impacts (2) Inventory & Assess Current Operation Page 11 Start small. Build on existing field applications & devices. Leverage browser-based based corporate systems. Extend business application systems into the field. Page 12

5 Truck Mobile Crews 2-Way Data Radio Wireless Applications Wi-Fi Other Business Office Satellite Cellular Broadband PDAs & Cell Phones Page 13 Avoid starting too big; implementing a broadband network solution that covers the entire service area & supports voice, data & video applications. Avoid trying to automate all field services performed, instead focus on a particular area of mobile workforce automation (meter turn-offs, locates, etc.) Avoid custom & non-scalable applications Page 14 Avoid limiting mobile workforce application selection to available wireless bandwidth. Avoid measuring the success of mobile workforce solutions using only financial goals & ignoring intangible benefits such as safety, reduced errors & better customer satisfaction. Implementing technology without sufficient field user participation in planning, selecting & deploying of mobile workforce solutions. Page 15

6 Case studies involved co-op op staff who lived through the: Design Selection & implementation Lessons learned. Putting Mobile Technology to Work describes the benefits, importance and industry requirements for technology/continuity planning. The Cobb EMC mobile workforce case study is briefly described on the following slides. Page 16 Basic Components that Make-up a Mobile Workforce Laptop For the field crew, MOBILE DATA boils down to one thing, a laptop in the truck. Just like all your other tools, you need to understand how to operate your laptop. Air Card (Data Only Phone Card) Campus Wireless (802.11) Mobile Connection Manager SSL Connection Intergraph I/MobileTC Page 17 Mobile Workforce tools give you Multiple ways to Connect to the Co-op op Business Office (1) Campus Wireless (802.11g/n) (2) Dialer + SSL Connection + Mobile Application Air Card (Data Only Phone Card) Campus Wireless WAP Mobile Connection Manager SSL Connection Mobile Application Page 18

7 WAP Typical Campus Wireless WiFi Hotspot WAP WAP WAP WAP WAP WAP WAP Page 19

8 How do I get there? Where are they now? Navigation Real Time Tracking Where have they been? Historical Tracking Section 2 of the report discusses GPS Mobile Data Applications and Integration considerations. Also, the East Central Energy case study contains a good example of the use of GPS data and installing AVL. Page 24

9 Can the CoCo-op reduce fuel costs by improving service order routes? Do the field teams waste too much time reading paper maps, plotting directions, asking for or discussing directions, etc. Does the CoCo-op have vehicles and equipment getting stolen or misplaced? Is the dispatching and rerouting of service orders and realreal-time trouble tickets inefficient? Can the CoCo-op improve customer service by improving knowledge of the field crew crew s location? Can the CoCo-op reduce the maintenance costs on vehicles and equipment by improving accountability for these assets? Page 25 Service Area Wireless Coverage Issues Blended Solution IT Infrastructure Interfaces and Standards Wireless LAN/WAN Integration with Internal Software Apps. Shared Databases GIS Data linkage with GPS Data Stored as Attributes Page 26 Narrowbanding of the FCC spectrum below 512 MHz requires coco-ops to: Prepare for and execute the required frequency changes coming in the next several years Capitalize on the available spectrum bandwidth for new VoIP, data & video applications/solutions. Page 27

10 VHF/UHF Narrowbanding Myths & Truths Myth: Narrowbanding requires licensees to implement digital technology FALSE: 12.5 khz equipment can operate in analog or digital Myth: Narrowbanding requires licensees to operate at 6.25 khz efficiency FALSE: There is no date set at VHF/UHF requiring 6.25 khz efficiency operation Myth: Interoperability may be negatively impacted TRUE: Until all licensees completely transition to narrowband, some may operate on interoperability channels with 25 khz equipment while others operate 12.5 khz equipment. Distortion or volume discrepancies can occur. Page 28 VHF/UHF Narrowbanding Myths & Truths continued Myth: A licensee, using commercial, off-the-self test equipment can bring a transmitter into acceptable limits by realigning the deviation from the current 5 khz down to the new 2.5 khz to be in compliance. FALSE: To be compliant, the radio must be certified under Part 90. Myth: Licensees will end up with twice as many channels FALSE: Licensees stay on the same channel centers (do not split channels) Myth: Failure to narrowband will result in secondary status FALSE: Non-compliance is a violation that will be enforced by the FCC Enforcement Bureau (loss of license, fines, etc.) Myth: FCC will allow continued 25 khz operation after 1/1/2013 by waiver MAYBE: The FCC has taken a hard line policy on narrowbanding. Exceptions are extremely unlikely. Page 29 Typical Co-op Member Service Request Process: The electric co-op workflow typically begins with the member contacting the business office to order new service, report an outage, disconnect power, request a meter read, etc. This member service request follows a workflow process that can be part manual, part electronic, and could cross several departments or internal work groups. It can be further edited, reviewed, and assigned to a resource scheduler and a field service manager for planning purposes in order to effectively perform the service requested. Eventually, the service request is assigned to a specific co-op field representative to be performed, recorded and closed. Page 30

11 Co-op Service Requests Using Mobile Technology: The effective use of mobile technology will allow this basic member service request to move more effectively and efficiently through the entire workflow process, keeping track of its status from essentially cradle to grave. Mobile Workforce Technology has the Following Benefits: Minimizes the amount of Human Involvement Less Opportunity for the Introduction of Manual Errors Reduces the Number of Job hand offs Required Allows for Real-Time Updates of Status for Members Paperless. Records can be Stored and Archived Resource Planning Tools can Automatically Route Requests Reduces Overhead, Processing and Auditing Costs Page 31 QUESTIONS? How to Submit Your Questions Step 1: Type your questions here. Step 2: Click on the Send button.

12 The Links Box THANK YOU!