Author: Paul Hosking

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How Formbird Ensures Your Business Wisdom Never Retires

Holding onto Corporate Knowledge: The Power of Operational Works and Asset Management Solutions

In the age of rapid employee turnover, one of the most significant challenges businesses face is the loss of corporate knowledge. When seasoned employees leave, they take with them not just skills but the invaluable tacit knowledge of business processes, often cultivated over decades. Enter solutions like Formbird FLEET and Formbird CLARITY. These aren’t just software solutions; they’re the guardians of institutional wisdom.

Formbird FLEET: Keeping the Wheels Turning with Knowledge

Consider the intricacies of fleet management. Every organisation has its unique set of rules, from vehicle maintenance schedules to driver protocols. Formbird FLEET allows organisations to encode the business’s practices and business rules into the software. 

For instance, a shire council with a fleet of trucks will have specific rules regarding vehicle maintenance frequency based on the odometer, the type of cargo carried or the terrain the vehicles have to access. Using Formbird FLEET, the council can embed rules, ensuring planned maintenance is prompted at the predefined intervals set by the business rules. 

For example, in a coastal shire council where trucks transporting quarried rocks to reinforce sea walls will be inspected for rust every 5000 kilometres due to its use near the ocean, another vehicle transporting park maintenance plant will only need to be inspected for rust every 10,000 kilometres. These unique business rules are part of the system. Even if the fleet manager retires, the system ensures that the next manager, or even a new hire, adheres to these established standards, preserving the organisation’s best practices.

Formbird CLARITY: A Clear Vision for Water Utilities Management

Water utilities present a different set of challenges. As seen in the example of the Bundaberg Regional Council, the transition from paper to digital was revolutionary. Before Formbird CLARITY, a leak in the water system was reported on paper, passed to a technician, fixed, and then recorded—often with delays and inefficiencies. The key business rule here? Rapid, efficient response to leaks to prevent wastage and ensure customer satisfaction.

Formbird CLARITY, embeds the entire process in the system. A digital workflow is triggered when anyone reports a leak; CLARITY assigns a technician, provides them with historical data on the site, and enables real-time updates from the field. The ‘paper trail’ becomes a ‘digital pathway’, streamlining operations. 

What’s more, the corporate knowledge, the specifics of how the team historically managed these issues, gets stored and can be accessed by new employees. They ensure their knowledge doesn’t go with them when a veteran employee retires.

The Future is Clear

The beauty of solutions like Formbird FLEET and Formbird CLARITY lies in their ability to streamline operations and capture and hold onto corporate knowledge. By embedding specific business rules, they preserve the organisation’s hard-earned wisdom. In an era where knowledge is power, these solutions ensure that organisations are efficient and satisfy customer needs.

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Global Transportation Management System Market: A Projected Boom by 2028

The market for Transportation Management Systems (TMS) is set to witness unprecedented growth, expanding from USD 13.5 billion in 2023 to an anticipated USD 33.3 billion by 2028. This signifies a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.7% during the forecast period. TMS has been instrumental for businesses, allowing them to fine-tune their transportation processes, including load consolidation, route planning, carrier selection, and freight auditing.

The implementation of TMS is revolutionising the business landscape, enabling significant cost savings by reducing empty miles, enhancing operational efficiency, and minimising transportation-related expenses. These benefits are driving the market demand for TMS, pushing it towards a promising future.

One of the intriguing aspects of the TMS market is the expected growth of the consulting segment, which is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Consulting services ensure optimal performance from internal staff while providing end users with a critical understanding of the complex TMS configurations. These services play a pivotal role in implementing TMS solutions, guiding organisations through the deployment of TMS that best addresses specific business-process requirements.

In terms of regional market shares, North America is predicted to dominate. The advancements in machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, mobile, and cloud technologies in transportation are credited for this increased business process efficiency. As major corporations and small and medium-sized businesses focus on developing innovative TMS solutions integrated with tech breakthroughs like analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), North America’s lead in the TMS market is expected to grow. The region’s superior IT infrastructure and early adoption of cloud and mobile technologies further enable cost reduction across various sectors.

The TMS market is replete with significant players, such as Oracle (US), SAP (Germany), Manhattan Associates (US), C.H. Robinson (US), Trimble (US), and WiseTech Global (Australia), among others. These entities have employed diverse growth strategies, including partnerships and collaborations, new product launches, and acquisitions, to expand their market shares and offerings in the TMS market.

The TMS market is segmented across several factors: offerings, transportation modes, solutions, services, verticals, end users, and regions. Factors influencing its growth include the drive for cloud-based SaaS solutions, mergers & acquisitions of top-tier TMS product players with startup solutions, strengthening bilateral trade relations, technological advancements in the transportation and logistics industry, exponential growth in the eCommerce industry, and the need to replace and update the existing conventional TMS.

However, the TMS market also faces potential obstacles, including growing concerns over data security and inaccuracies in data sets. Despite these challenges, opportunities abound with the advent of 5G technology and autonomous vehicles, which are expected to revolutionise the transportation and logistics industry, coupled with the increasing adoption of cloud-based technology and Industry 4.0.

In conclusion, the future of the global transportation management system market looks promising, with considerable growth prospects and a plethora of opportunities paving the way for an innovative and efficient future in transportation and logistics.

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Handling Store Materials, Notifications, Booking system -FLEET Professionals Community meet-up #16

In this video, Adam from the Formbird FLEET Professionals Community demonstrates the comprehensive approach to managing and ordering restocking of store materials using the Formbird system. This process arose from engagement with Forbes Shire Council, focusing on streamlining the reordering process. Adam outlines the entire procedure, from creating materials in the store to reordering them and then utilizing them on work orders, offering insights from multiple points of view, including a manager, a store manager, an administrator, and a mechanic. The platform’s main features allow users to create new materials, manage existing materials, reorder parts, and report on material usage. The materials can be linked to specific assets or work orders, located by tags, and related to particular suppliers. It also allows setting up a unit charge rate, which defines the cost when used on work orders, and a reordering threshold for automated reordering. Users can also view the history of material orders and their usage. An additional feature allows the creation of a new material invoice line item, which ties into some upcoming changes. The video ends by addressing additional features like filters that streamline viewing materials, highlighting functionalities such as viewing materials that need reordering, inert materials, materials without a unit charge rate, and materials with orders.

0:00 – Introduction
2:06 – Mark – Themes at the Parkes NSW Local Government Water Managers conference.
5:07 – Adam Restocking of Store Materials (Parts Management) The Overview
6:15 – One-stop shop for parts management
6:40 – Add a new material
5:54 – Search for parts & edit details
8:20 – See existing material orders
8:42 – New Material Invoice Line Item
9:08 – Material Selection options and filters
12:45 – Parts management work order
14:57 – Create a new order
18:28 – Orders created in the last 7 days
20:00 – Changing order status
21:20 – Work orders (changes in the new version)
22:21 – Reorder material
23:32 – Reporting
25:39 – Question – David Booking parts in and out (scanning barcode)
27:10 – Mark on scanning (issues with a barcode reader)
31:42 – Question – How do you manage superseded parts?
33:20 – Question – adding notes for superseded parts.
34:27 – Question – Handling bulk materials – how to deal with unit costs
40:30 – Question – Attaching materials to a work order
42:49 – Question – Can you look at supplies after the order?
44:36 – Paul Notifications/emails
52:01 – Mark question – getting involved with the new booking system
53:17 – Paul introduces the booking component
57:19 – Marie Ownership errors in the carpool
1:00 – wrap up

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Water Utilities Conference 2023: Exploring Innovation and Adapting to Challenges

The annual Water Utilities Conference, held from June 26 to 28, 2023, provided a platform for key industry players to deliberate on water and sewer management issues. Among the attendees was Formbird, a leading innovator in water and sewer operational works management solutions, who keenly absorbed the plethora of insights from industry experts and policymakers.

The conference was inaugurated by Cr Ken Keith OAM, Mayor of Parkes Shire Council, and Scott Phillips, Chief Executive of Local Government NSW, followed by a pre-recorded federal minister’s address by Tanya Plibersek MP, the Minister for the Environment and Water.

Addressing the gathering, Vince Keogh of the Department of Planning and Environment and several other panellists examined the challenges of providing quality water supply to rural and remote communities. Naomi Schipanski of Tamworth Regional Council and Daniel Alexander from Beca HunterH2O explored strategic risk-based approaches to assess capital assets, demonstrating potential cost savings and improvements in water network resilience.

In a session highlighting innovation and technology in the water sector, Rohit Srivastava of Berrigan Shire Council illustrated the implementation and outcomes of smart water metering, followed by Doug Moorby of Narromine Shire Council and Derek Atkinson of Isle Utilities, who presented on the introduction of ceramic membranes in water treatment.

The conference’s focus shifted to resilience and recovery from drought, fire, and floods, with presentations on how communities and services, like the ones managed by Formbird, adapt and respond to these challenges. Speakers, including Brie Jowett of Tweed Shire Council, discussed building back better and creating resilient workforces in the wake of these events.

The second day of the conference opened with a panel discussion on the future water workforce, stressing the need for skill enhancement to ensure safe and reliable water services. Professor Stuart Khan from the University of New South Wales provided valuable insights on managing drinking water during extreme events. Cybersecurity issues in local water utilities were also underlined, highlighting the increased threat of cyber-attacks on government infrastructure.

The conference concluded on a high note with sessions on collaborative approaches to water management and the role of water as an economic driver. The Parkes Shire Council representatives shared their unique challenge of providing town water and securing water to attract business, indicating how water has become an economic driver for the council.

Formbird’s participation in the conference reinforced its commitment to innovative water and sewer operational works management, equipping it with the latest strategies to continue its growth in the industry.

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SaaS vs. Traditional Hosting: Embracing Efficiency, Flexibility, and Security

In an era characterised by rapid technological advancements, adapting and innovating is more critical than ever. Businesses globally increasingly opt for Software as a Service (SaaS) over traditional locally hosted solutions, and it’s easy to see why.

The Challenges of Traditional Local Hosting

While locally hosted software applications may offer a perceived sense of control, they come with unique challenges. Some burdens businesses have to bear are high personnel overhead, costly maintenance, and a constant need for IT expertise.

Moreover, data storage and security pose significant concerns. Local servers can be vulnerable to attacks, and critical business data may be at risk without robust protection measures. These issues become increasingly pronounced as businesses scale, necessitating a more flexible and secure approach.

The Unmistakable Advantage of SaaS

This is where SaaS comes into the picture. SaaS solutions offer businesses a way to break free from traditional IT constraints. By hosting Software on the cloud, SaaS providers eliminate hardware costs and make routine maintenance a thing of the past.

One of the most significant benefits of SaaS is that it ensures clients always use the latest version of the Software. Updates are seamless and automatic and require no intervention from the user. This continuous evolution helps businesses stay agile and adaptable, ready to seize new opportunities.

In addition, SaaS platforms offer robust data security measures, including data encryption, regular backups, and compliance with various data protection regulations. Scalable, flexible storage options mean that as your business grows, your Software grows with you.

Navigating the Future with SaaS

Embracing SaaS doesn’t just make sense for now – it’s a forward-thinking move that future-proofs your business. As technology evolves, SaaS platforms are continually updated and improved, ensuring – you never fall behind.

Moreover, the global nature of SaaS introduces businesses to the international stage. While this brings challenges, such as ensuring data sovereignty, top SaaS providers are committed to respecting local data storage requirements and protection laws, providing your data remains safe and compliant.

Opting for SaaS is a strategic decision with far-reaching benefits. By shedding the constraints of locally-hosted solutions, businesses can leverage the power of cloud technology to operate more efficiently, flexibly, and securely.

As one of the leading providers in the SaaS field, Formbird embodies these advantages, delivering a platform that grows with your business. Whether it’s data security, future-proof technology, or minimising IT overhead, SaaS solutions like Formbird offer a clear path to embracing the future of business technology.

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Delivering Benefits to Customers, Community, and Environment: A Testament to Formbird CLARITY’s Versatility

Discover the transformative journey of Bundaberg Regional Council’s Water Services Team as they transition from a paper-heavy environment to a digital one using Formbird CLARITY. This insightful video showcases the tremendous strides made by the team in data collection, customer service, and environmental stewardship, through the adoption of this innovative, low-code platform. Hear directly from team members Narelle and Sean as they detail the challenges they faced and how Formbird CLARITY helped them overcome these hurdles to deliver significant benefits to their community and their unique environment. It’s a story of innovation, resilience, and the power of efficient software in shaping the future of water asset management.

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Formbird CLARITY: Enhancing Customer Experience at Greater Western Water

Greater Western Water (GWW), a significant water utility servicing much of Melbourne’s west, including over 430,000 homes, has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency following an upgrade to its implementation of the Formbird CLARITY system. Renowned as a comprehensive mobile workforce and operational asset management solution, CLARITY has proved indispensable in tasks ranging from call-taking and dispatching to managing ‘Before You Dig’ requests and scheduling preventative and project works.

Consolidating Data for Enhanced Efficiency 

Central to GWW’s operation, CLARITY is their primary operational asset management system, seamlessly integrating data from internal property and GIS databases. It consolidates information about all assets, customers, and properties, both above and below ground, in a single location. This enables GWW to run more efficiently, swiftly responding to issues and scheduling preventative work by categorising tasks as ‘Cases’.

Facilitating Rapid Response and Problem Resolution 

Beyond mere identification and prioritisation of problems, CLARITY also proves invaluable in managing case resolution. Activities necessary to resolve a case, known as ‘Actions’, are meticulously recorded. CLARITY’s advanced system allows GWW to delegate these Actions to appropriate teams or individuals, ensuring that tasks are handled by the right personnel, enhancing efficiency and speeding up problem resolution.

Real-Time Data for Informed Decision-Making 

Crucial to the system’s efficacy is CLARITY’s ability to provide real-time data, empowering GWW to make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information. This ability has enabled GWW to decrease the time and resources spent on manual reporting processes, allowing staff to focus on other essential tasks.

Aligning with Industry Standards 

Further augmenting its effectiveness, CLARITY aligns with models other water customers use in line with industry standards, simplifying system understanding and usage for GWW employees. This consistency aids in meeting the regulatory reporting requirements of the Essential Services Commission, contributing to GWW’s impressive compliance record and mitigating the risk of costly fines or penalties.

Prioritising Safety and Stakeholder Communication 

Of considerable importance is CLARITY’s capacity to track problem status and promptly notify stakeholders of changes or updates, which is particularly vital for customers potentially impacted by extended water shut-offs. The system also assists GWW in managing work-related hazards, enhancing crew safety.

Project Management Capabilities 

CLARITY’s operational works assignment and management capabilities are paramount to GWW’s project tracking, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.

Formbird CLARITY: A Cornerstone for Greater Western Water’s Success 

Implementing Formbird CLARITY at Greater Western Water has brought about marked improvements in operational efficiency. By swiftly identifying and prioritising problems, managing resolution, and tracking work progress, the system empowers GWW’s staff to enhance their customer experience. Through the robust application of Formbird CLARITY, GWW continues to meet and exceed expectations in the water utility sector.

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Embracing Change: Formbird FLEET as the Ideal Response to Telstra’s 3G Shutdown for Modern Fleet Information Management

Opportunities Amidst Change

The looming shutdown of Telstra’s 3G network across Australia brings a transformative opportunity for fleet managers. While the shutdown signals the end of an era, it also presents a chance to leap forward into an advanced age of telematics, with the potential to enhance efficiency, safety, and environmental responsibility. Among the solutions leading this charge into the future is Formbird FLEET, a comprehensive fleet information management platform that could become the new industry standard.

Formbird FLEET has many features that make it uniquely suitable for organisations grappling with the challenges of modern fleet management. It delivers top-notch GPS capabilities, versatile reporting and dashboards, process and operations management tools, accident and fuel management features, offline capabilities, mobile-first design, comprehensive security, and more. This rich functionality is combined with a user-friendly interface, making the system easy to navigate even for those new to the telematics sphere.

Driving Towards a Greener Future

Critically, Formbird FLEET’s robust telematics technology offers the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly, a pressing issue for a country committed to reaching net zero by 2050. With real-time traffic and weather information, fleet managers can plan the most efficient routes, leading to reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Formbird FLEET also equips fleet managers with the ability to track and analyse driving behaviour, helping to identify and rectify unsafe or inefficient driving practices.

Formbird FLEET is ready for the future, with features designed to seamlessly integrate electric vehicles into fleet operations. The solution is a leader in the shift towards more sustainable modes of transport but also provides a powerful tool for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve.

The 3G Shutdown: A New Era of Opportunities

As the 3G network prepares for its final curtain call in June 2024, fleet managers relying on older, 3G-dependent systems will find themselves at a crossroads. The 4G takeover, rather than being a disruptive force, should be viewed as an opportunity for a transformative upgrade. To make the most of this change, fleet managers must take stock of their needs and priorities, from enhancing safety to reducing costs, from increasing Electric Vehicles (EVs) to implementing scalable carbon emission reduction strategies.

With its cutting-edge features and data-driven insights, Formbird FLEET can guide this transition towards a more intelligent, greener future for fleet management in Australia. As a leading provider of fleet information management solutions, Formbird is committed to helping businesses unlock the full potential of their fleets.

The Journey Begins Now

The impending 3G shutdown is a significant moment in Australia’s digital landscape. Still, with the right planning and tools, it can become the springboard for an exciting new era in fleet management. The journey towards enhanced efficiency, safety, and sustainability starts now.

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Formbird’s CLARITY: Setting a New Benchmark at the 2023 LGNSW Water Conference

Formbird, a top-tier innovator in water utility operational management, has announced our participation as a sponsor for the upcoming 2023 Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) Water Conference. The conference, a pivotal event in the water management sector, features a series of prominent speakers and stakeholders.

Every year, the LGNSW Water Conference is a crucial hub for industry leaders and experts to discuss and exchange solutions for enhancing water services across New South Wales. This year’s event, focusing on technology, sustainability, and customer service, is expected to host many high-profile attendees. They include policymakers, water utility executives, engineers, environmental scientists, and sustainability officers, to name a few.

Among the distinguished speakers confirmed for the event are Professor Emily Hilder, Director of the Future Industries Institute at the University of South Australia, Dr. Ian Wright, a renowned environmental scientist, and Sally Barnes, CEO of Water Corporation, Australia’s largest water provider.

Formbird will be on hand to demonstrate its operational asset management solution, CLARITY, during the event. Known for its unique approach to managing water utilities, CLARITY will attract attention. It’s an all-encompassing solution for planned and reactive maintenance, ensuring the smooth functioning of water systems and bolstering customer satisfaction.
Formbird will also take the opportunity to engage with conference attendees at its exhibition stand, providing a deeper understanding of how CLARTIY’s innovative features could redefine its approach to water utility management.

The conference and Formbird’s participation testify to the concerted efforts to improve water services across New South Wales. The sector is poised to offer more reliable and efficient customer services by harnessing advancements.

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Navigating Change: Harnessing Technology for Business Continuity Amid High Staff Turnover

As the CEO and Founder of Formbird, I am acutely aware of how changing times and demographic shifts can profoundly impact organisations. The COVID-19 pandemic and the fast-approaching wave of Baby Boomer retirements have fundamentally disrupted career timelines and workforce dynamics in regional councils across Australia.

Demographic Shifts and High Staff Turnover

In typical times, we’d expect a turnover rate of around 15% in rural councils. However, we are not in regular times. The pandemic and demographic shifts, particularly the trend of older workers, including many Baby Boomers, opting for early retirement, have seen turnover rates surpass 25 per cent in some councils, such as Moyne Shire Council in Victoria. It’s worth noting that when one partner retires, it’s common for the other partner to follow suit, adding to the churn.

This high turnover rate presents significant challenges in maintaining the quality of services, work efficiency, and retention of institutional knowledge. While factors like compensation and work culture play a role, it’s clear that the major driving forces behind this trend are primarily external and reflects broader societal changes.

How do we navigate these challenges and ensure business continuity in the interim? This is where innovative solutions like workforce management solutions come into play. These systems are critical for maintaining corporate knowledge, as they store essential data about a council’s operations, schedules, and maintenance. New employees can quickly access this information, reducing training time and ensuring operational knowledge is retained within the organisation.

Moreover, these systems can reinforce existing policies and procedures, which is vital for a council to ensure service delivery to ratepayers. By providing a consistent and reliable source of operational guidelines, workforce management solutions can ensure that service delivery quality and consistency remain unaffected even with a high turnover rate.

At Formbird, leveraging technology is critical to creating a more consistent and efficient work environment. By automating tasks and providing reliable data, workforce management solutions management systems can help new employees adapt quickly, ensuring council services run smoothly despite staff changes.

Beyond Technology: Enhancing Employee Satisfaction and Retention

However, technology alone is not the answer. Improving communication channels with employees, encouraging regular feedback, and offering flexible working hours and telecommuting options can also significantly increase employee satisfaction and retention.

As we navigate these tumultuous times, we must view these challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. By implementing strategic changes and harnessing the power of technology, regional councils can ensure effective operations, continuity of services, and sustainable development.
Change can be challenging but can also catalyse innovation and progress. We can turn these challenges into opportunities, creating a more resilient and effective public service.

Mark Hosking

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