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Auburn City Council Delivers on IT Any Time, Anywhere, with OneBlink Solution
Technology Category
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
Applicable Industries
- Cities & Municipalities
Applicable Functions
- Field Services
- Maintenance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- Training
The Challenge
In 2010, Sarju Sahu, the newly-appointed Manager of Information Technology at Auburn City Council, observed that 38% of the Council's workforce operated in the field. This included various inspectors and maintenance staff. Sahu realized that to provide effective productivity tools and solutions, mobility had to be integrated into the IT strategy. He developed an IT vision statement emphasizing productivity and connectivity anywhere, anytime, on any network, and with any device. After understanding the business's policies and processes, Sahu proposed automating processes for mobile and in-field staff to the Council Executive Team. The proposal aimed to enable staff to capture data and initiate workflows while in the field, promising significant productivity and efficiency gains.
About The Customer
Auburn City Council is responsible for a 31 square kilometre local government area in the heart of Sydney, located 17 kilometres from the Sydney central business district and six kilometres from Parramatta. The area is home to major attractions such as Sydney Olympic Park, Bicentennial Park, Auburn Botanic Gardens, and the Gallipoli Mosque. The city is culturally diverse, with residents from 124 countries. The Council's workforce is highly mobile, with 38% of staff operating in the field, including inspectors and maintenance personnel. The Council aims to provide effective and efficient productivity tools and solutions to support its operations.
The Solution
Sahu's team investigated mobile enabling technologies and chose OneBlink, an Australian Mobile Enterprise Application Platform (MEAP) provider. OneBlink's partner, EcoView Mobile, tailored a solution for the Council, enabling staff to capture, send, and receive data remotely using mobile forms. BlinkForms was selected for its flexibility, scalability, and offline capabilities, which were crucial for maintaining productivity without network connections. The pilot project commenced in mid-2011, involving OneBlink, EcoView, Infor (developer of Pathway), and internal stakeholders. EcoView developed mobile forms for the Tree Coordinator to enter data and photographs using the Blink mobility platform. A custom adaptor was created to integrate Blink with Pathway, and integration was also established with the Council's records management, email, and GPS systems. Security measures, including mobile device management software, SSL encryption, and remote wiping, were implemented to ensure data security.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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