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Absolute Software > Case Studies > Mobile Performance Management Keeps Maritime Workers Connected

Mobile Performance Management Keeps Maritime Workers Connected

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
Networks & Connectivity - Cellular

Applicable Industries

Marine & Shipping

Applicable Functions

Field Services
Maintenance

Use Cases

Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration

The Challenge

Heinen & Hopman, a maritime-industry specialist, was facing a challenge with their fitters who were struggling with connection problems at the work sites. The fitters use mobile phones, laptops, and tablets every day to do their jobs. They need a stable, reliable, and secure internet connection to be able to use applications, such as 3D visualisations of the ships that they are working on. Since the fitters mainly do their work in shipyards and other remote sites, they often had to deal with poor internet connections and regularly experienced connection drops. Reestablishing a connection is easy for an IT consultant to do, but it is a time-consuming chore for a project manager or fitter. Having to repeatedly re-establish VPN connections meant that they lost a lot of time and meanwhile, they couldn’t access the up-to-date, essential information they needed. For a time, workers tried carrying static versions of the drawings on their laptops for use on-site, but without a reliable connection and synchronisation the drawings were obsolete.

About The Customer

Heinen & Hopman is a maritime-industry specialist that designs, engineers and installs air conditioning, ventilation, central heating and refrigeration systems. The company has supplied more than 10,000 vessels worldwide — not only commercial vessels, but also state-of-the-art navy ships, superyachts and offshore platforms. The fitters at Heinen & Hopman use mobile phones, laptops, and tablets every day to do their jobs. They need a stable, reliable, and secure internet connection to be able to use applications, such as 3D visualisations of the ships that they are working on. The fitters mainly do their work in shipyards and other remote sites, often dealing with poor internet connections and regularly experiencing connection drops.

The Solution

Heinen & Hopman turned to NetMotion implementation partner NetBoss BV, who provided the Mobility solution — part of NetMotion’s Mobile Performance Management software. After a successful proof of concept, the software was launched in production. The fitters were immediately able to access vital data all the time and from anywhere. Now, the workers can access vital data about the ship from anywhere, without disruption. They can take their devices on board with them, which means that they don’t constantly need to go back to an office on the dock or on shore. Setting up a software-based, mobile infrastructure allows policies to be created quickly. The policies automatically come into force subject to certain conditions. For example, when the connection is 3G or lower, only the primary applications are allowed. With only the crucial applications using the available bandwidth, the policies ensure that they continue to perform well. And when the connection changes, the session continues running in the background, which means that there is no more need to log on again.

Operational Impact