SPECIAL REPORT
Getting Better to Work Smarter Technology implementations are a long slog. From
gathering the funding, gaining approvals, organizing an implementation plan, testing, trying, using, and then monitoring the performance of the implementation. In totality, it is a gargantuan triumph. Identifying lessons learned and studying what went
right and what went wrong is instrumental in getting better while working smarter for subsequent projects. “For Clarke County School District [in Georgia], the
focus was modernizing communications by moving from a VHF analog radio system to Sonim XP5plus devices operating on AT&T FirstNet,” said Jim Gur- ley, the assistant director for finance and technology in transportation. “Given the complexity and ease of deployment, we were able to go live within one month. For this deployment, success was defined by improved communications and the ability to communicate reliably over longer distances compared to the district’s previous VHF analog radio system.” Transportation staff learned the importance of ensur- ing that in-vehicle accessories and mounting solutions
are matched appropriately to the operational environ- ment. “The district initially experienced issues with the original mounting solution and subsequently transi- tioned to an alternative mounting system that resolved those concerns,” he said. McCormack said one of the biggest lessons the contra-
tor learned from successful implementations of its HALO platform was that change management is as critical as the technology itself. HALO integrates school bus operations, from recruiting and training to routing, dispatching, nav- igation, vehicle telematics, and maintenance. “A solution can be technically strong, but it will not de-
liver value at scale without meaningful adoption among drivers and field teams where they can trust it and see how it improves their day-to-day work,” said McCor- mack. “With HALO, adoption among drivers and field teams has been critical to realizing its impact across the organization. As AI evolves, we must be thoughtful about where and how we deploy new capabilities, balanc- ing technology with our operational needs and ability to adopt it effectively. Above all, technology should be implemented with people using it in mind. The value
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