TECHNOLOGY REPORT | DIGITALISATION
service. There has been a seismic shift to digital working in recent years and the pandemic has accelerated that trend. A lot of crane inspection and servicing operations have already made the first moves to be at least partially paper-free, with software for accounting as well as for compliance, job booking and scheduling - and many have installed vehicle tracking. However, these various systems often
operate separately, which increases workloads and complexity along with the challenge of dealing with multiple suppliers. Staff have to switch from one system to another and then manually enter data for customer reporting, invoicing and accounting. Job management platforms enable workers on site to use mobile devices to synchronise in real-time with the office -and managers out of the office – giving everyone 24/7 visibility of all jobs. Compliance is made easy as vehicle trackers provide live location information, which is supported by accurate, time- stamped records, all backed up with accompanying photographs from site. The coronavirus pandemic accelerated
a transition to digital platforms that was already underway, and those companies ahead of the curve are now reaping the benefits. “By eliminating paperwork all the way from booking to job completion, productivity in the office is transformed,” said Nash. “The number of staff needed to manage operations is typically halved. And in the field, better job scheduling and more dynamic resource allocation, plus full
digital reporting via mobile devices, means teams can complete more jobs per day with productivity increased by 20% or 30%. “In addition, there are big benefits
to management as systems provide 24/7 visibility of everything going on. Furthermore, live ETA alerts and digital reports from site - backed by tracking data and on-site photographs - significantly boost customer service.” Digital tools also enable companies
to scale up much faster and in a more sustainable way. “Gains in productivity, management and customer service free up resources and help with business retention, allowing more work to be taken on,” said Nash. “However, there are specific characteristics that a system needs to support business expansion. Traditionally systems have been pretty inflexible – for example, creating new job cards and reports was a time-consuming and costly exercise. You need a system with unrestricted adaptability and in particular a mobile app that can be easily customised. This allows workflows, job cards and reports to be configured to meet virtually any conceivable type of job. “Traditionally only the larger companies could afford the investment in advanced IT systems, making it difficult for smaller players to compete. Today, platforms like BigChange put all companies on a level playing field. This is particularly important when pitching for new business where clients need their suppliers to stick to stringent procedures in areas such as
R Information on-the-go: job cards: BigChange
health and safety, quality, compliance and certification. Many of our users say the platform is vital to winning more business.” With crane inspection, maintenance and
repair work now often being done by third parties, companies also need the flexibility to add and remove contractors from job management platforms. “We deal with quite a few businesses
that have expanded from being just a local business to a being a regional or national business and they often do this by contracting,” said Nash. “Crucially, any contractor can immediately access the BigChange mobile app. It is exactly the same app connected to the same central system. This means the service is seamless; everything coming back from the field is as if it is from one of their own operatives.”●
P Field service engineers benefit from clear and easily accessible job cards.
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