Like most large organizations, Spoornet is ongoingly focused on "sweating their assets". In particular, there is a very strong focus at Spoornet on maximizing the investment in rolling stock. This means that wagons/railcars must spend most of their time doing what they were put into service for: to carry goods to and from clients. Idle time, either at a client`s siding or in the Spoornet yard, does not produce revenue.
Closely aligned to the efficient use of rolling stock, is the delivery of outstanding service to Spoornet clients. Thus, not only must wagon idle time be minimized, but Spoornet must ensure that wagons are placed at and removed from client`s sidings on the date and time promised.
To achieve these objectives, Motswedi JMR has worked closely with Spoornet to enhance the existing computer systems so that real-time information is made available to senior management regarding wagon movements. In keeping with the Spoornet theme of "sweating the assets", Motswedi JMR is a firm believer in modernizing and improving legacy systems so that the investment made in these systems can continue to deliver significant value to the business.
At present, real-time data relating the wagon movements as well as client service commitments is contained in five separate applications. Motswedi JMR, working with Spoornet, extracted and integrated online data from the five applications and made this information available to the operational management layer responsible for wagon movements and client service delivery.
Live data from the five systems is extracted using Motswedi JMR`s powerful proprietary toolset. The data is then transformed and made available via an Internet browser. A combination of legacy data and modern technology is delivered on an Internet browser and is made available to the appropriate manager anywhere on the planet!!
Furthermore, Motswedi JMR then developed new functionality to meet the dynamic business demands of Spoornet. In this manner, a new application, dubbed "Monitoring Predictability" has been created. This new application provides visibility of the progress against the execution process of wagon movements and client service delivery.
"Monitoring Predictability" allows management in the operations leg as well as those responsible for client commitments the ability to have real-time knowledge of the movement of wagons. The new enhanced functionality provides management with alerts and detailed information when wagons are not timeously released by clients or not placed by Spoornet within the promised time. Managers can then take the appropriate action to ensure that idle trucks are moved or that delivery commitments are met.
The new enhanced functionality does not provide only reactive information, but will also monitor the overall delivery against promises made to clients, the plan in place to execute on these promises as well as the progress made against the plans. Monitoring Predictability can deliver the information in multiple views, so that managers can get a view of service delivery by geographical location, by individual client or by business sector.
The concept of extracting data from legacy applications and then delivering new applications on an Internet browser platform is in itself not a major feat. Many such projects have indeed been completed, but all or most have suffered from excessively long implementation times. What is so striking about this new application is that Motswedi JMR was able to complete the entire project within just six weeks!!
According to Jerrie Botha, manager of Information Management and Business Architecture at Spoornet, there is a huge expectation that this new solution will bring about major cost, service delivery and operational benefits to Spoornet. In order to ensure that the power and capabilities of Monitoring Predictability is well understood, Botha has already conducted demonstration and training sessions for the appropriate operational management layer. "Monitoring Predictability" is up and running and already providing operational benefit to Spoornet!!
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