Bord Gais Networks Selects ClickSoftware to Drive Business Strategy
22 Outubro 2009 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
BURNHAM, England, October 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (NasdaqGS: CKSW), the leading
provider of workforce management and service optimization
solutions, today announced that Bord Gais Networks (BGN), the gas
network infrastructure provider for The Republic of Ireland, has
selected its ServiceOptimization Suite including ClickSchedule,
ClickLocate and Street Level Routing. These solutions will play a
strategic role in BGN's Network Transformation Programme, in
providing exceptional service to Bord Gais's 600,000 gas customers,
reducing the cost of services to its customer base and preparing
the Company for the next regulatory review set by the Commission
for Energy Regulation (CER). Through an Operating Agreement with
Gaslink (The Independent System Operator), Bord Gais Networks (BGN)
is responsible for the network infrastructure that distributes gas
across Ireland. As a Commercial Semi-State company, Bord Gais must
balance commercial operations with pressure from the CER to reduce
the cost to operate and tariff to the customer. These challenges
pose a significant challenge to the business in the current and
future economic environment. The Network Transformation Programme
or NTP was setup to review and re-evaluate the business to position
the Networks business for the future economy to drive improved
efficiency and customer service throughout the business. One of the
key tools chosen to do this was ClickSoftware's workforce
scheduling solution that optimizes the deployment of the skilled
field-workforces employed to maintain the asset infrastructure.
Existing paper-based and manual systems employed by Bord Gais were
not capable of sustaining improvements to operational efficiency.
Inaccuracies, delays and incomplete return of information in the
field by field service engineers reporting completed jobs, led to
duplication of effort in handling and analysis of data. The system
also provided little visibility of timely field operations
activities to the Customer Services agents. As part of the solution
for this Transformation Program, BGN went to tender using the EU
procurement process for a new technology solution. Through a
rigorous qualification process, over 40 prequalification applicants
were shortlisted to six and then finally two candidates.
ClickSoftware were the successful candidate chosen in the workforce
scheduling solution. The ClickSoftware solutions will be used
across all Bord Gais Networks business streams: Emergency &
Metering, Maintenance, Construction and Repair. ClickSchedule will
provide BGN with visibility of its entire field operations and be
used to schedule the right staff to the right place at the right
time. It will manage a wide variety of job types, from short
duration jobs such as meter reading to managing crews on jobs that
span over multiple days and requiring multiple people. ClickLocate
will enable Bord Gais' dispatchers to easily see and make decisions
based on real-time information about where engineers are in the
field. Critically, it will allow dispatchers to locate engineers
with the requisite skills for fast emergency response such as in
the case of gas leaks, for which Bord Gais have a sub 1hr
attendance criteria anywhere in the Country. Street-level routing
capabilities will automatically provide the best route for
technicians to take between jobs, ensuring they spend more time
serving customers, not traveling. Bord Gais Networks will also
benefit from the real-time scheduling monitor which will make it
possible to determine whether the schedule defined for the upcoming
period is of high quality. This could include such factors as
overall utilization, travel time, the number of assignments that
will not meet their due dates and much more. Having all this
information available in an easy-to-understand format will enable
Bord Gais to take corrective action immediately before the schedule
is dispatched, rather than waiting for an analysis that might
otherwise only arrive several days after the fact. Bord Gais
Networks believe that the solutions from ClickSoftware will balance
complexities in their field operation to drive efficiencies and
better customer service both in the field operation and the
business as a whole. This is directly aligned with the company's
strategic, commercial and regulatory goals. Dr. Moshe BenBassat,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ClickSoftware commented,
"The buying process for the Gas Networks industry is thorough, and
rightly so. That ClickSoftware has been selected by Bord Gais based
upon the highest score in their rigorous procurement process and
the references provided by companies in the same business, is
further evidence that we have a robust and proven product." About
Bord Gais Networks Bord Gais Networks constructs and extends the
natural gas network in Ireland to the highest international safety
standards. It connects all customers to the network regardless of
natural gas Supply Company chosen. The Bord Gais network consists
of 2,313km of high-pressure steel Transmission pipes and over
10,062km of Distribution pipelines. Gas is received from the
Transmission network and delivered through the Distribution network
to over 600,000 residential, business and industrial gas users.
About ClickSoftware ClickSoftware is the leading provider of
workforce management and service optimisation solutions that create
business value for service operations through higher levels of
productivity, customer satisfaction and cost effectiveness.
Combining educational, implementation and support services with
best practices and its industry-leading solutions, ClickSoftware
drives service decision making across all levels of the
organisation. From proactive customer demand forecasting and
capacity planning to real-time decision making, incorporating
scheduling, mobility and location-based services, ClickSoftware
helps service organisations get the most out of their resources.
With over 150 customers across a variety of industries and
geographies, and strong partnerships with leading platform and
system integration partners - ClickSoftware is uniquely positioned
to deliver superb business performance to any organisation. The
company is headquartered in Burlington, Mass. and Israel, with
offices in Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information about
ClickSoftware, please call (781) 272-5903 or (888) 438-3308, or
visit http://www.clicksoftware.com/. This press release contains
express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S Federal
securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, those statements regarding expected benefits to
Bord Gais and its customers from using ClickSoftware's solutions.
Such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or
performance to differ materially from those projected, including
those discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in
ClickSoftware's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2008 and in subsequent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law,
ClickSoftware is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims
any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Contacts: Joanna Giannotti ClickSoftware, Inc.
+1-781-272-5903 x2235 DATASOURCE: ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd
CONTACT: Contacts: Joanna Giannotti, ClickSoftware, Inc.,
+1-781-272-5903 x2235,
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