Project Aims ReGS aspires to deliver a transformation in the way Regulatory Services are delivered to communities and businesses and to share experience and learning widely with other local authorities.
Strategic aims include;
To develop intelligent mobile inspection solutions to enable officers involved in a variety of inspection processes to complete all aspects of the business process on site and update the back office remotely (e.g. food hygiene and health and safety premises inspections)
To develop ‘lighter’ real time mobile solutions for other groups of staff needing to receive service requests on a handheld device and update the back office with actions while away from the office (e.g. pest control)
To develop integrated remote worker safety and management solutions (e.g. mobile applications including panic and timer alarms and GPS functionality)
To implement new, flexible ways of working for staff to reduce stress and improve work-life balance while also reducing accommodation requirements and significantly increasing productive time
Technology Through involvement with Project Nomad and previous mobile working implementations ReGS partners have a thorough understanding of technology solutions and significant experience of device evaluation and application.
Tablet PC’s with docking stations are being used as desktop replacements in both local authorities and will shortly form a key component of a large scale hot desking and touchdown implementation, in new offices at Barnsley.
Equipped with robust field cases Tablets can be used as portable workstations on location, in other offices or at home.
In pure tablet form, with hand writing recognition, devices have a familiar, clipboard feel and require minimal user training. Digital pen and ink functions also allow for native note taking, drawing and signature capture, useful features in enforcement scenarios.
The intelligent mobile working foundation is designed to run quickly over standard GPRS networks whilst 3G data cards and devices also automatically select 3G where available, taking advantage of available bandwidth.
Wireless connectivity gives real time access to the back office and to inspection modules. Staff working remotely and at home are better able to respond to service requests and access to email, calendar and intranet further improves productivity.
Small, portable printers enable inspection reports to be printed on site.
Inspection processes that previously could take weeks to complete end to end, are now concluded on site and businesses are left fully understanding requirements in a much more timely manner.
In addition to Tablet PC’s, the latest handheld devices including units with integrated satellite navigation and GPS functions will be used.
Browser based solutions which automatically arrange the content to the size of the screen allow users to have a choice of the most appropriate technology to perform their particular duties.
Environmental Regulatory Unit Enforcement Officers, for example, will utilise handhelds linked to Bluetooth portable printers for onsite issuing of fixed penalty notices.
Mobile Working Components An innovative, web based dashboard has been designed to assist in the management of mobile workers and enable communication between individuals and teams working remotely.
Key features are:
Officers can log in and out via a simple web page, whether at home, office or site
Users can view other people’s status at any time (e.g. at home, on site, in office, not working)
Time sheets are generated directly from recorded status details (reducing use of other systems)
Full range of panic and programmable alarms (which can be used to send location details by SMS text message and/or email)
SMS broadcast to teams, sections or all to simplify communications and support emergency response
Instant messaging Client further facilitates communications
User specific links and stored credentials provide easy access to commonly used resource sites
GPS functionality and links to online mapping.
Integration The intelligent mobile working platform from Kirona Solutions Ltd is already in use at 70+ local authorities, successfully integrating with leading back office systems provided by Northgate, Anite, Civica and more.
Project Aims
