OTHER UTILITY APPLICATIONS

What are they? Issues Solutions

Many utilities utilize a similar set of core software: CMMS, FHRS, GIS, CIS, SCADA and LIMS. In addition to these systems, utilities also need many other applications to meet their unique organizational needs. A partial list of these areas includes:

Automated Meter Reading – Metering, drive-by reading, fixed network read technologies
Back Office Systems – Storage management and data archiving, network performance monitoring and management, patch update and upgrade management, software distribution systems
Customer Call Centers – Automated Call Distribution (ACD) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technologies, IP Telephony
Decision Support – Simulation, automated procedure displays, performance tracking and reporting
Energy Management – Pumping schedule optimization, energy consumption tracking, energy costs by source tracking
Engineering Systems – CAD, project management, GIS, modeling, specification development
Environmental Management Systems – Environmental and health safety
Equipment Condition Monitoring – Asset condition assessment systems for evaluation of asset attributes such as vibration, infrared, oil quality, etc.
Facilities Management – Operational management of facilities, buildings and grounds
Fleet Management – Fuel systems, GPS locator, route definition and management
Human Resources and Workforce Management – HR benefits tracking, payroll, qualifications and certifications and training, electronic timekeeping, activity tracking
Permitting – Registration request management, issuance, inspection, acceptance testing, maintenance
Physical Security – Physical security systems for perimeter controls such as locks, alarms, employee access control
Project Management – Integrated resource management, allocation, budget and scheduling (contract vs. actual), earned value, conflict management, critical path
Utility-Specific Custom Applications – Ad hoc systems developed by a utility to meet a specific need for data collection, compliance reporting, etc.
Water, Wastewater and Power Systems Modeling – Hydraulic, hydrologic, process and power distribution modeling
Web Sites and Portals – Internet and Intranet development tools, content management, dashboards
Workforce Productivity – Word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, calendaring, presentations and collaboration

Issues
The systems required to manage and operate a utility are diverse and require broad knowledge in order to make informed decisions. The challenges in planning, selecting, implementing and managing such an array of systems can be as diverse as the systems themselves. Issues may include:

Budgeting appropriately to acquire, deploy and maintain a complete portfolio
Understanding how technology aligns with the utility’s current business needs and what technologies are required to meet their long-term business strategy
Identifying and developing effective data and process integrations
Leveraging these applications and the information they capture as strategic tools
Understanding business process relationships between systems
Identifying the appropriate system in which to conduct business functions and capture data
Maintaining the appropriate schedule for software upgrades and patches
Developing an organizational commitment to appropriate data access to avoid silos of information
Avoiding costly and time-consuming “skunk works” application development
Providing adequate network support and bandwidth
Staffing effectively to support these systems

Solutions
Westin’s broad base of knowledge spans the interaction and integration of the systems your organization needs to operate. Many of our team members have proudly served in utilities and public agencies and have dealt with your issues and challenges firsthand. Westin’s team brings practical tools and processes to help you plan, select, fully implement, integrate and apply all applications in daily operations to help you achieve your business improvement goals.