Blue Mountains City Council has reduced a ‘mountain of paperwork’ to a molehill, thanks to an innovative project called Remote Link. Remote Link involves field officers using iPAQ hand held computers to log and process information across Council’s civil operations, including customer service, routine planned work and unscheduled work.
The mobile device is as powerful as a desktop computer with features including MS Office programs, voice recording, digital imagery, Bluetooth technology, Wireless LAN and fingerprint analysis. Bluetooth technology is a hand held, wireless device that communicates via an antenna, sending information to Council’s computer system. As there is no need for the device to be plugged in, base stations can be set up across the Mountains.
The Civil Operations Branch has adapted these technologies, developed compatible software and invested in employee development and training.
Remote Link grew out of Council’s Strategic Plan to improve its information flow system by embracing new workplace technologies. The objectives were to reduce the time taken to process information, to eliminate paperwork and increase accuracy.
The project began in July 2002 with the development of an integrated software package combining Council’s Finance System with the Vemax Asset Management System. The Vemax system was chosen because of its flexibility in the areas of data collection, information transference, account storage and methods of communication.
The hand held Hewlett Packard iPAQ was chosen because of its versatility and simplicity. Developing employees’ skills was an important part of the strategic plan, so iPAQ units were tested on staff members who had a range of computer literacy skills from low to highly efficient. They found the device user friendly and even the novices could perform basic tasks in a very short time. An intensive training course followed to ensure all technicians could use the devices for two weeks unassisted.
Manager Civil Operations, Dominic O’Brien, said Council had demonstrated Remote Link to Sutherland Shire Council and Port Stephens Council. The Civil Construction Corporation in Tasmania is also interested in the technology. Before Remote Link, Council’s entry technicians processed about 200 day sheets and work requests each day.
“With this quantity of paperwork there was a need for a simpler and more efficient method of information transfer and storage, assessment and task scheduling,” he said. “Remote Link was the result of extensive consultation between all the parties caught up in the paperwork bind, including staff and community groups. Although the project has only recently been put to the test, it is already proving to be an effective solution.”
For further information contact Dominic O’Brien on (02) 4780 5373, or email dobrien@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
