It the common belief that digitisation in the rail sector lags behind that of other sectors. However, we have worked with the industry and know that this isn’t the case. We have worked with the rail sector to identify and deploy innovative solutions to solve its ongoing problems.
Naturally, the rail industry faces many of its own challenges when it comes to the adoption of digitally transformative tools. During the pandemic we saw companies reevaluaing their processes to take advantage of the mobile technology already in use. And, the rail industry was no different. New technology adoption continues to accelerate and determine how it can both revolutionise and digitise its processes to accommodate an increasingly more digitally engaged workforce.
As an industry entrenched in paper for operational tasks and data capture, many companies, including Network Rail are now seeing the benefits of banishing paper entirely and making the move towards process digitisation.
WorkfloPlus in Action
In 2020, Network Rail R&D and the Central Rail System Alliance (CRSA) approached Intoware to partner on a supported field trial. The main concern was that data on their track renewal processes was not being fully captured and used efficiently across the business. The aim was to digitise critical data reporting processes used by Network Rail’s frontline teams after identified several on-going challenges. These included:
- The risk of slips, trips and falls on site
- Time lags in receiving reports and data
- Incomplete asset intelligence
- Repeat site visits
- Poor data capture
Using WorkfloPlus in rail, Network Rail started to digitise a series of legacy paper-based renewal activities. This meant working closely with the Aston depot’s teams on the ground, to fully understand their current activities and challenges. So, procedures could be designed, digitised and standardised to meet existing requirements and to deliver time, safety and sustainability benefits.
The results gathered from the trial provided sufficient evidence back to the business to support the projected value and ROI digitisation would provide. It delivered efficiencies of up to 70% and with significant track safety improvements and compliance issues addressed. The trial’s success has since paved the way for future digitised processes and deployment across their frontline teams. These included converting Asset Management Forms (AMP), site walkouts, wire run inspections and other works delivery processes into a growing library of accessible digital workflows.
The Future of WorkfloPlus in Rail
Empowering staff with WorkfloPlus in rail ensure they can operate more digitally, to improve employee engagement and attract future talent. As well as, provide a modern working environment by enabling entire workforces to connect and solve issues quickly and effectively. The appetite for change and adoption of digital tools to provide this more interactive way of working is rapidly gaining momentum. Our most recent use case saw digital workflows integrated with the latest in drone technology to increase worker safety. Talks around trials, proof of concepts and identifying use cases, are now changing to how quick deployment can be achieved.
WorkfloPlus in Rail Video
With immersive technologies and digital enablement still very much a senior management discussion point and continuing to be prominent on businesses digital strategies and event agendas for the future. Transitioning from paper to digital is a quick and easy step forward to enabling accelerate of the industry’s digital transformation.