The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.
This innovation initially came to life when…
Someone mentioned to one of our team members that it would be great to have a central location for all planned works being conducted by councils, utilities and others to avoid them duplicating effort (after a roadway was dug up and resealed in his street for the second time in 3 months — once by the Council and once by the water authority). A team was assembled and the business problem was identified before we started to think about what the business solution needed to look like.
WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
Provide an online map-based portal for planned works, which also enables collaboration and sharing of information between organisations and the community. This will reduce duplication of effort, provide visibility of planned works and decrease manual handling of information between organisations.
It does this by…
Combining the use of pre-existing new technologies in order to provide a visual tool for displaying planned works in real-time on a web-based mapping platform (for industry and the community). It also enables users of the system to collaborate via various means on identified project cross-overs to achieve increased project efficiency, reduce duplication of effort and decrease overall project costs.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
Previously each organisation conducting planned capital works maintained their own list of projects in a number of disparate formats and only provided that information to other parties if required. Usually this was paper-based or via email and was not visible to others (community or industry). Works Central provides a centralised, real-time, online, visual interface for planned works information.
Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…
Ability to share and coordinate planned works information between organisations and collaborate to reduce costs and increase project efficiencies. In addition, the community is able to view planned projects in their local area for a defined period.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
A number of paper-based and manual processes. These processes were designed to advise others or comply with legislation rather than collaborate or share information.
Its predecessors/competitors include…
Many organisations conducting capital works maintain their project list in a spreadsheet. Some of the larger organisations may use a Geographic Information System or Works Management System to display their own projects internally. No direct competitors to our knowledge.
TARGET MARKET
It is made for…
All organisations who conduct large capital works projects (e.g., Roadworks, Water Main renewals, Electricity Line Replacements, Gas Main works, Fibre Optic Cable Laying). Specifically the product is targeted at Water Authorities, Councils, Utilities, Developers, Road and Rail Authorities. However, it is expected that there will be a community portal that allows members of the public to visit the site and view basic information about works in their local area.
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
It is available for sale through…
A direct sales approach with ‘us’ – Utility Services or online at the Works Central website. Potential customers can register their interest in viewing Works Central and/or sign up online.
Our marketing strategy is to…
Offer Foundation Membership to a number of organisations in order to gain their input into the development of the product, before launching it to local government, the utilities sector, and the water industry across Victoria. Using a coordinated and systematic marketing approach, we expect to be targeting the rest of Australia and New Zealand within 6 – 9 months.
SUPPORTING IMAGES AND/OR VIDEO
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INNOVATION
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To check out the Anthill SMART 100 Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, click here.
