ApplyIT's annual Smart Summit

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November 2011 News

Delegates at ApplyIT’s annual Smart Summit in the Drakensberg learned how major manufacturing and technology trends are set to impact on upcoming versions of the company’s Operations Suite. New mobile platforms unlock several possibilities, with examples given of how IntelliPermit will be enhanced with field-based transactions such as on-site risk assessments, permit status updates and safety inspections.

Delegates were given a preview of a mobile risk assessment solution built on an industrial-grade mobile device with capabilities that include synchronisation, GPS receiver, camera, RFID tag readers and barcode scanners, all of which unlock possibilities to improve operational performance and safety. ApplyIT’s Scott Bredin and Henry Fourie showed several examples of where this would contribute to safety through on-site verification of workplace inspections prior to any work taking place.

[L to R]: Charles Sellars (Resinkem), Scott Bredin (ApplyIT), Shirley Breytenbach (ApplyIT), Ben Matthews (Newmont, Boddington)

“With the continued reduction in cost of data storage and new, powerful database technologies, predictive analytics becomes more viable and this is a key strategic area for ApplyIT in developing future OpSuite versions,” said Gavin Halse, MD ApplyIT.

OpSuite already contains a significant percentage of all transactions that happen during plant operations, which forms a basis for useful analysis and prediction. The next versions of OpSuite will use historical patterns augmented with current state-of-plant updates to predict unsafe conditions and help ensure safe work and improved performance.

The loss of experience from the manufacturing industry as people retire was identified as a common concern to all companies present. The idea of computer-based technologies integrated to deliver refresher training required to perform work safely was well received, with several examples presented by ApplyIT’s training partners of how this can be used to complement existing training programmes.

Halse predicts that in addition to other developments, OpSuite will include elements of cloud computing and software as a service within 18 months as a result of working closely with Microsoft on a new solution fulfilment model based on the Azure platform. This means that alternative models for licensing and support are likely in a similar timeframe.

In conclusion, delegates were reminded that ApplyIT’s success is based on customer led innovation and development and users were invited to build the community further and innovate together with the development group.

For more information contact Gavin Halse, ApplyIT, +27 (0)31 514 7300, halseg@applyit.co.za, www.applyit.com

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ApplyIT's annual Smart Summit

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