“When we took (the paper reports) away, it was a little bit of a struggle,” Dimperio said. “They didn’t want to give it up. The way we got around that was through Mobile WorkForce. It actually has PDFs attached to the service orders, the same service order that we would print out is actually a PDF attached to the task. So, if they really wanted to get that paper, they could just click a button and they’d have the exact same piece of paper they were used to having. It’s gotten to the point now where that piece of paper that they used to use as a PDF, they can just go to a tab in Mobile WorkForce and there’s the information they need.”
The integration of
iVUE has been embraced by the Northwestern staff, even those that were not quick to start using new forms of technology.
“The biggest change would have to be the introduction to a computer system, and it started with the meter-exchange project,” Dimperio said. “Now, everything that we do is done through this system. The biggest change is that guys that weren’t so good with technology and didn’t embrace technology have really come around. It’s really been a big change for our guys out in the field.”
NISC’s iVUE enterprise system was built to integrate every aspect of the utility system. Employees in every division – be it accounting, billing, engineering or customer service – have the same information at their fingertips. This creates a seamless workflow that improves efficiency while cutting costs. That’s the enterprise.
“We meet twice per year with the cooperatives in Pennsylvania and New Jersey,” Dimperio said. “When you hear some of the things that they’re trying to get to talk and the things that they’re wasting time on and how much effort it has taken, I just sit back and smile because we don’t have to put up with any of that.”
Part I: What is an Enterprise Solution?
