GIS, WMS, and ERP Integration – The Right Touch Points
First, lets take a look at the typical utility, and the systems that are generally in place from the perspective of handling requests for new service. Below are some of the systems or manual logs that are most often in place at the typical utility.
Typical Utility Systems or Manual Logs
Each system or manually logged information plays some important role within the life of the utility. But the fragmented sets of information often contain redundant information, often have conflicting information, and are difficult to reconcile.
WMS, GIS, and ERP Solutions
Today’s automated tools that are available for utility distribution business activities can greatly reduce the confusion of the work flow and improve productivity and efficiencies. Work Management Systems (WMS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have matured and proven their value over the late 1990s. Many good implementations of these tools working together exist today as examples of technology improving business.
Work Management Systems typically sit at the hub of the activities and can act as the main point of contact and input by the workforce as jobs progress throughout the job life cycle. Implemented and interfaced correctly, the work management system can act as an important tool that benefits and assists the work process, while hiding most of the details of accounting, material, and status logging that are important for the corporate information sets.
