Network Rail Selects Capgemini and ClickSoftware for New Workforce Rostering Solution

Image Courtesy of Network Rail

New efficiencies aim to boost reliability and punctuality of Britain’s rail services

Network Rail today announces that a multi-million pound contract to implement ClickSoftwares (NasdaqGS: CKSW) workforce management and rostering system has been awarded to Capgemini UK plc. By using automated workforce management and rostering to enable greater efficiency and further improve safety, Network Rail aims to help Britain’s train operating companies minimise delays and disruptions to services, resulting in improved reliability and punctuality for rail passengers.

Working with ClickSoftware, Capgemini as project manager and prime contractor will initially deploy the new system to some 8,000 Network Rail signalling (operations) staff and, after further evaluation of the process and consultation, the deployment to 15,000 maintenance workers.

Network Rail owns and operates Britain’s 20,000 miles of rail infrastructure. Capgemini UK is part of the global Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. ClickSoftware is the leading provider of automated mobile workforce management and optimizing solutions for the rail and other industries.

The project aims to improve rostering processes for Network Rail’s signalling and maintenance workers by optimising which employee works when, and on what part of the rail network, factoring in compliance requirements, job priority and employee preference. The new system is also aimed at improving processes for Network Rail schedulers, supervisors and managers. The new rostering system will replace the current mixture of earlier-generation IT, paper-based and local spreadsheet-based processes, and is designed to increase productivity while further improving safety standards by incorporating comprehensive traceability facilities.

Neal Lawson, Director of Maintenance and Operations Services at Network Rail, said: ‘The new IT system will strengthen our ability to resource our signalling operations, and maintenance activities effectively. This will allow us to deploy the right team to the right place at the right time. It will therefore enable us to make optimum use of our workforce and their skills, and to maximise the availability of track to the train operators, thereby helping rail passengers by minimising delays and disruptions to services.’

Capgemini is responsible for implementation of the ClickSoftware workforce management solution and for integrating the new applications with existing Network Rail IT including HR, payroll and finance and Oracle E-Business Suite. Capgemini and Network Rail training specialists will work together to train employees in the use of the new systems.

The Capgemini proposal was selected in preference to competing bids from a number of leading IT companies because of its experience of large-scale IT implementations, its record of successful project completions at Network Rail, and the strong global reputation for excellence, reliability, scalability and performance of its bid partner ClickSoftware, which provides products across service industries in which maintenance and workforce management are of critical importance.

Jason Jago, Capgemini Account Director, said: ‘We are delighted to be entrusted with a project that is vital to the future of UK rail travel, and we look forward to providing Network Rail with a solution designed to maximise safety and efficiency while reducing costs and minimising track downtime to the benefit of the travelling public.’

Dr. Moshe BenBassat, founder and CEO of ClickSoftware ClickSoftware said ‘Organisations with complex scheduling and rostering demands can realise the greatest value by deploying an automated system that prioritises based on demand, employee availability and regulatory concerns. We expect Network Rail to deliver rail passengers an even great customer experience by providing on-time service through deeper insight and more streamlined operations.’

Development work on the new IT solution for Network Rail is being carried out in the UK, Israel and at Capgemini’s Advanced Planning and Scheduling Global Solution Centre in India.