SBB: Mobility for train staff.
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is the largest Swiss service company in the field of public transport. Ergon was responsible for developing an all-round software solution for the new devices used by train staff (ZPG II), which have been in use since June 2005. Further mobile applications followed, including a solution for process optimisation and increasing efficiency on building sites. This solution uses decentralised mobile terminals to access employee presence and absence, working hours and operating hours, material deliveries and transportation, and expenses management reports – and stores this information in the central SAP R/3.
Since December 2009, the trains of the Swiss Federal Railways have been running to the 2010 timetable. Ergon played a key role in the development of the software used to prepare this timetable together with the project partners Netcetera and NOSE. NeTS providers planners with graphical and tabular tools. Every journey is calculated on the basis of distance and technical and topographical parameters. The application is used to plan all additional and replacement trains as well as diversions and other short-term changes. NeTS also supports the planning of maintenance work and the booking of journeys.
Projects
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is the largest Swiss service company in the field of public transport. Ergon was responsible for developing an all-round software solution for new devices used by train staff (ELAZ) that have been in use since October 2012. ELAZ (Elektronischen Assistenten Zugpersonal, or Train Staff Electronic Assistant) is a handy mobile device developed by Ergon for use by SBB, which not only fits in any pocket or bag, but also remains online at all times. The results of the development work are plain to see: ELAZ is more modern, convenient and lighter than its predecessor. It consists of an Android smartphone and an external mobile printer. As this is no longer integrated into the device, use is much simpler. The hardware can be replaced with little effort.
Success
All of the train staff's work requirements met in one smart, convenient mobile device, you could say.
Ergon has developed a mobile application for SBB's Telecoms/Infrastructure department that allows train and locomotive staff to log in easily on the trains on which they are working. Using the app, staff can log in on the train and can then be contacted on a train-specific short number via mobile phone, in addition to the normal telephone number. This is making internal communication easier for staff currently on duty. The app was rolled out in summer 2014 together with the new mobile phones, and has been further developed and adjusted to meet new requirements since.
Another mobile application developed by Ergon for SBB, meanwhile, is enabling train managers to give train drivers the go-ahead to leave stations. This task used to be done exclusively via the well-known orange boxes on the station platform, but have been removed from a growing number of stations since 2010, largely for cost reasons. Thanks to the Ergon software, the train manager can now dispatch trains directly from their smartphone.
Success
One example of mobile solutions simplifying and shortening the length of work processes.