nir-vana innovation network

The UK company has developed and deployed innovative software based on powerful algorithms for the optimisation of matching field-based workers and resources to client-centric requirements, including time-specific visits, distinct skill sets and calculating travelling logistics using online mapping tools, allowing companies to better plan and manage their service offering.
The artificially intelligent engine not only automates the scheduling process, it also creates more efficient schedules, enhancing the users’ performance and profitability while enabling them to provide the highest standard of field-based services to their clients, anywhere in the world.
On top of reducing downtime of resources out on the road, the system cuts down scheduling planning time to a few seconds per visit.
The management can also instruct the software to assign more weight to parameters that align more with business drivers. The default parameters include:
● Continuity of service - Maximises continuity by allocating workers to clients they have previously visited;
● Preferred requests - Maximises the fulfilment of preferred requests by assigning workers with the relevant skills and characteristics to accommodate as many of the clients and service providers’ preferred requests as possible;
● Reducing costs - Minimises operational costs by reducing mileage and by using the cheapest worker option to fulfil the visit requirements;
● Travel - Minimises travel time and distance between client visits to reduce travel costs;
● Worker quantity - Minimises the number of workers required to fulfil the visits, reducing the number of workers needed by the service provider, freeing up resources to fulfil new contracts;
● Worker area availability - Minimises the allocation of workers outside of the areas they are available to work;
● Worker time availability - Minimises the allocation of workers outside of their available working hours.
The provided API (application programming interface) lets the service to be integrated into any scheduling software.
The UK company shares its development plans and details on upgrades and features with its partners.
The UK company is interested in cooperation with schedule providers willing to add the API to their software solutions under license, thus improving the services they provide by saving their clients time and money.
Working in collaboration with a UK university and government-funded programmes, the start-up is connected to research networks and benefits from a stimulating environment. It has already engaged in cooperation with companies in the UK and is looking to expand worldwide.

Advantages & innovations

The software provides easy comparable solutions – it allows users to check and compare different scenarios while forecasting profits, continuity of service, travel and other metrics. It is very flexible, allowing for different scheduling scenarios in different geographic areas. The software has already proven its worth in terms of transportation cost reduction (reduced by up to 20 %), worker utilisation (increased by up to 20%) and scheduling time savings (reduced by approximately 50%).

Stage of development

Field tested/evaluated

Partner sought

Type of co-operation: licensing. Type of partner sought: industry. Specific area of partner sought: software developers and integrators producing solutions for mobile workforce, especially in the care sector. Role of partner sought: to adopt and bundle the software for their client base.