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Manila Headquartered International Container Terminal Services Selects ComOps Microster Workforce Management Solution

Announcement posted by ComOps 25 Jun 2013

ComOps, a leading Australian provider of workforce management solutions, has been selected by Philippine-headquartered International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) to deploy its Microster workforce optimisation software at the organisation’s port service facilities in Manila.

ICTSI, a leading global port and container terminal management organisation, will use Microster to efficiently manage variable labour costs, including overtime and roster related fatigue within its port operations in Manila, resulting in improved productivity, efficiency and, ultimately, the organisation’s profitability.

Microster replaces ICTSI’s current Excel spreadsheet and paper-based manual processes which offered limited visibility into best overtime allocations and the costs associated with poor decisions.  Staff previously assigned to managing the manual roster process will now be employed in more strategic, revenue driving activities.

Microster will be deployed with embedded fatigue management and interactive voice response features at employee self-service kiosks within ICTSI’s flagship Port Manila International Terminal.  More than 500 individual workers will initially be on-boarded onto Microster, the majority of which work within the company’s operations division.

Microster will assist ICTSI to reduce the time it takes to plan and allocate staff for day-to-day operations while ensuring that last minute allocation is as efficient as possible by tracking the actual hours worked, and the skills, competencies and availability of different team members required. Microster will also help to manage overtime costs, effectively roster casual and full-time employees and provide an audit trail on all rostered hours in compliance with all relevant industrial awards and enterprise agreements. The solution will ultimately help align skills-based rosters to the workload requirement to ensure that staff utilisation is optimised.

Roberto Locsin, who works for Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) general manager’s office for special projects, said, “We required a system that could more efficiently allocate the best people at the best cost in order to maximise productivity for the business overall. During the review process, we concluded that we required an IT solution that also incorporated governance and process design features as part of an overall comprehensive workforce optimisation solution.  

“As ComOps already has a strong presence and demonstrated success within the ports and stevedoring industry, the company was a natural choice.  At the same time, we obviously looked at the technical and functional features within Microster and recognised that a major advantage was its ability to be configured to our own individual processes.  Another useful benefit is that the software utilises best practice rostering techniques that align skills-based rosters to the workload requirement ensuring that staff utilisation is optimised.

“We are also very excited about the Microster fatigue management module which will ensure that we can maintain our very high levels of safety within the organisation.  After all, if we’re not safe we cannot be productive. Microster will help to roster for peak productivity rather than just filling gaps and potentially exhausting our people.   At the same time, the IVR technology will enable us to automate roster availability with each worker and replace what has until recently been a manual and time consuming process.”

Microster will be integrated with ICTSI’s existing Navis platform for managing the movement of cargo through terminals, as well as the organisation’s SAP HR, payroll and automatic timesheet software.  This will ensure that the rules engine in Microster can allocate personnel based on their skills competency and ensure that the best available operator is assigned to the highest priority equipment.

Locsin added, “One of the major contributing factors to our desire to work with ComOps was their team’s demonstrable professionalism and discipline which was evident throughout the evaluation, sales and delivery processes.  Microster will give us a right-sized approach to rostering.”

About ComOps
With a 40-year history of delivering competitive edge through technology, ComOps' Workforce Management Solutions are built on a simple premise: best fit, lowest price, least risk.
 
The company specialises in Workforce Management Solutions & Services, covering; Rostering & Scheduling, Award Interpretation, Labour Cost Management, Fatigue Risk Management, Leave Management, Time & Attendance, Employee Self-Service Portals, Workforce Analytics, Risk Management & Safety Compliance and Learning & Development. By focusing on the three crucial areas of people, productivity and profit, our end-to-end solutions have restored millions to the bottom lines of our clients, made entire workforces more productive and also bullet-proofed businesses against future risk.
 
ComOps' solutions are used by some of the world's most recognised global brands; Toshiba, the Hyatt Group, Sara Lee, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust, RailCorp, QUBE Logistics, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, DP World, Queensland Department of Public Works, City of Melbourne and Tasmanian Fire Services.
 
ComOps is a Microsoft Gold Partner, is ISO 9001:2008 Quality Accredited.

To learn more about Microster, please visit the Microster webpage <http://www.comopswfm.com/solution/workforce-optimisation-planning> , or contact us at  info@comops.com.au
 
About ICTSI
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is in the business of acquiring, developing, managing and operating container ports and terminals worldwide.

Established in December 1987 in the Philippines, ICTSI has become a leading operator, innovator and pioneer in its field. After consolidating and strengthening our base and flagship operations at the Manila International Container Terminal in the Philippines, we realized the potential for an independent international terminal operator like ourselves, and launched an aggressive international and domestic expansion program in 1994.

We have a track record that confirms our ability to rapidly adapt to different operating environments, and to add substantial value to our operated terminals by enhancing their efficiency at every level. We also have the proven ability to perform beyond the expectations of central and regional governments of a privatisation process, spanning both developed and emerging economies.

We take pride in being a partner in the true sense of the word in the development and management of port operations with governments divesting themselves of maritime port assets by privatisation or sale vehicles.