Information Sharing Gets Boost At Connetics

Case study
October 2003

Information Sharing Gets Boost At Connetics

A search for a product to improve delivery of information to staff led Christchurch utility networks service company Connetics to fellow Christchurch firm Webscape.

Webscape’s intranet-based information management system Ubique is significantly contributing to Connetics internal communications and information sharing among about 120 staff with widely varying degrees of expertise and levels of computer usage. Connetics is progressively introducing Ubique’s feature’s to its staff as part of an ongoing implementation.

Connetics systems manager Stephen Harteveld led the company’s search for a reliable way to deliver information across the organisation, which operates from three main buildings at its Woolston, Christchurch, campus and employs many field staff. Both intranet and CRM options were considered.

Harteveld says the nature of Connetics contracting business makes it essential to provide rapid dissemination and easy access to company policies, safety information and Government legislation. Ubique’s modular approach ensures information of that type, either stored on the Connetics network or on other organisations’ websites, is just a click or two away from the desktops of all staff with PCs.

Different modules within Ubique are also used to track staff movements on an electronic “in/out board”, record leave applications and collect expressions of interest in company and external training programmes and other events.

Harteveld says Connetics also makes good use of Ubique as a portal to display realtime graphical accident and incident reporting from Connetics own database applications. The IT department similarly uses it to monitor systems problems and track overall performance in addressing issues.

While Connetics field staff - about 80 of the 200 total - are unable to access the system, Harteveld expects that to change with the growing availability of wireless devices. Eventually, he says it is possible that Ubique could be used in communications with staff out on the job as it is with the office-based staff.

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Ubique is the flagship product of Webscape, a Christchurch-based web application development house that provides bespoke software development services and is growing its range of rentable web applications. Ubique is delivered to PCs on a network using Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is fully customisable and comprises a set of modules enabling businesses to improve their operational efficiency by delivering and sharing information.

Connetics operates as a utility contractor throughout New Zealand. It is based in Christchurch and is wholly owned by electricity lines company Orion. It has 200 staff and annual turnover of more than $30 million.

LINKS
Webscape: www.webscape.co.nz
Ubique: www.ubique.webscape.co.nz
Connetics: www.connetics.co.nz

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