CLIENT CHALLENGE
The members of the consortium, used to operate independently without an efficient means of communication and sharing of resources. The consortium felt the need for a system that would enable the efficient coordination and sharing of helicopter services. They also needed a system that would provide them transactional as well as reporting functionality to manage logistic services and apportion costs among consortium members.

IBS SOLUTION
IBS developed a comprehensive logistics solution, which functionally fulfilled all the requirements of the client.

This solution is designed to aid the operational and tactical business processes that support movement of passengers and cargo from and to oil rigs/platforms by helicopter. With it, the consortium has been able to successfully streamline the coordination of helicopter services as well as optimize resource utilization. The system not only supports transaction processing, but also management reporting for efficient management of shared logistic services.

The application is available over the Internet backed by 24/7 support and robust security systems. The solution currently handles data on more than 1,000 production platforms and rigs, handling over 200 helicopters, and 50,000 passengers, with over 20,000 passenger moves per month. When fully deployed, the system can handle up to 500 user interactions in an hour and up to 6,000 in a day. The client has made the solution available to all helicopter service providers and users operating in its area of operation.

APPROACH
Functionally, IBS built the application as a suite of modules, instead of a single monolithic application, with each module addressing a unique business function. This facilitates easy addition of new functionality, as the product evolves in response to changing business needs. The application employs a component-based design and uses state-of-the-art technology.

The IBS approach provided the client with a high degree of transparency in both involvement and visibility during the development process. IBS was geared to adopt a ‘productized’ approach, where it was assumed that the client was desirous of receiving the application product as a final deliverable, based on a given set of specifications and requirements, within an agreed timeframe.

BUSINESS BENEFITS
The common platform for shared resources that the solution creates, provides operators with greater visibility into available transportation options and other resources that could be shared, thereby optimizing resource utilization and streamlining the coordination process.

The application provides the following business benefits:
• Reduces as much as 60% of the time spent in reservation and dispatch activities
• Reduces cost of operations by eliminating non-value-added work
• Provides accurate and up-to-date dispatch information
• Enables better co-ordination of helicopter services
• Aids in better utilization of equipment by providing resource utilization details
• Verifies personnel training with the requirements of the job
• Monitors personnel who are restricted from the facility for security purposes
• Enables the command/control center to view the Personnel on Board count at every location
• Coordinates mobilization and demobilization operations
• Enables sharing of resources for optimum utilization
• Provides Key Performance Indicators to Management

ABOUT THE CLIENT
The client is a cooperative of oil & gas E & P companies and oil field service companies. This consortium coordinates resource sharing between the consortium members facilitating optimum utilization of helicopter logistics to improve operational efficiency. The client is currently establishing processes for the sharing of offshore logistics and construction & supply of infrastructure resources.