FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Underground Focus - February 2001 New Product Spotlight - Introducing KorTerra: Ticket Management System
A Focused Partnership Generates a
New Vision for Success
In today’s fast-paced business environment, it is rare to see a true
partnership between clients and their software vendor. When vendors
invite clients to attend a “user meeting”, it is often viewed as a
thinly disguised marketing pitch.
But there was a real difference to a recent meeting in Minnesota.
"I’ve been to user conferences in the past that were just cover-ups for a big sales presentation,” said Dale Enoch, Executive Director of Arkansas One Call System, Inc. “This was not one of them!”
Jim Vanderhoof, Supervisor of the Traffic Division at the City of St. Paul, MN agreed, “It’s great to be heard and nice to find out what others are thinking and doing.”
Enoch and Vanderhoof were just two of over 30 attendees who gathered in early September for the Annual Automated Dispatch Locating System (ADLS) User’s Conference held at KorTerra, Inc.’s corporate headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN.
This continuing dialog between the ADLS Product Team and their clients has fostered the emergence of the KorTerra Damage Prevention System. The KorTerra product suite consists of scalable and flexible modules designed to meet the needs of any locating operation- contract locators, municipalities, or utilities – regardless of size. KorTerra builds on the strengths of ADLS, incorporating a more powerful user interface and a wide variety of features and functions directly resulting from client input.
Building on Success
ADLS already has an impressive track record. Designed by and for
dispatchers and locators, ADLS provides a comprehensive work force
management and damage prevention solution that streamlines all aspects
of utility locate requests. When utilizing the optional mobile
application, ADLS allows One-Call tickets to be dispatched in real-time,
directly to locators in the field.
"Our ADLS mobile pilot was very successful,” explained Cleo Johnson, Project Manager at Connexus Energy, Ramsey MN. “The efficiencies gained are significant.”
Locators can go directly to their work site, eliminating the need to come into the office. Johnson explains, “Our Locators start their day from home and tickets are processed real-time throughout the day.” ADLS users find locators typically gain over an hour each day in productivity. And the reduced daily driving means less wear and tear on vehicles, too!
At the core of ADLS is a workforce management system that completely automates the management of locate requests. Instead of dealing with mounds of paper, dispatchers view and approve load-leveled tickets online. Multi-level ticket auditing ensures tickets are never lost. ADLS users report a significant increase in dispatcher productivity, while the reduced paperwork and automated routing features significantly reduce dispatcher workload and stress level.
The experience of Arkansas Utility Protection Services, Inc. is typical of other ADLS clients. Prior to implementing ADLS, ARKUPS augmented their permanent staff with three temporary workers. After implementing ADLS, ARKUPS no longer required the temporary workers. In 2000, ARKUPS increased their volume of locates to over 600,000 per year with no corresponding increase in permanent staff.
“We’re having unbelievable success with this software,” says ARKUPS General Manager, Roger Cox. “It’s really user-friendly.”
Public Service Company of New Mexico has seen similar results. “ADLS has enabled us to eliminate the need for a full-time dispatching position,” says Operations Supervisor James Stanovcak. “And ADLS safeguards have erased the possibility of losing a ticket.”
Other ADLS modules include a robust Damage Information System (DIS), which provides complete locate damage tracking and reporting. “We Utilize the damage module extensively on a daily basis,” says Cox. “It’s invaluable. We no longer have to rely on reams of paper.” The details of every damage report are immediately available and linked to the originating locate ticket. “I can pull up desired information whenever I need it.”
Cox also finds the integrated management reporting capabilities provide the constant visibility needed to keep operations running efficiently.
"We can see where we’re at anytime during the course of the day. We know when we need to talk to our location managers. And KorTerra is willing to create new report formats when we need them.” With over 30 utilities as partners in Arkansas, new requirements are the norm, not the exception. “When we need new reports, KorTerra works with us to develop them.”
Easy to Implement
Comprehensive systems are often difficult and cumbersome to implement.
User experience with ADLS is just the opposite.
“The system was in place and live in days,” recalls Stanovcak of the
1999 implementation at Public Service Company of New Mexico. Another
client, providing independent locating services in the southeastern
United States, started a completely new venture and was fully
operational with software and trained staff for over 350 locators in
less than 45 days.
"Our old work management system would crash weekly,” said Stanovcak, “We’ve had this system (ADLS) running for nine months, without a hitch. It’s bulletproof.”
Connexus Energy’s experience was similar. “The KorTerra planning and technical staff were great to work with, “Johnson explains. “Their knowledge of the system and well-defined implementation plan made our installation of ADLS quick and easy with little disruption to the scheduling team.”
Smooth, on-site installation, customized configuration and user training, along with a highly responsive support staff, are all part of the standard ADLS implementation.
Introducing KorTerra
With ADLS as the solid foundation, KorTerra merged client needs and requests
into a new vision for the product. The result of that vision will be
unveiled with KorTerra’s official launch in February, at the Underground
Safety 2001 trade show in Las Vegas.
KorTerra will sport a more powerful user
interface, and a variety of enhanced features including mapping,
expanded search capabilities, context sensitive menus for ticket
actions, user-defined tool bars, and multiple filters for selection.
About KorTerra, Inc.
Since 1990, KorTerra, Inc. has developed mobile computing and workforce
management solutions for the utility industry. They have worked with
major utilities, contract locators and municipalities to develop a
variety of Utility Workforce Management systems. The software
effectively manages on-time response, management reporting, positive
response, and keeps track of locating team performance in a real-time,
mobile and paperless environment. KorTerra also provides ASP services;
capabilities that allow KorTerra to host the software on their servers
with customer access to the application via the Internet. KorTerra
software interfaces with every One Call Center and is used by Utilities,
Municipalities and Contract Locators across North America. Today, over
20,000,000 tickets are managed by the KorTerra application annually. To
learn more about KorTerra and see what their customers are saying about
the KorTerra product suite, go to
www.korterra.com, or contact via telephone at 952.368.1911.
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For additional information contact:
Press Contact(s):
Chris Stendal, President
KorTerra, Inc.
18882 Lake Drive East
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Tel: 952.368.1911
Fax: 952.697.3141
Email: sales@korterra.com
