Securitas: A complex puzzle? Not with Ortec's workforce scheduling solution"

The Securitas Public Transportation segment in the Netherlands has chosen to follow in the footsteps of Securitas France, by implementing Ortec's workforce scheduling solution, Ortec Harmony. The system will be used to schedule 400 employees who work as conductors aboard 122 trams run by public transportation company of Rotterdam, RET.  among others.

A complex puzzle? Not according to Ari-Jan van de Bunt, Securitas Division Manager for Public Transport. "By implementing Ortec Harmony in the right way - with the correct variables - the puzzle will actually solve itself and enable us to plan much more efficiently."

The Securitas Public Transport division currently uses its own system for planning security services to create also employee schedules for public transport. As Van de Bunt explains: "Our in-house planning application works fine, but it is geared towards planning associated with security objects (buildings). With Ortec's solution, we'll now have the flexibility to take into account both employee qualifications and preferences, and public transport departure times. The latter is important because it will enable us to minimize unproductive hours, such as the time conductors spend on stationary trams etc. From now on, we'll be able to arrange the schedules in such a way that the end of a shift for conductors is combined with the time period that a tram is due to remain stationary for a certain period of time."

Paperless office
By implementing the scheduling solution, Securitas aims to eliminate paper in the workplace. Van de Bunt: "At present, a great deal of paper-based administrative work is required to complete the schedules. With the new software, this will become a thing of the past because all information will be automatically fed into Ortec Harmony via an interface from our human resources system. This set up will also reduce the likelihood of errors. Our current planning system will remain in use, interfaced with the payroll system. Ortec Harmony will also link into this system."

Reduction in FTEs
Securitas' 4 full-time planners (reduced from 5) will begin using the new application from the beginning of March. Van de Bunt: "If Ortec Harmony meets all of our requirements, we expect to achieve savings of 1-2 FTEs, with these resources being assigned to other activities in the organisation."

However, it was the ability to provide employees with access to the schedules that was the motivating factor behind Securitas' switch to Ortec Harmony. Speaking about further benefits, Van de Brunt states: "We also expect employee satisfaction to increase and absenteeism to decrease because we will be better equipped to take employee preferences into account during the scheduling process. This will make our workforce very happy."

Securitas were quick to decide on their preferred solution during the selection process. As Van de Bunt explains: " Ortec was able to fully meet all of our requirements and could demonstrate something tangible. Two of our planners (including the head planner) have already been trained and they are really excited about using this solution, which will deliver visible benefits for all concerned".