CASE STUDY / BRUNATA-METRONA - INSTALLATION
BRUNATA-METRONA ACCELERATES AN ENERGY TRANSITION WITH ROUTE PLANNING FROM FLS - FAST LEAN SMART
When it came to scheduling installation appointments, BRUNATA-METRONA had reached its limits. With FLS VISITOUR and FLS MOBILE, it became possible to achieve an unthinkable level of efficiency and productivity.
The results:
The results:
- 95% time saving in planning
- 25% more orders completed
- Reduced use of overtime
- Optimised punctuality and ability to provide live information
How BRUNATA-METRONA has achieved success:
The challenges:
- Handling of approx. 100,000 orders per year
- High time pressure for the implementation of legally required measures for an energy transition
- Appointment and route planning handled very differently between individual branches with a high level of manual effort
- Continual need for coordination with customers regarding deadlines and reminders
- Little transparency internally and externally for planning decisions and outcomes
THE COMPANY:
DRIVERS OF AN ENERGY TRANSITION
BRUNATA-METRONA is a market leader for energy measurement and related services, and a driver of Europe's energy transition. The BRUNATA-METRONA Group has stood for the responsible use of the environment and resources for over 70 years. Many people know the name from meter reading services. But BRUNATA-METRONA has long since evolved from a meter reading company into a comprehensive installation and property maintenance services provider.
Customers from the housing and property industry benefit from sustainable energy and building concepts and therefore increase the marketability and sustainability of their properties. As a nationwide expert for sustainable energy and building concepts, BRUNATA-METRONA plays an important role in the field of decarbonisation, energy saving, and long-term sustainability.
The group with 1,800 employees consists of three independent companies. Services range from energy cost billing, smoke alarm servicing, energy certificates and electromobility, to drinking water analysis and services related to digital metering systems (smart metering).
Customers from the housing and property industry benefit from sustainable energy and building concepts and therefore increase the marketability and sustainability of their properties. As a nationwide expert for sustainable energy and building concepts, BRUNATA-METRONA plays an important role in the field of decarbonisation, energy saving, and long-term sustainability.
The group with 1,800 employees consists of three independent companies. Services range from energy cost billing, smoke alarm servicing, energy certificates and electromobility, to drinking water analysis and services related to digital metering systems (smart metering).
THE PROJECT:
A SOLUTION TO SCHEDULE 100,000 ORDERS
With its 670 employees, the Hürth division handles around 100,000 installation jobs a year, from the installation of heat cost meters to the replacement of smoke detectors. A Herculean task in which not only the mass of orders poses a major challenge, but also an increasing time pressure. The legal requirements for the energy transition primarily affect the heating sector. There is a particularly large amount of work to complete in the coming years, from engaging and advising homeowners, tenants and landlords, to replacing and testing the old appliances.
The previous way of planning: Google Maps, Outlook, Local Knowledge
For these service branches, it was clear that this could no longer be achieved with the previous way of scheduling appointments and routes. What was missing until now was a uniform system. Instead, each service branch had its own approach, and the fitters often found themselves very busy planning their own routes into daily tours. The 'planning tools' here: local knowledge, Google Maps and Microsoft Outlook. Stefan Eichenauer, Head of Service Branches explains:
The previous way of planning: Google Maps, Outlook, Local Knowledge
For these service branches, it was clear that this could no longer be achieved with the previous way of scheduling appointments and routes. What was missing until now was a uniform system. Instead, each service branch had its own approach, and the fitters often found themselves very busy planning their own routes into daily tours. The 'planning tools' here: local knowledge, Google Maps and Microsoft Outlook. Stefan Eichenauer, Head of Service Branches explains:
"We knew that we had to become more efficient. We also wanted to become more transparent and more able to provide live information to our customers."
Consequently, the search for a professional and scalable solution began in 2020.
Choosing a Tour Planning solution and Field Service App package
The process saw requirements and specifications presented to a shortlist of three software providers. BRUNATA-METRONA decided on FLS - FAST LEAN SMART and its scheduling and route planning solution FLS VISITOUR, supplemented by the field service app FLS MOBILE, for a live connection between the mobile workforce and the head office. Not only was the FLS solution package overall convincing, but also the case studies and reference calls.
Choosing a Tour Planning solution and Field Service App package
The process saw requirements and specifications presented to a shortlist of three software providers. BRUNATA-METRONA decided on FLS - FAST LEAN SMART and its scheduling and route planning solution FLS VISITOUR, supplemented by the field service app FLS MOBILE, for a live connection between the mobile workforce and the head office. Not only was the FLS solution package overall convincing, but also the case studies and reference calls.
The previous experience of FLS from colleagues in a sister company was of course an advantage - both in the selection of the right provider and in the implementation of the project. However, this does not mean that the solution was adopted one-to-one.
"We had a lively exchange with our colleagues," says Stefan Bessell, Head of Service Branches and project manager, "but we realised that we are quite different in our proposed usage." The flexibility of the FLS tools allowed them to adopt some elements whilst on the other hand, to address the specifics of the linked jobs requirements at BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth.
A step-by-step rollout to subsidiaries
The project with FLS begun in May 2021 and the decision was made to roll out the system step by step, which is appropriate for an organisation the size as BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth with 17 branches. The pilot project took place in one of the largest branches. In March 2022, the time had come and FLS VISITOUR went live. In the months that followed, rollouts continued at the other sites.
At the same time, the FLS MOBILE app was introduced for the mobile workforce, or more precisely on their tablets, which they always have with them when on duty.
"We had a lively exchange with our colleagues," says Stefan Bessell, Head of Service Branches and project manager, "but we realised that we are quite different in our proposed usage." The flexibility of the FLS tools allowed them to adopt some elements whilst on the other hand, to address the specifics of the linked jobs requirements at BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth.
A step-by-step rollout to subsidiaries
The project with FLS begun in May 2021 and the decision was made to roll out the system step by step, which is appropriate for an organisation the size as BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth with 17 branches. The pilot project took place in one of the largest branches. In March 2022, the time had come and FLS VISITOUR went live. In the months that followed, rollouts continued at the other sites.
At the same time, the FLS MOBILE app was introduced for the mobile workforce, or more precisely on their tablets, which they always have with them when on duty.
Positive results appear in many areas
What has been the result of the switch from disparate, manual planning to a specialised system for scheduling and route planning? The planning method has changed, "from 'on foot', to fully automated," as Stefan Bessell describes it. The office staff now handles all scheduling, and the fitters can concentrate on their actual work on site. This alone makes them more productive. Added to this are the effects of optimal route planning thanks to the FLS algorithm. Stefan Eichenauer:
What has been the result of the switch from disparate, manual planning to a specialised system for scheduling and route planning? The planning method has changed, "from 'on foot', to fully automated," as Stefan Bessell describes it. The office staff now handles all scheduling, and the fitters can concentrate on their actual work on site. This alone makes them more productive. Added to this are the effects of optimal route planning thanks to the FLS algorithm. Stefan Eichenauer:
"Our fitters complete more jobs in the same amount of time, simply because of the intelligent linking of jobs."
25% more orders and a huge time saving
Overall, the employees now manage around 25% more jobs per day without the need for overtime. "We route our installers from their homes to the first appointment and then back home from the last appointment," Bessell explains. "They're home on time because the dynamic scheduling is designed precisely to keep them on schedule." This punctuality and the improved daily schedule result in less stress and therefore positive feedback from the fitters on the new platform.
The solution for route planning and dynamic optimisation in field service
Dynamic planning software FLS VISITOUR calculates the optimal planning for the day within seconds. You save an enormous amount of time and create error-free, highly efficient tours.
The difference: You can re-optimise tours at any time during the day at the push of a button if something changes. This means that even the most dynamic field service operation is no longer a problem. - Discover your potential now:
The difference: You can re-optimise tours at any time during the day at the push of a button if something changes. This means that even the most dynamic field service operation is no longer a problem. - Discover your potential now:
Realise your potential with FLS.
For the head office staff who plan appointments and routes into tours, this has also resulted in enormous time savings: "Of course, there are still intervention factors within FLS VISITOUR, such as if a customer cancels," describes Bessell. "But it's in no way like before." And more:
"If we look at the time spent on scheduling, it has dropped from 100% to 5% overall."
Stefan Bessell, Project Manager, BRUNATA-METRONA GmbHWhat has also improved: BRUNATA-METRONA must register its orders with customers in advance. This process for finding appointments has also been optimised. In the course of the project, the registration process was also standardised.
Instead of first arranging an appointment with the customer, then scheduling the appointment and posting it in the office 14 days in advance, service staff now first schedule the appointment in FLS VISITOUR. They then confirm the appointments either by SMS or registration letter by e-mail. If a customer is unable to keep an appointment, they notify FLS VISITOUR and the appointment is quickly and easily rescheduled.
Increased ability to provide information to customers
"We can now work like this because FLS gives us a transparency about the scheduled appointments that we simply didn't have before in this way," says Stefan Eichenauer. Today, the office staff can see exactly when and where which appointment is scheduled and can provide information to the customers at any time. The coordination between the fitters and the office staff has also improved significantly thanks to the system.
The potential of professional route and tour planning
BRUNATA-METRONA and FLS jointly led the project to success. The tour planning software and the field service app were successfully implemented, the processes standardised and optimised, and the employees trained and supported. In just a short time, the improved KPIs from the processed order volume to the time savings in scheduling show how great the potential of a professional solution for scheduling and route planning is.
So it is not surprising that BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth wants to tap this potential in its other business areas as well. Eichenauer's and Bessell's next goal is to also plan and control route planning for the meter reading service.
Instead of first arranging an appointment with the customer, then scheduling the appointment and posting it in the office 14 days in advance, service staff now first schedule the appointment in FLS VISITOUR. They then confirm the appointments either by SMS or registration letter by e-mail. If a customer is unable to keep an appointment, they notify FLS VISITOUR and the appointment is quickly and easily rescheduled.
Increased ability to provide information to customers
"We can now work like this because FLS gives us a transparency about the scheduled appointments that we simply didn't have before in this way," says Stefan Eichenauer. Today, the office staff can see exactly when and where which appointment is scheduled and can provide information to the customers at any time. The coordination between the fitters and the office staff has also improved significantly thanks to the system.
The potential of professional route and tour planning
BRUNATA-METRONA and FLS jointly led the project to success. The tour planning software and the field service app were successfully implemented, the processes standardised and optimised, and the employees trained and supported. In just a short time, the improved KPIs from the processed order volume to the time savings in scheduling show how great the potential of a professional solution for scheduling and route planning is.
So it is not surprising that BRUNATA-METRONA Hürth wants to tap this potential in its other business areas as well. Eichenauer's and Bessell's next goal is to also plan and control route planning for the meter reading service.
The results at a glance:
- 95% time saving in planning
- 25% more orders handled
- Uniform, transparent processes
- Pressure removed from the mobile workforce
- Optimised punctuality and ability to provide live information
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DISCOVER IT WITH FLS – FAST LEAN SMART
You too can make your field service management more efficient with FLS. With our solutions, our customers achieve optimisation results such as an average reduction of 20% in field service costs.
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