How to further enable remote working in the time of Covid-19

AMCS Platform guarantees operational continuity and reduces risks

Continuing waste and recycling operations like it is any other day. Due to the use of innovative technology, there is no need to hold back during Covid-19. An enterprise-grade SaaS and cloud-based IT system enables companies to run their operations everywhere, regardless of the location of the employees.

As a result, planners and customer service representatives are not tied to their desks at the office while drivers can service customers remotely with their in-cab device guaranteeing a safe 1.5-metre distance. Due to the real-time data exchange with the centralised system information is always up-to-date and accessible everywhere without the need for employees to go to the office.

2020 has been an unprecedented year in many respects for the waste and recycling industry. Although innovative state-of-the-art technologies enabled many waste and recycling companies to prepare to overcome this year's unexpected events. For Gerard Kissane, with over ten years of experience in the industry, the biggest challenge facing most companies is the ability to keep staff safe and healthy, whilst serving the needs of clients. “The answer to this challenge is the ability for staff to work independently of the workplace. This goes for all co-workers within a company, regardless of which location they normally would have been based if there was no Covid-19.”

Innovative solutions provide the waste and recycling industry with the possibility to work wherever they deem fit, he says. “Whether it is behind a desk, in the call centre or out on route emptying bins or dropping off of a skip. Through automating operational processes with an end-to-end solution companies are completely covered. In addition to guaranteeing continuity, at the same time, it reduces the business risk of losing customers which evidently can lead to turndown in turnover, decreased margins and unexpected costs.”

Cloud computing enables staff to work independently of the workplace

With the coming of age of cloud systems, greater internet coverage and connectivity, remote working is more seamless than ever, says Gerard Kissane referring to AMCS Platform, an enterprise-grade IoT solution which runs in the cloud and is Microsoft Azure based. Globally it is running the operations of waste and recycling companies of every type and size, not limited by the – international - scale of the processes and the number of the locations they operate.

“The cloud computing environment allows employees to work anywhere, no matter where they are and what their daily tasks are. They can access the applications they work with everywhere via the Internet”, he says. “This not only guarantees the day to day work can continue. It also helps customers to reach their goals, even during a pandemic which at the moment is one of the most valuable advantages of Platform.”

The AMCS Group is the first company in the waste and recycling industry to be awarded the Microsoft Azure IP Co-Sell Ready status. Kissane: “The approval validates AMCS' commitment to providing the leading waste management enterprise-grade SaaS solution. This ultra-modern, scalable platform marries industry-specific software with best-in-class optimisation capabilities, e-commerce ingenuity and on-vehicle technologies to customers around the world.”

Providing employees a safe working environment

Even though AMCS Platform enables all workers to work remotely, Covid-19 still leaves companies with a lot of challenges to deal with, Kissane has witnessed this more than once. “For instance, social distancing has forced many companies to implement shift work and due to sudden changes in regional and national rules there can be an issue of staff availability.”

How can a business quickly react and resolve such a situation is the question which arises. The answer is easily and efficiently with multiple solutions of the AMCS Platform. "For instance, the jobs or collections assigned to a driver suddenly unavailable can be optimally assigned to other vehicles in the fleet using AMCS Intelligent Optimisation. With AMCS Mobile Workforce at the same time updated run sheets and route changes are automatically updated and dispatched to correct drivers now in charge of the order", he explains.

Execute jobs remotely while on route

"With AMCS Mobile Workforce drivers have the ability to receive and then execute their jobs remotely. Once drivers have their updated run sheets for the day and execute the orders, collections can happen in a seamless manner to customers. After the working day, the debrief can also be done remotely and safely, under any circumstance. As a result, the waste and recycling industry can deal with the challenges Covid-19 entails while at the same time providing employees with a safe working environment.”

With this, AMCS Platform provides an end-to-end solution to brief workers remotely without the need for them to come to the workplace and risking health hazards. Kissane: "By facilitating remote work for as many employees as possible, all of this rerouting and dispatch can be done offsite by planners and dispatchers in a safe and socially distanced manner without any need for people to attend office on site.”

AMCS Platform

AMCS Platform is designed based on the best practice processes of thousands of waste and recycling companies across the globe. The end-to-end solutions are inspired by global market trends, driving automation and delivering end-to-end standardisation and optimisation of all business processes. The ultra-modern, scalable platform marries industry specific software with best-in-class optimisation capabilities, e-commerce ingenuity and on-vehicle technologies. 
AMCS Platform consist of six solutions, including Enterprise Management, Intelligent Optimisation, Mobile Workforce, Vehicle Technology, Digital Engagement and AMCS Analytics. Each of the six solutions seamlessly fit like a jigsaw puzzle into each other, forming the unique end-to-end integrated SaaS solution for the waste and recycling industry.
With this, AMCS Platform drives revenue growth, margin expansion, operational efficiency and sustainability. This enables established waste and recycling companies to operate smarter, more seamlessly and more digitally. This empower the industry with an intelligent platform that predicts and actions, whilst supporting the ongoing transformation of the industry to a circular economy.