IFS Planning And Scheduling Optimization - Our Own Crystal Ball

IFS Planning And Scheduling Optimization - Our Own Crystal Ball

Over the last 18 years, we have been building a commercial application system, PSO focussed on the delivery of business value to service organizations, through the practical application of the most sophisticated optimization algorithms available. Combining not only pure mathematics and artificial intelligence but adding the mechanisms to relate these concepts to real business problems. The type of problems we are solving are of a scale which take them out of the academic theoretical laboratory models and simple use cases into a truly chaotic landscape of real-time decisions involving temporal and spatial constraints with business rules and real-time events. A holistic approach to delivering such a system is needed which combines mathematics, AI, architectural framework and functionality, to enable rapid modeling of the operational business environment on a scale involving 1000s of resources and activities/workflows. Which in turn gives billions of potential choices. Determining which decision is the best for the business at a point in time for these very large problem spaces, i.e. generates most value as defined by the business, is the primary purpose of PSO.

The IFS PSO solution has been adopted by several well-known service providers across many sectors compromising telecommunications, utilities, construction services and field services sectors; as well as asset-centric service providers. Customers include Cubic Transportation (London Underground), Interserve and Emirates Airline and many more. It is very often the key differentiator in many deals. This has been achieved without any custom modifications to the optimization AI. This ensures that a consistent high-quality AI-based product can be delivered and deployed either on premises or in the cloud.

A key benefit to all customers is the ability to have multi-time horizon planning for strategic modeling, tactical planning, appointment booking and operational dynamic optimization. With multi-time horizon planning, you have the tools to cover all elements of the delivery process, starting with dynamic and adaptive scheduling, appointment booking, through resource and capacity planning, through “what-if?” scenario planning, and countless other functions. This means you have the tools to enable frictionless service delivery, in the back-office, with focus on today, next week, next month, or next year.

IFS PSO solution is all about optimization using AI. The IFS solution facilitates streamlined delivery, enabling our customers to realize operational efficiencies and improve customer satisfaction and most importantly make the best decisions possible. The solution delivers dynamic real-time scheduling optimization embedded in the FSM/ERP service functions, ensuring efficient and consistent service delivery. It also evaluates various criteria and properly assigns work priorities, staffing and work shifts. For long-term planning used in business development, the platform creates a business model to accommodate varying project requirements.