insights

As the focus of corporations returns to cost management and operational efficiency, we have seen a significant increase in Australian companies wanting to improve profitability by transforming their field service operations. While it is good to see this interest in managing field service operations from the cloud and mobile devices,[...]

Amid discussions about cost management and efficiency, are Australian companies doing all they can to lift the productivity and performance of field service businesses? It is surprising to learn that despite a reported increase in service revenues of between 22 to 38 per cent, nearly one-in-five best practice organisations are[...]

Australia recorded the first trade surplus in two-and-a-half years, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The seasonally adjusted balance for the three months to March 2014 was a surplus of $3.110 million, a turnaround of $4,188 million on the deficit of $1,078 million for the three months[...]

The Australian energy industry is at a crossroads. Increasing electricity prices and newer technologies are driving the need for smarter methods to improve the productive capacity of our electricity market. The launch of the federal government’s Energy Green Paper on 23 September and the Victorian Government’s announcement of the completion[...]

Organisations that operate with scores of contractors in remote and rugged locations – whether deep underground or offshore – face many unique challenges. Underground mining and offshore oil and gas production businesses operate around-the-clock in unforgiving environments. It is imperative for operations to run safely and with minimum downtime. What[...]

Following the end of the mining boom, investment is weak, growth is slow and prices are soft. At the same time, competition is heating up, with mergers in engineering groups creating bigger global companies chasing a share of a shrinking market. As the big miners shelve or delay major projects,[...]

Yesterday's The Australian included a 4 page wrap-around special on Australia's 'mid-market'. (Yep - real print newspapers still exist particularly in coffee-shops. You can pick up your copy on-line  - forgive me if it disappears behind a paywall). It was well worth a read - particularly to us here at ProQuest. We love the[...]

Business agility is easy when you’re small. But what happens when you’re a large enterprise with tens of thousands of products used globally in everything from home air conditioners to international aircraft. What if the failure of one of those parts could mean loss of business – or even loss[...]

The ‘domino effect’ is a cruel thing. No matter how good your product or field service, your success can be affected by related-industry conditions you can’t control. Take the construction industry. When building construction slows, the building transportation industry – the elevators, escalators and moving walkways responsible for billions of[...]

RFP's are no fun. And not much use either. If you want to build systems so that you become a customer-centric company,  should you issue an RFP with detailed functional specifications?  The answer is a resounding no. This approach doesn't help you get the best solution, and it's unlikely to[...]