This new operational initiative rethinks and redesigns the traditional Fleet Cell model, the building block of technical management at V.Group.
With enhanced performance design and an open-plan layout based on the latest in ergonomic research, it enables a shift away from single-user focus to full-team problem-solving.
’Fleet Cell of the Future acts’ as a test bed for innovations, where the technical management team can measure operational, financial, and customer KPIs for the Fleet Cell and measure the effectiveness of new approaches and technology, based on agile processes.
By adopting this new approach, V.Group has already seen significant improvements in the operational KPIs for procurement, certification, defect reporting and application of best working practices within an existing Fleet Cell of 17 vessels. There are more innovation initiatives in the pipeline, as well as an increased number of potential innovative partnerships, V.Group said.
“Digital transformation isn’t about giving everyone an iPad, putting a giant screen on a wall to make a room look like a NASA control room, or creating an app and saying job done,” said Jon Key, director of strategy, innovation and transformation at V.Group. “We’re looking at how people talk to each other, work together, and solve problems for our customers as a team. Little things, like stand-up meetings every day and giving everyone in the cell the permission – and responsibility – to solve problems, can have far more impact than a new piece of tech.
“It’s about changing our work flows and empowering everyone on the team to try new things and seeing if they make a difference to the results we deliver for our clients. There’s no end point to this – we’re embarking on an iterative process that will continually ensure that we’re adopting innovations in our Fleet Cell in a way that is creating value. This strategy also means that we maximise the value of any new technology we adopt – we don’t adopt new tech for its own sake, but only once it’s proven that it’s effective,” he said.
A V.Group customer commented: “We’re very excited to be involved with the ‘Fleet Cell of the Future’. This project clearly shows V.Group’s focus on innovation and we’re sure this investment will be very beneficial for V.Group and its customers. The integrated systems, getting real-time data, will be invaluable in streamlining communications, saving time, and reducing paperwork.”