ARCOS Provides New Logistics Features in Latest Release of Crew Manager Software

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwired - Sep 30, 2014) - ARCOS^® LLC has released new logistics features for its ARCOS® Crew Manager software to give utility storm managers a way to pre-arrange and track internal and external crews' lodging, meals, staging areas, equipment and vehicles during major events. ARCOS Crew Manager creates a centralized database for utilities to rapidly position crews, contractors and mutual assistance crews during storm recovery efforts.

"Until now, Crew Manager focused on positioning, building and tracking crews," said Ted Schneider, chief technology officer for ARCOS. "During a major restoration effort, utilities can see a thousand or more workers from other utilities join ranks; storm managers can now use Crew Manager's new logistics features to speed up restoration and accurately watch costs by managing the resources tied to these foreign crews." 

Crew Manager provides utility personnel with access to a computer-generated board with point-and-click graphics for visually organizing and mobilizing crews for restoration events. The board links to a centralized database and can be updated in the field via smartphones, tablets, PCs and other storm team touch-screen interactive whiteboards. Storm managers, executives and field personnel can instantly see where crews are working and, if authorized, reassign them as restoration progresses. Crew Manager also tracks the cumulative hours a crew has worked and a minute-by-minute account of how long each crew member has been on the clock.

"Our Callout and Scheduling Suite contacts hundreds of workers, in seconds, and gets them to the job site," said Bruce Duff, chief executive officer of ARCOS. "Crew Manager covers the time before and after a callout, it simulates many staffing and logistics scenarios and, in turn, builds crews in real-time to meet changing conditions."

Utilities such as ComEd and Iberdrola USA note that having a centralized crew management database for analysis plays a role in restoring power quickly to customers and reducing storm costs.

About ARCOS LLC
Twenty-four of the top 25 U.S. utilities rely on the ARCOS^® Callout and Scheduling Suite. When the power goes out, a gas leak is reported or another emergency occurs, award-winning, SaaS-based ARCOS enterprise solutions instantaneously find, assemble and track repair crews, reducing outage interruptions and improving restoration time for electric, gas and power plant utilities. For more information, visit www.arcos-inc.com or call 614-396-5500.