Scheduling interfaces could have several user-friendly features.
5. Solutions must be user-friendly and holistic To operate successfully, schedule optimization needs to be integrated into a user-friendly, end- to-end digital solution. The final, holistic solution must update constantly, forecast accurately, and incorporate an easy-to-use, interactive front-end interface. Many schedules are currently based in Microsoft Excel, and the benefits of the automated, AI-optimized schedule can be multiplied if companies can incorporate features such as daily or weekly drag-and-drop schedules and a metrics dashboard.
— simple and real-time edits
— precise information display
— flexible crew management
Inflation, supply chain issues, and ongoing labor disruptions are making work optimization—which has long been one of the most challenging problems for consumer-facing industries such as utilities—even more complex. When deployed thoughtfully as part of a holistic solution, AI-driven schedule optimizers can significantly improve work management processes, smooth out operations, and boost overall productivity.
Scheduling interfaces should incorporate user- friendly features, which could include the following:
— preloaded, optimized schedule
— prioritized work orders
Sohrab Rahimi is an associate partner in McKinsey’s New Jersey office, where Zachary Surak is a senior partner; Jackie Valentine is a partner in the Washington, DC, office; and Akshar Wunnava is an associate partner in the Dallas office. The authors wish to thank Jorge Amar, Adrian Booth, Alfonso Encinas Fernandez, Keith Gilson, and Nicolai von Bismarck for their contributions to this article.
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