Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has selected FireWatch as its new platform for integrated workforce management in a deal that includes the delivery of the FireWatch platform via Microsoft Azure Cloud – with SaaS (Software as a Service) – and Mobile App access for FRS users.

The contract worth circa £1 million covers the replacement of Kent’s existing rostering and availability systems and includes:

• Resource availability planning and real-time monitoring
• Resource and skills-based crewing
• Flexible/self-rostering planning, workflow and fulfilment
• Overtime resource request and fulfilment workflows
• General time management, leave and absence workflows and recording
• Payments and integration with payroll
• Integration of absence data
• Mobile App and Web UX access for end-users and managers
• Mobilisation system integration

The FireWatch deployment will provide ‘anytime, anywhere’ access for KFRS staff including wholetime and on-call firefighters, managers, officers and corporate support staff which will increase real-time visibility of availability and resources, and integrating live data with the control room.

Karen Irvine, Assistant Director of People and Learning at KFRS, said: “At KFRS, we’re always looking for ways we can evolve to continuously deliver a high standard to the people we serve, but we’re also really committed to being an innovative place to work, so we’re really looking forward to working with FireWatch and introducing its benefits.

“Overall, FireWatch will enable us to manage our resources and availability more effectively, including better time management options and a live picture of our service resources and personnel, which will help to match crews, skills and equipment to operational need.”

FireWatch Mobile will allow users to directly manage data and tasks for time/availability, leave and other areas via smart devices. Supervisors and team members will also be empowered to clearly understand the impact of resource changes and to manage and act on any issues or deadlines highlighted within their personalised Key Performance Indicators displayed ‘on-screen’. This includes workflow-driven resource requests and fulfilment processes to address gaps in cover.

Russell Wood, Commercial Manager at FireWatch developer Infographics, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been selected by Kent Fire and Rescue as a part of a competitive tendering process. We are looking forward to working with the team to modernise their user experience around the management of resources and availability, deliver flexible self-service capabilities and provide live integrated resource information to their control room.”