Cloud-based software for harbour towage sector

Called Helm Connect Jobs, the software improves on the functionality of the Helm Dispatch Manager for Harbour Towage program, according to the company. It says the program is in use on about 400 vessels across the globe and has been rebranded to reflect the transition to cloud-based storage.
Connect Jobs changes the way harbour towage companies operate their businesses, says Helm, a subsidiary of the classification society ClassNK. Schedulers/dispatchers who use it do much less data entry and have more time to focus on ensuring top-notch customer service. Management can view data in new ways – either at a macro or micro level – to make better business decisions.  
Cloud-based capability makes Connect Jobs easy to deploy, with set-up possible in offices ashore and/or on vessels. It is easily configured and tailored to meet individual clients’ requirements. It can also be integrated with other Helm software including Preventive Maintenance and Compliance in order to generate automatic warnings on out-of-date certificates, for example, or other non-compliances.
A number of Helm’s customers using the earlier software have already indicated that they plan to upgrade, the company notes, adding that Connect Jobs is also potentially suitable for a whole range of new customers in the harbour towage sector. It says it has plans to extend the Connect Jobs market to other workboat sectors including inland dry and liquid bulk transport firms, coastal ship operators, marine pilotage and ocean towage companies.  
The new software has been designed in close consultation with customers, with prototypes built and tested at customers’ own facilities to ensure the very best user experience. Connect Jobs can be deployed in little more than a day and is easily customised. For ease of use and updates the software, much like Helm Connect Maintenance and Compliance, is cloud-based. Monthly fees are charged on a per vessel basis, with customers having unlimited users.
“Helm Connect Jobs’ automation of tariffs and contracts reduces credits and rebills, improves invoice turn-around time to 24 hours or better, and has shown in some cases to increase surcharge revenue by hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Rodger Banister, vice president of marketing at Helm Operations. "What’s more, it’s much easier to set up than its predecessor and will provide substantial benefits to a wider range of operators."