During the pandemic 2020, we developed a tool to monitor the COVID-19 infection rate at a major factory campus owned by one of the world's top five energy companies. This tool also streamlined the authorization and mobilization of over 10,000 workers.
In early 2020, the COVID-19 virus began to spread, creating unforeseen challenges for many companies. A leading energy company with over $200 billion in annual revenue faced significant hurdles, particularly at remote sites where workers had to work, travel, and live in close proximity. This heightened the risk of infection.
The company's workforce operated on 2- to 4-week rotational shifts, with employees coming in from all over the world. This constant movement created a potential hotbed for infections, posing a serious risk to the health and safety of employees and threatening the possibility of a complete operational shutdown. With more than 10,000 workers on-site, the company urgently needed a solution tailored to manage a large-scale operation.
No Agency.
No Agile Board.
No Project Manager.
Just a Team of 7 Experts.
To work as quickly and efficiently as possible, we deviated from standard norms and focused entirely on the product. Sparkpark handled the overall user journey, the UX concept, the interface design and was involved in many important decisions along the way.
Excerpts from a flowchart including 6 different roles using two digital products.
Early stage wireframe of the dashboard.
A Unique ID Code and Signal for Every Worker on Site.
During the initial COVID testing process for on-site onboarding, each worker is issued a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wristband. This wristband emits a unique Bluetooth signal at regular intervals.
A QR code printed on the wristband allows healthcare staff to associate COVID-19 test results with specific workers. The same QR code is also used for access control, enabling security personnel to scan it for identification and entry verification.
The Companion App
A Tool to Manage and Maintain Pandemic-Related Processes on Site.
The mobile app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, was designed to provide support staff, such as health personnel, workforce managers, and technicians, with a simple tool for managing access control, assisting with the installation of Bluetooth gateways, and linking workers to their wristbands.
Depending on the user's role, the app offers a range of features, including:
Onboarding new staff and linking them to specific wristbands
Scanning workers' identification codes
Verifying and updating the health status of workers
Managing check-ins and room assignments
Controlling access to different areas
Setting up Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) gateways on site.
Each feature is tailored to the specific needs of the workforce, streamlining operations and ensuring smooth management of on-site activities.
The Network
Using Multi-lateration and Multi-Devices.
To enhance our ability to control the infection rate, the company must be informed about the close contacts of employees and areas with high worker density. Our on-site infrastructure includes over 600 Bluetooth gateways, forming a network that utilizes advanced multilateration algorithms to pinpoint the location of each worker via their wristbands.
How multi-lateration works on site.
The Android smartphones function as an independent extension of the network, receiving signals from the wristbands to enhance network coverage in remote site areas. This device and software integration enables backend servers to determine workers' precise locations within a 1.5m range through multilateration. Collected data undergoes compression by on-site servers before transmission to the cloud for further processing by the backend, presenting visual insights on the administrative and management dashboard.
The Dashboard
A Web-based Operation Tool for Monitoring and Analyzing Contact Reports, Location Tracking, Alerts, Access Control and BLE and User Management.
User Management
In the dashboard, users have the capability to import, organize, and oversee workers, app users, and operators seamlessly. This functionality encompasses features such as invitation management, automated grouping, and assignment of roles for efficient and streamlined operations.
Zones & Access Management
The Bluetooth gateways delineate various zones on-site, allowing the operator to monitor in near real-time the presence and quantities of individuals within these specific zones.
Geofence Alerts & Access Management
Using the group management of the workers and the zones, the dashboard operators are able to set time and location-based geofence alarms.
Covid-19 Prevention & Health Monitoring
On a worker’s profile, all tests, vaccine shots, and the current health status are displayed. In case of an incident, dashboard operators can export contact reports that include close contacts of the infected worker.
Extension to Other Fields
The solution has been successfully implemented across various fields and worksites facing similar challenges. Its technical framework's adaptability has simplified its integration into a diverse range of circumstances.
Conclusion
In less than 10 months of development, a small team of experts successfully created a stable tool for large operations. This innovative solution leverages a unique combination of devices operating on a dense and flexible Bluetooth network.
Sparkpark managed the conception, interface design, and product presentation. Through effective persuasion and the right solutions, we secured buy-in from decision-makers at a multi-billion-dollar corporation. In the end we made it possible that +10k workers in Indonesia secured income in a time where the whole campus was about to shut down.