How to transform on-site inspections into self-inspections?
Governments lean heavily on regulators to ensure public safety, but also to optimise operational costs in times of uncertainty. As a result of travel restrictions throughout the global pandemic, some regulators started embracing self-inspection programs. Regulators that operated with self-inspection software were able to continue inspecting even when there were strict travel restrictions. Since self-inspections proved to perform well in times of uncertainty, regulators started treating their inclusion in the inspection programs as a long-term optimisation strategy that could solve problems beyond the pandemic.
The Canalix customers that use our inspection management software with self-inspection module are more efficient and agile and report a cost reduction effect.
What is a self-inspection program?
A regulator usually adopts a self-inspection program for inspectees with a good track record of compliance and a low-risk level for potential hazards. Those entities can perform inspection checks by themselves while the regulator maintains complete visibility over the inspection procedures and controls their standard. The results are optimised costs, better resource scheduling and agility.
CASE STUDY: How a regulatory agency cut costs with resource scheduling software?
- reducing the scheduling time with up to 75%
- increasing efficiency of operations with 40%
- fully eliminating errors in the resource allocation process.
Download the case study.
Canalix helps regulators adopt remote inspection and self-inspection programs. Self-service inspections are usually conducted by the inspectee. Still, the regulator regains complete visibility over the inspection check’s execution, ensuring that the collected inspection data is valid and the compliance standards are not violated. Generally, self-inspections are executed with a pre-determined frequency, calibrated based on predictive and prescriptive analytics used to assess risk, and as part of cost-optimisation and efficiency improvement strategies.
Related: How do self-inspections improve the regulatory environment?
The benefits of self-inspection software
1. Self-service portals help organisations cut costs, and so do self-inspections
Inspectees with a history of maintaining consistent compliance with safety standards are logically the first cases that can transition to a regulatory self-inspection program. These entities are easy to trust, and that’s why regulators can save the costs of sending a ground crew on-site and transform the process into self-service based inspections.
Many Canalix clients who used the inspection management software report that implementing self-inspections helped them free up resources to work on more complex work at higher risk.
2. Self-inspection programs remain active even when operations get disrupted.
In 2022 regulators have to deal with uncertainties more than ever – global pandemics, budget cuts, and resource shortages. Flexibility is the key to resilience. Many regulators are adopting self-inspections as a tool to employ flexibility in their battle with uncertainties. A robust self-inspection program would help regulators reduce dependence on outside parties to conduct inspections.
This type of flexibility will be precious when disruption occurs and when times are back to normal because the self-inspection programs help regulators continually save costs.
3. Self-inspections boost productivity, improves collaboration and reduce risk
By creating a culture of continuous improvement, self-inspection changes the overall mindset from policing to accountability. Self-service inspections empower inspectees to take control of their processes and maintain effective collaboration with regulators simultaneously. Advanced digital inspection software facilitates cooperation between regulators and inspectees because of the centralised source of data that makes the self-inspection process visible to the regulator. While the inspection teams are saving time from going on-site, they can use that time to regularly review the self-inspection data and analyse reports to make informed decisions to improve efficiency.
How to implement self-inspection technology for your organisation?
1. Set communication channels
Suppose a regulator implements a self-inspection program for the first time. They need to know who will perform the self-inspection and what should happen if an issue emerges. The self-inspection program is more likely to succeed than fail when the communication is good.
2. Prioritise real-time data collection through mobile devices.
Accurate self-inspection data quality = improved inspection management. One of the perks of using inspection management software to perform self-inspections is the availability of real-time data. Regulators must prioritise collecting real-time data such as photos and videos during self-inspection with a tablet or mobile phone because this will enable inspectors to verify the accuracy of data and extract more value from it.
4. Establish precise inspection KPIs and track their progress
For inspection team leaders in regulatory agencies is essential to track the KPIs of inspection performance. Those are the metrics that allow managers to track the performance of inspection teams and check whether the pre-defined objectives are met. Inspection KPIs are the indicators that define the success of the self-inspection process. By tracking their values, team leaders can assess whether the self-service inspection program is working well or if something needs to be changed to meet the regulator’s goals in terms of costs and performance. When regulators have constant access to data, they can quickly adapt their self-inspections to become more efficient.
Related: The essential KPIs for inspection management and self-inspections.
Why your organisation needs a digital self-inspection software?
- Regulators can transform any inspection type into self-inspection and not lose visibility over the process.
- The inspection software is configurable, which means that workflows can be configured and automated to guarantee the standardisation of self-inspections and, therefore, inspection data will be reliable.
- Regulators can gain to save operational time and analyse large amounts of data from self-inspections. That way, they can manage future risks before they become critical.
- With remote inspection software, regulators can adopt a flexible approach in times of disruptions and keep operations intact.
- It helps regulators solve one of the most reported issues in the inspection management cycle, including communication, collaboration, resource scheduling conflicts, and data-driven decision making instead of subjective assumptions.
Related: How is field-service tech vital for public sector regulators?
Canalix helps regulators improve resource utilisation and optimise inspection performance from a distance. The centralised inspection platform supplies leaders with real-time data that serve as building blocks for better decisions. Inspectees and inspectors are empowered with the tools to turn their relationship into a collaborative partnership. The end goal is consistently to increase productivity and reduce operational costs. Try it now.
