KOREA Telecom selects ILOG software for real-time Neoss Workforce

ILOG recently announced that Korea Telecom (KT), the largest common carrier in South Korea, has deployed a custom automated workforce scheduling system based on ILOG's planning and scheduling software. A key part of the carrier's overhaul of its Operational
Support Systems (OSS) system, called NeOSS, the application was developed by KSTEC, the exclusive distributor of ILOG software in South
Korea.

The Korean telecommunications market has had many rapid technology advancements, including the expansion of Wi-Bro (Wireless Broadband) infrastructure, the convergence of cable and wireless communications, the introduction of triple play services (TPS) and IPTV and the establishment of national High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA).
These advancements have combined with escalating Internet use and changes in the competitive landscape to create a complex mix of new product and service offerings and a significant technical support challenge. As the largest carrier in Korea, KT is leading other telecom companies in these changes, striving to efficiently balance service level requirements and customer demands.

As part of an initiative to better support this new business environment, KT undertook to overhaul its workforce scheduling system, part of its NeOSS (New Operation Support Systems) and is leveraging
ILOG CP optimization engine and ILOG Dispatcher® to create an automated workforce scheduling system. NeOSS replaces a manual scheduling process that was slow, inefficient and error prone. The manual process also could not easily manage workforce impact from weather changes, work absences or unexpected events occurring during site management. Further, using the manual method, it took a manager almost one day to allocate over 250,000 work orders to 2,200 on-site workers. In fact, the time taken to schedule the work frequently exceeded the time spent for the fieldwork.

Since KT introduced the workforce scheduling system using ILOG
Solver/Dispatcher into operations management, the system can now take into account each workforce's proficiency as well as work policy. The system also now processes work in almost real time, reducing time to service, improving customer satisfaction, reducing labor costs and maximizing return of investment (ROI).

"After introducing workforce scheduling system based on ILOG
Solver/Dispatcher, it is possible to process workforce scheduling in almost real time based on many criteria. This automated workforce scheduling system is one of the key backend systems of the KT NeOSS system, playing an important role in gaining recognition for its capabilities at the TeleManagement Forum 2007", said Mr. Yoon Dong-sik,
General Manager, KT NeOSS Global OSS Development Task Team.

KT will continue to enhance its workforce scheduling system as well as the whole NeOSS system, and is planning to speed up overseas exports to the Middle East.

ILOG