PDA Capture of Data

[Glenno]

So here we go boy's and girl's, the start of things to come

[datasaint]

From an employee perspective, outdoor data capture, will help us to understand actual workloads and provide a platform in order to ensure that all of our outdoor activity is planned more efficiently and balanced to provide a fair and manageable workload

Basically see who's finishing early, or who's sat in the van when they shouldn't be.

Your round is no longer your own when big brother is watching you.

[Glenno]

This is the future my son, it starts very soon

[Phantom]

Do your job properly and you've nothing to fear! Cut corners and s**t will hit the fan.

[TheTrolleyMan]

Do your job correctly using correct delivery methods , taking meal breaks , toilet breaks and you've nothing to fear

[Glenno]

Ahmen to that, but in reality you all know

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Do your job correctly using correct delivery methods , taking meal breaks , toilet breaks and you've nothing to fear

Playing devil's advocate, what you then have to fear is "performance issue" accusations, due to the amount of overtime you are claiming and/or the cutting off. Which then leads to some working for free, not claiming their rightful overtime and/or starting early without authorisation to do so.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 251.17 RM & CWU JOINT STATEMENT - COVERING THE PHASE ONE USE/STUDY OF PDA OUTDOOR ACTUALS

No. 251/2017



Wednesday 3rd May 2017



RM & CWU JOINT STATEMENT - COVERING THE PHASE ONE USE/STUDY OF PDA OUTDOOR ACTUALS



Dear Colleague,



Branches and Representatives will be aware as part of the Agenda for Growth Agreement, the 20 Delivery Units visited as part of the National Delivery Review were party to the Joint Statement covering the use of PDAs (Service View) contained within LTB 296/14.



As a result of the use of Service view within the PDAs further discussions took place between both RM & CWU on how the information would be used in the future, and as a result the company decided in order to use the technology they needed to further invest in new PDAs as well as the software functionality that supports the data usage.



Now that this has been completed there is an opportunity to gather more data from these devices in order to more accurately predict time of delivery for customers. Current research using existing GPS data, has shown that Royal Mail need to gather more GPS position data in between existing door step track events, to improve predicted time of delivery. Customers have high expectations for reliability and accuracy given the current service offerings already available in the market place by other competitors.



From a CWU frontline member perspective, outdoor data capture will help Royal Mail to understand actual workloads and provide a platform, in order to ensure that all outdoor activity is planned more efficiently and balanced to provide a fair and manageable workload. This is a key area of concern that has been expressed by the Union to Royal Mail and also by our members through various engagement channels that have taken place.



Both parties fully commit to further joint national discussions regarding this element in terms of how this can be applied and how it is taken forward, whilst also taking into account the future national agreement and deployment of final mile optimisation and geo route replacement. Other areas of software development that are being considered alongside this initiative, including updating the PDA software to enable delivery OPG’s to record when items are delivered to a neighbour, moving the walk log to an electronic equivalent to help delivery staff to identify and potentially record hazards on their delivery, and also examining how an electronic manifest for the PDA can be built in order to help delivery staff prepare and complete parcel delivery and how these initiatives will be applied.



As a result of the above we have agreed the attached Joint Statement which is split into two phases.



Phase one will start from week commencing 15th May 2017 and will be limited to a small number of delivery / collection units (Annex One). The units listed at Annex one have been selected to provide a good cross section of the collection and delivery environments including, delivery type and method, building density, geographical spread and landscape.



During phase one, the minimum number of devices that will gather additional GPS route data at any one time is circa 600 routes. This means that only a subsection of the units listed at annex one will be gathering GPS data on any given day.



It is expected that data reports will be available showing:



Start and end time of outdoor activity
Location and mapping showing route taken, overlaid with all event transactions i.e. collection and delivery event scans.
Identify the correct use of delivery equipment and compliance with methods
Identify first time delivery success rate and variability
Identify consistency of route taken versus planned route
Identify whether meal reliefs have been taken correctly
End of shift reporting/data


The exact composition of the reports will be developed between both parties based on the learning/outputs obtained.



We have also agreed to promote openness and transparency about the fact that this data is available from the PDA devices, all Royal Mail employees in the phase 1 units will receive a standard WTLL briefing on this subject from their manager, with the support of the local CWU rep about PDA Outdoor Actuals data gathering, before the software update goes live in their unit.



It is also important to note that we have agreed that the information/data is not about catching people out or using the technology in an inappropriate way, for conduct or capability purposes, it is about improving Royal Mail’s performance and the service provided to customers.



As part of the review into the data from phase one, talks will continue regarding how phase two - full National deployment to all Royal Mail Collection and Delivery units will take place and the timescales for expected completion, along with resolving any issues experienced and raised during phase one.



The review will also discuss, establish and jointly agree who will be able to access the data gathered and how this data will be used following the completion of this first phase and subsequent national rollout.



Whilst it could be understood that Branches and Representatives may have concerns regarding the use of this technology, it is important we use this opportunity to influence what the device can do going forward, along with the data it generates and to also ensure the necessary safeguards and protections are put in place before any national deployment.



Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 530





Yours Sincerely,

Mark Baulch

CWU Assistant Secretary Elect

[TrueBlueTerrier]

RM & CWU JOINT STATEMENT COVERING THE PHASE 1 USE/STUDY OF PDA OUTDOOR ACTUALS


Introduction

Royal Mail operates in a highly competitive market place where customers have a significant choice of mail delivery services, particularly in the parcels market. Over recent years competitors have introduced a number of new product offerings and it is essential that Royal Mail continues to innovate in order to retain and grow its share of the market. This commitment was at the heart of the 2013 National Agenda for Growth Agreement. One area of significant innovation over recent years has been in the level of information, and data that is provided to customers about where their items are whilst in transit, what their delivery preference is, and the predicted time of delivery. Royal Mails investment in, and use of, technology is focused on improving customer service to gain competitive advantage and thereby grow market share.

As part of the Integrated Delivery Programme both parties have been working jointly together to deploy the new PDA across the delivery estate to enable and maximise, utilising data and facts to increase our joint understanding of the operation. The role of technology including PDA’s can be used positively to better understand the outdoor delivery and collection operation.

Purpose

Now that Royal Mail has completed the refresh of the PDA estate there is the opportunity to gather more data from these devices in order to more accurately predict time of delivery for customers. Current research, using existing GPS data, has shown that we need to gather more GPS position data, in between existing door step track events, to improve predicted time of delivery. Customers have high expectations for reliability, and accuracy, given the current service offerings already available in the market place.

Leveraging the capabilities of technology to enhance the understanding of the operation was one of the commitments we jointly agreed in the Agenda for Growth agreement. Capturing more information on outdoor collection and delivery operation will provide a valuable insight into the consistency of service provision to our customers. Through the use of this information Royal Mail will be able to put greater focus on service improvement for customers, prioritising those areas with most opportunity. It will allow us to better compete by the provision of predicted collection and delivery times and explore how Royal Mail might use this data to improve and grow the business.

From an employee perspective, outdoor data capture, will help us to understand actual workloads and provide a platform in order to ensure that all of our outdoor activity is planned more efficiently and balanced to provide a fair and manageable workload. This is a key area of concern that has been expressed by the CWU Nationally and by employees through various engagement channels that have taken place. Both parties fully commit to further joint national discussions regarding this element, how this can be applied and how this is taken forward, whilst also taking into account the future national agreement and deployment of final mile optimisation, geo route replacement, and how these two initiatives will be applied.

Other areas of software development that we will be considering include updating the PDA software to enable delivery colleagues to record when items are delivered to a neighbour. This enhancement will improve customer experience through the provision of more detailed information. Other areas of development will include moving the walk log to an electronic equivalent to help colleagues identify and potentially record hazards on delivery. Similarly we are also examining how we might build an electronic manifest for the PDA to help delivery colleagues complete parcel delivery.




Deployment – Phase 1

Deployment of the software update will split into two phases. Phase one is expected to start in May 2017 and will be limited to a small number of delivery / collection units (Annex One). The units listed at Annex one have been selected to provide a good cross section of the collection and delivery environments including, delivery type and method, building density, geographical spread and landscape.

During phase one, the minimum number of devices that will gather additional GPS route data at any one time is circa 600 routes. This means that only a subsection of the units listed at annex one will be gathering GPS data on any given day.

Phase one deployment will focus on proving the IT infrastructure and solution architecture including: data flows, platform hosting, system availability and system performance. In addition it will also inform what data reporting and information applications will be produced and for what audience.

It is expected that data reports will be available showing:

Start and end time of outdoor activity
Location and mapping showing route taken overlaid with all event transactions i.e. collection and delivery event scans.
Identify the correct use of delivery equipment and compliance with methods
Identify first time delivery success rate and variability
Identify consistency of route taken versus planned route
Identify whether meal reliefs have been taken correctly
End of shift reporting/data

The exact composition of the reports will be developed between both parties based on the learning/outputs obtained.

Employee Engagement

Both parties want to promote openness and transparency about the fact that this data is available from the PDA devices, so all employees will receive a standard WTLL briefing on this subject from their manager, with the support of the local CWU rep, about PDA Outdoor Actuals data gathering before the software update goes live in their unit.

Both parties have agreed that the information/data is not about catching people out or using the technology, in an inappropriate way, for conduct or capability purposes, it is about improving Royal Mails performance and the service we provide to our customers. There are no anticipated impact, or changes, to the way users interact with the PDA devices. Users simply need to, carry the device with them and follow the current standard of completing the normal log on, before office departure, and log off, on return to office.

Review / Next Steps
PDA Outdoor Actual data will be collected and jointly analysed as a part of the National Delivery Talks to in order to inform our ongoing discussions to enable an agreed way forward, including the deployment of the PDA technology to offer customers new and improved services and stay ahead of competition through an improved delivery and collection operation. The review will also discuss, establish and jointly agree who will be able to access the data gathered and how this data will be used following the completion of this first phase.

As part of the review into the data from phase one, talks will continue regarding how phase two, full National deployment to all Royal Mail Collection and Delivery units will take place and the timescales for expected completion, along with resolving any issues experienced and raised during phase one.


Signed Signed


Gary Burgess Mark Baulch
Delivery Excellence Director CWU Assistant Secretary - Elect

April 2017

Annex One
East
Bishops Stortford DO
Bowthorpe DO
Warwick DO
East Finchley DO
Hampton DO
Leicester South DO
Littlehampton DO
Northwood DO
Ongar DO
Palmers Green (N13)
Richmond Upon Thames DO
Ripley (DE) DO
Upper Holloway DO
North
Ballymoney DO
Barnsley DO
Craigavon Portadown DO
Elgin DO
Glasgow Baillieston DO
Glasgow G1-4 DO
Glasgow G31 DO
Glasgow G51 DO
Kilmarnock DO
Leeds City DO
Sale DO
Team Valley DO
Uddingston DO
West
Birmingham Central DO
Bodmin DO
Bromsgrove DO
Cardiff North DO
Chippenham DO
Dorchester DO
Falmouth DO
Kings Norton DO
Llangefni DO
Plympton DO
Portishead DO
Runcorn DO
Trowbridge DO

[Sugar]

Do your job correctly using correct delivery methods , taking meal breaks , toilet breaks and you've nothing to fear

Playing devil's advocate, what you then have to fear is "performance issue" accusations, due to the amount of overtime you are claiming and/or the cutting off. Which then leads to some working for free, not claiming their rightful overtime and/or starting early without authorisation to do so.

Exactly.

The only people managers ever target are those that do the job properly and show that there are issues with spans etc. Anyone else that comes in early, cuts corners and rushes aropund to finish ealry are left alone.

[TheTrolleyMan]

Totally agree with you but if a manager has issues with your performance on delivery then they have to test / coach you , all off which requires the appropriate paper trail which also can be used when bringing an HARRASSMENT case !

[telithowitis]

The first problem I can see in predicting delivery times is because of Specials we often have to do loops in different orders, and to be fair posties often do the loops in different order anyway out of personal preference.

[datasaint]

The first problem I can see in predicting delivery times is because of Specials we often have to do loops in different orders, and to be fair posties often do the loops in different order anyway out of personal preference.

Specials will likely change to guaranteed next-day no set time to eliminate any time constraints.

[deadbox]

Users simply need to, carry the device with them

I thought that tracking an individual was illegal under the law, it states this on the trimble site,

What is the legal position ?

[awesomepenguin]

Users simply need to, carry the device with them

I thought that tracking an individual was illegal under the law, it states this on the trimble site,

What is the legal position ?

Would our legal position even matter?

This union seem very good at negotiating away our legal rights - look no further than not being able to take strike action after a official ballot with an 89% yes vote.......