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Case Study

RELAM

Location
Cleveland, Ohio

RELAM exists to help keep North America’s rail infrastructure safe and reliable by providing cost-effective high-quality maintenance-of-way equipment and associated services

RELAM, North America's largest provider of rail construction equipment, faced challenges integrating two legacy companies with divergent cultures and software systems. To streamline operations and improve efficiency, RELAM partnered with Connixt to implement their flagship product, Connixt iMarq, a cloud-based mobile platform for digitizing maintenance processes. The implementation resulted in significant improvements in speed, data integrity, and labor efficiency, while also contributing to RELAM's sustainability goals by reducing paper consumption.
RELAM

Challenge

  • Integration of Divergent Cultures and Systems: RELAM’s acquisition of Progress Rail Equipment Leasing in 2020 brought together two companies with different operating practices and software platforms. This created challenges in standardizing processes and finding a software solution that could serve as the backbone for the merged entity.
  • Complex and Specialized Forms: RELAM’s maintenance processes involved numerous complex forms, some with over a thousand items to be checked off. This required a solution that could accurately digitize these forms and present them in a familiar format for technicians.
  • User Adoption: RELAM recognized the importance of user adoption for the success of the implementation. The chosen solution needed to be easy to use and intuitive for their crew, who were not necessarily tech-savvy.
  • Sustainability: RELAM was committed to reducing their environmental footprint and sought a solution that could contribute to their sustainability goals.

Solution

RELAM selected Connixt iMarq to address these challenges. iMarq is a cloud-based mobile platform that allows businesses to digitize their forms and processes, automate reporting, and integrate with back-end systems.

Key features that appealed to RELAM included:

  • Digitization of Forms and Processes: iMarq enabled RELAM to digitize their complex and specialized forms, ensuring accuracy and consistency in data capture.
  • Integration with Back-end Systems: iMarq integrated seamlessly with RELAM’s existing ERP and other software systems, ensuring data flowed smoothly across the organization.
  • User-Friendly Interface: iMarq’s intuitive interface and features like speech-to-text and photo annotations made it easy for RELAM’s crew to adopt the new system.
  • Focus on Sustainability: iMarq’s ability to eliminate paper-based processes aligned with RELAM’s sustainability goals.

Implementation

The implementation process was smooth and efficient, with minimal impact on RELAM’s IT team. Connixt worked closely with RELAM to ensure a seamless transition, involving end-users early on to gather feedback and ensure user adoption.

RESULTS

The implementation of iMarq resulted in significant benefits for RELAM:

  • Improved Speed and Data Integrity: The time taken to complete equipment check-in processes was reduced significantly, with data flowing back to the relevant teams in real-time.
  • Increased Labor Efficiency: RELAM estimated a 20% gain in labor efficiency due to the automation of previously manual processes.
  • Enhanced Sustainability: iMarq’s elimination of paper-based processes contributed to RELAM’s sustainability goals, with an estimated saving of 7,000 to 8,000 sheets of paper annually.
  • Improved User Adoption: The user-friendly interface and focus on technician needs led to high levels of user adoption, with over 90% acceptance rate among the crew.

RELAM estimated a 20% gain in labor efficiency due to the automation of previously manual processes.

Future Plans for RELAM with iMarq

RELAM plans to further leverage iMarq by:

  • Expanding to Other Areas: RELAM intends to digitize their safety library and other processes within iMarq.
  • Rolling Out to Partner Facilities: RELAM plans to extend the use of iMarq to their partner facilities, further streamlining operations and improving data visibility across their network.

 

RELAM’s successful implementation of Connixt iMarq demonstrates the transformative potential of digitization in the rail construction equipment industry. By embracing technology, RELAM has improved efficiency, enhanced sustainability, and gained a competitive advantage in the market. The company’s focus on user adoption and continuous improvement ensures that they will continue to reap the benefits of iMarq for years to come.

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