How Assura Software Can Increase Data Security, Reduce Risk, and Help Maintain Social Distancing
Assura's software being used in the field on a mobile device.
Assura’s software can be used in the office or in the field.
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ssura Software, based in Christchurch, New Zealand, aims to help businesses automate their everyday manual processes. Its software platform combines the configurability of a bespoke solution with the ease and assurance of an off-the-shelf product. In this interview, Hamish Howard, Assura’s CEO and managing director, speaks with Irrigation Leader about how the company’s solution can increase data security, reduce injuries, and help maintain social distance in the workplace. Irrigation Leader: Please tell our readers how your software is used to manage assets and keep track of inventory.
Irrigation Leader: Exactly how does your system work? Hamish Howard: Assura is all about making sure that the right person is doing the right thing at the right time. For example, a pump may need to be inspected every 3 months
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and have some parts replaced every 6 months. The software will alert the relevant people about these tasks and ensure that they are competed. Unless that is evidenced with a photo and signature, it is escalated. Assura is an application that can be accessed via a browser on your PC or laptop or via an app on your smartphone. The data are held on a relational database and the solution is hosted on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. The software itself is a configurable workflow engine. This means we can change it to reflect your language, your processes, and how you work. The technology may also enable you to make your processes more efficient. Irrigation Leader: What kind of information does your software store? Can it store photos and video? Hamish Howard: In addition to the information you choose to enter in the fields, you can also attach any type of file. These could be files from your PC or laptop, or images, videos, or voice recordings taken with your smartphone in the field. The program also has an image field that allows you to capture signatures or even draw pictures, if that is useful and you aspire to be the next Da Vinci. Irrigation Leader: Are the data stored in a secure way? Hamish Howard: There are all sorts of geeky things I could say here about SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and enterprise-grade firewalls, but this isn’t meant to be an interview to help insomniacs. While Assura does provide all of the above, a more practical way to view it is that you have far more control over who can access your information if it is stored in Assura’s solution than if it is on paper or in a spreadsheet. irrigationleadermagazine.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF HYDROSIDE.
Hamish Howard: Assura software allows staff to record and track the assets and inventory of a business, so that they know what they have, what maintenance has been performed on it, and what maintenance is due. Recording an asset can be as simple as taking a photo or video with your smartphone and filling in a few fields with information about it. The system will then categorize it for reporting and kick off the appropriate associated actions, such as determining when maintenance and inspections should take place. This tracking and reporting can be done at a granular level if required, and because the system is a workflow engine, it will provide alerts when maintenance is due. The escalation rules will also provide alerts to the appropriate people if this maintenance work is overdue, so you’re only managing by exception.
Compatible with mobile devices, Assura’s software can be used anywhere.
