Bord Gais Networks Selects ClickSoftware to Drive Business Strategy

BURNHAM, England, October 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (NasdaqGS: CKSW), the leading provider of workforce management and service optimization solutions, today announced that Bord Gais Networks (BGN), the gas network infrastructure provider for The Republic of Ireland, has selected its ServiceOptimization Suite including ClickSchedule, ClickLocate and Street Level Routing. These solutions will play a strategic role in BGN's Network Transformation Programme, in providing exceptional service to Bord Gais's 600,000 gas customers, reducing the cost of services to its customer base and preparing the Company for the next regulatory review set by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

Through an Operating Agreement with Gaslink (The Independent System Operator), Bord Gais Networks (BGN) is responsible for the network infrastructure that distributes gas across Ireland. As a Commercial Semi-State company, Bord Gais must balance commercial operations with pressure from the CER to reduce the cost to operate and tariff to the customer. These challenges pose a significant challenge to the business in the current and future economic environment. The Network Transformation Programme or NTP was setup to review and re-evaluate the business to position the Networks business for the future economy to drive improved efficiency and customer service throughout the business. One of the key tools chosen to do this was ClickSoftware's workforce scheduling solution that optimizes the deployment of the skilled field-workforces employed to maintain the asset infrastructure.

Existing paper-based and manual systems employed by Bord Gais were not capable of sustaining improvements to operational efficiency. Inaccuracies, delays and incomplete return of information in the field by field service engineers reporting completed jobs, led to duplication of effort in handling and analysis of data. The system also provided little visibility of timely field operations activities to the Customer Services agents.

As part of the solution for this Transformation Program, BGN went to tender using the EU procurement process for a new technology solution. Through a rigorous qualification process, over 40 prequalification applicants were shortlisted to six and then finally two candidates. ClickSoftware were the successful candidate chosen in the workforce scheduling solution.

The ClickSoftware solutions will be used across all Bord Gais Networks business streams: Emergency & Metering, Maintenance, Construction and Repair. ClickSchedule will provide BGN with visibility of its entire field operations and be used to schedule the right staff to the right place at the right time. It will manage a wide variety of job types, from short duration jobs such as meter reading to managing crews on jobs that span over multiple days and requiring multiple people. ClickLocate will enable Bord Gais' dispatchers to easily see and make decisions based on real-time information about where engineers are in the field. Critically, it will allow dispatchers to locate engineers with the requisite skills for fast emergency response such as in the case of gas leaks, for which Bord Gais have a sub 1hr attendance criteria anywhere in the Country. Street-level routing capabilities will automatically provide the best route for technicians to take between jobs, ensuring they spend more time serving customers, not traveling.

Bord Gais Networks will also benefit from the real-time scheduling monitor which will make it possible to determine whether the schedule defined for the upcoming period is of high quality. This could include such factors as overall utilization, travel time, the number of assignments that will not meet their due dates and much more. Having all this information available in an easy-to-understand format will enable Bord Gais to take corrective action immediately before the schedule is dispatched, rather than waiting for an analysis that might otherwise only arrive several days after the fact.

Bord Gais Networks believe that the solutions from ClickSoftware will balance complexities in their field operation to drive efficiencies and better customer service both in the field operation and the business as a whole. This is directly aligned with the company's strategic, commercial and regulatory goals.

Dr. Moshe BenBassat, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ClickSoftware commented, "The buying process for the Gas Networks industry is thorough, and rightly so. That ClickSoftware has been selected by Bord Gais based upon the highest score in their rigorous procurement process and the references provided by companies in the same business, is further evidence that we have a robust and proven product."

About Bord Gais Networks

Bord Gais Networks constructs and extends the natural gas network in Ireland to the highest international safety standards. It connects all customers to the network regardless of natural gas Supply Company chosen.

The Bord Gais network consists of 2,313km of high-pressure steel Transmission pipes and over 10,062km of Distribution pipelines. Gas is received from the Transmission network and delivered through the Distribution network to over 600,000 residential, business and industrial gas users.

About ClickSoftware

ClickSoftware is the leading provider of workforce management and service optimisation solutions that create business value for service operations through higher levels of productivity, customer satisfaction and cost effectiveness. Combining educational, implementation and support services with best practices and its industry-leading solutions, ClickSoftware drives service decision making across all levels of the organisation. From proactive customer demand forecasting and capacity planning to real-time decision making, incorporating scheduling, mobility and location-based services, ClickSoftware helps service organisations get the most out of their resources. With over 150 customers across a variety of industries and geographies, and strong partnerships with leading platform and system integration partners - ClickSoftware is uniquely positioned to deliver superb business performance to any organisation. The company is headquartered in Burlington, Mass. and Israel, with offices in Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information about ClickSoftware, please call (781) 272-5903 or (888) 438-3308, or visit http://www.clicksoftware.com.

This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S Federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those statements regarding expected benefits to Bord Gais and its customers from using ClickSoftware's solutions. Such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those projected, including those discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in ClickSoftware's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as otherwise required by law, ClickSoftware is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contacts:
    Joanna Giannotti
    ClickSoftware, Inc.
    +1-781-272-5903 x2235
    joanna.giannotti@clicksoftware.com

SOURCE ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd