Successful partnership makes fly-in/fly-out easier

By analyst

By Andrew Topf

The software, designed specifically for large-scale projects – converts multi-step bookings into a single streamlined process. This includes flights, ground transportation and accommodations.

Anyone who’s ever worked in a fly-in/fly-out oil or mining camp knows that the logistics of getting from home to work and back can be a challenge. The trip often involves a combination of flights and ground transportation, multiple boarding passes, and of course, the usual vagaries of travel including weather and mechanical delays. Then there is the potential for problems at the camp, such as room reservations, menu glitches, and even issues with housekeeping.

While managing large-scale camps in remote locations seems like a straightforward and manageable task, in reality the job involves balancing complex components across various systems, including: matching charter flights with commercial schedules; accommodation availability; compliance risks; itinerary risks; and ensuring duty of care.

“The whole operation can be seen in one dashboard. So from a logistics perspective, the challenges have been greatly diminished for the camp operators. And you know, it runs like a well-oiled machine”: Gemstone Logistics president Tom McHale

After spending 20 years working in remote locations, Gemstone Logistics CEO and president Tom McHale recognized the challenges resource companies faced in attracting and retaining qualified workers, and also understood the strains workers felt being away from family and friends for weeks at a time. In 2005, while working as an aviation manager, McHale pioneered the first successful cross-Canada fly-in/fly-out program for a major oil company. He went on to found Gemstone in 2007, providing air transportation services for large-scale resource and construction projects.

Over the years, Gemstone recognized a need across major industrial projects to integrate fragmented site services. Its proprietary software CIRYS has successfully transformed travel management processes among many major oil companies – saving clients millions of dollars along the way.

In early 2015, Gemstone acquired Orissa Software Inc., including CampWare, software tailored to the front desk, housekeeping, food services and guest management needs of workforce accommodation facilities.

Yet despite these powerful software tools, Gemstone Logistics sought a way to even further integrate its transportation and accommodation services for remote camps. The solution was to partner with American Express Global Business Travel. The company is independent from American Express Company, but the U.S. multinational has a 50-percent interest in American Express GBT.

Launched in 2016, the partnership, dubbed a “complete travel management solution,” saw “Gemstone’s proprietary travel and accommodation management software, CIRYS, integrated with GBT’s booking and servicing solutions, providing optimum manpower planning capabilities, an end-to-end view of every traveller’s journey and seamless travel management,” according to a press release.

McHale said the problem up to recently with transportation and accommodation at remote camps has been the disconnect between booking systems.

“There could be 10,000 people in a camp, and there was a separate system for camps, there might be an airline, or various airlines flying workers in through charter, no connection whatsoever. There was the busing disconnect, other types of on-boarding disconnects, no reporting capability, no accountability. It was really willy-nilly. So by integrating it …read more

Source:: Infomine

The post Successful partnership makes fly-in/fly-out easier appeared first on Junior Mining Analyst.