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SaaS synergies: how technology is reshaping OHS for business SaaS technology is well established in functions such as accounting and HR, and is playing an increasingly important role in the OHS function
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or many organisations, the integration of SaaS platforms tailored for OHS has streamlined (or even completely removed the need for) manual record-keeping and associated procedural inefficiencies. Cloud-based solutions can augment operational efficiency in safety management while supporting safety protocols, incident documentation and regulatory compliance. There have been a number of important developments in SaaS-based OHS solutions in recent times according to Craig Salter, founder of Safety Champion, a cloud-based health and safety software as a service (SaaS) solution. Compared to five years ago, he said there is greater literacy around both the positive impacts and challenges associated with cloud-based WHS solutions. “As a result, prospects are coming to us more informed, understanding the opportunity and clear on what they want,” he said. This has been accompanied by heightened confidence in cloud-based solutions, which is a clear by-product of the way COVID changed the way organisations worked and used technology. This also led to increased confidence in the cloud. “This, along with commentary around changes in legislation, has been a significant driver in the procurement of cloudbased WHS software solutions,” said Salter. “Not only do management want to provide workers with uninterrupted access to their health and safety program, but our sense is that there is greater awareness by management of their due diligence duties regarding visibility and knowledge of how effectively their safety program is being implemented.” Additionally, Salter said important legislative changes have put safety on the radar for executives. The introduction of industrial manslaughter laws more recently, for example, along with the heightened awareness around psychosocial hazards, has businesses at the leadership level self-reflecting on how effectively safety is implemented within their organisation.
Industry literacy with WHS platforms
Broadly speaking, Salter observed that organisations are at various stages in terms of technology adoption. In the ecosystem
OHS PROF ESSIONA L | DECEMBER 2023
from the procurement side results from the self-regulated way in which certain safety duties are applied. Salter said the only other cloud-based platform many clients have experienced might be an accounting or HR platform, where duties are often prescriptive and well defined by legislation, as well as the ATO or the Fair Work Commission. “Self-regulation results in there being multiple approaches in how safety can be managed by an organisation,” said Salter. “This means that software solutions like Safety Champion need to provide clients with self-serve code-free configurability, along with an ability to control workflows and access established templates.”
Elements of a successful business case
Founder of Safety Champion, Craig Salter, says organisations and WHS professionals should focus on SaaS platform flexibility to help set themselves up for success
of cloud-based technology, there is an ever-improving awareness of what cloud solutions can do and who the vendors are, he observed. “With this acknowledgement comes acceptance of the benefits, and how these solutions can positively impact operational performance. That said, we understand that cloud-based technology is only the start of the conversation,” he said. “The next wave of technology such as virtual reality, automation, sensors, pattern matching, artificial intelligence (AI) and exoskeletons, while available, is not mainstream and is often cost prohibitive for smaller organisations. Where cost is not a concern, adoption requires forward-thinking leaders – those who want to lead the experimentation process, to allow acceptance to build and solutions to become part of the mainstream vocabulary.”
Common challenges and issues
There is still a learning curve for many organisations as they adopt cloud-based technology. A common challenge observed
When building a compelling business case for adopting a WHS platform, Salter said it is important to focus on objectives rather than getting bogged down in detailed workflows. “Clearly define your functionality requirements, considering factors like incident reporting, document version control, phone apps, offline access, language translation and analytics,” he said. “Ensure that the software prioritises action over administration, as you do not want the issues with your current manual task to transfer over to the management of your software platform (for example, when a user leaves, how are tasks associated with them managed?) Along with demonstrating a strong return on investment (ROI), alignment with broader organisational goals, compliance and risk reduction, scalability and user-friendliness, this will contribute to a successful case for adoption.” In Salter’s experience, successful business cases have focused on the objective benefits of the WHS platform, with a focus on ROI. “When attention is paid to the objective benefits of the software, the vendor can present how their platform can manage the objective. It allows you to get an understanding of how the platform has been designed, rather than the vendor retrofitting workflows which may result in suboptimal performance. Get the vendor to walk you through first, then ask clarifying questions,” he said.
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To map out ROI, it is important to first understand the time taken to deliver current safety work. “Recently, we were able to demonstrate a 26 x ROI, which equated to a $2.2 million net saving in operational time over three years. This is an incredibly powerful motivator for the executive team,” said Salter. While the purchase should focus on the current capability of a platform when building a business case, Salter also said consideration should be given to: 1. Ease of use. 2. S calability. For example, what functionality has been deployed over the last 12 months, and what future plans is the vendor willing to share? 3. W hat integrations are supported, and are open APIs available? Open APIs will allow the procurer to implement integrations. 4. P ricing. Are contracts set for a given term, or better still grandfathered? Or, does the future pricing adjust with the market? “Market pricing can be a concern,” said Salter. “I’ve recently seen pricing jump by over 30 per cent which can result in budget pressures. Being clear on the above builds confidence
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that not only is the WHS platform positioned to grow, but that your future can also grow with it.”
Getting the best value out of a SaaS platform To maximise the value of SaaS platforms such as Safety Champion, Salter said organisations and WHS professionals should focus on platform flexibility to help set themselves up for success. “Ensure there is the ability to configure the platform ‘codefree’. This includes controlling what modules are activated now and for what users, along with the ability to change dropdowns and build out questions in set forms,” said Salter. Salter added that the platform is going to be a long-term investment. “How you plan to use the platform now will be different in 12 months, let alone in five years’ time.” Another important step is to be actively involved in the implementation, setup and commissioning stage. “Turn up focused and present,” said Salter. “Build product familiarity by reviewing available resource materials. Ask lots of questions. Getting the platform set-up right the first
time will support enablement across your organisation.” While it may feel easy to let the customer success team take the lead, Salter said to remember that they will only know your organisation and its challenges based on the information you share. “You’re the subject matter expert of your organisation in the relationship,” he said. Once the platform is set up and running, Salter said it also helps to be curious and share feedback. “Explore new functionality and contribute to the community,” said Salter, who added that the platform’s product team will take on board insights from multiple channels, including customer feedback, when building future functionality. “Report back on what is working and why, along with areas you see for growth. With both of these, the ‘why’ is critically important, as it guides effective product teams in the direction they build. The ‘why’ is likely to be multidimensional and cross-functional across the platform, and your ‘small’ suggestion may allow whole-ofproduct enhancements,” he said. n Safety Champion is a diamond member of the Australian Institute of Health & Safety.
DECEMBER 2023 | OHS PROF ESSIONAL