So…here's a question: How do you effectively manage a temporary but highly critical workforce for an extremely large, extremely high-profile public event?

Very, very carefully, to paraphrase an old joke.

The Olympic Games are always entertaining to witness. Not necessarily the games themselves, but the behind-the-scenes machinations from a technology perspective. Systems and solutions set up for a giant temporary workforce come with a far greater number of challenges than solutions set up for the long-term that can be tested and tweaked over time.

In this case, it's the workforce management of hundreds of critical telecom technicians. ClickSoftware (News - Alert) Technologies Ltd., a provider of mobile workforce management and service optimization software, is in a coveted position to announce that, together with its Chinese reseller Xiangmin Technology, it has won the project to manage the field activities of hundreds of telecommunication technicians during the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in China.

Following a successful pilot program, ClickSoftware’s ClickSchedule and ClickAnalyze solutions have been selected to optimize the scheduling operations of several hundred technicians responsible for break/fix, installation and maintenance work. The activities of these technicians will be centrally managed from the Olympic Games telecommunications control center.

Hosting an event such as the Olympic Games naturally brings about significant demands on a city’s infrastructure. This solution is expected to help improve the control and visibility of the field operation ensuring that the strict service level commitments are met and a high level of technicians’ productivity.

“Xiangmin is honored to win this prestigious project together with ClickSoftware,” said Zheng Yang, General Manager of Xiangmin. “Maintaining visibility and control of the mobile workforce is becoming increasingly important in a market that is experiencing phenomenal growth. This win marks a significant breakthrough for us in China and is a sign that the Chinese market is recognizing the value of mobile workforce management software.”

“We are extremely proud to contribute our share to one of the greatest spectacles in the world, the Olympic Games,” said Hannan Carmeli, Chief Operating Officer at ClickSoftware. “When the eyes of the world are watching, it is critical that any faults are attended to as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our ability to execute at times of extremely high demand is second-to-none – a fact recognized by telecommunications companies around the world.”

For more information about ClickSoftware, visit www.clicksoftware.com.

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