We were fortunate to have Asel’s friend, Isaac Clelland from RosterLab along to address us. The AI rostering software solution, RosterLab, won the University of Auckland’s Velocity $100K Challenge in 2020. RosterLab is based on Isaac’s PhD research with Associate Professor Andrew Mason and Dr Michael O’Sullivan into developing new techniques for mathematically optimising large and complex roster models. Following its victory in the competition, and its winning an International Belgian Nursing Roster competition, RosterLab is being adopted by healthcare providers throughout New Zealand and overseas. RosterLab offers a game-changing solution to the many issues that plague traditional rostering processes and is fully online, employing cloud based computing. Isaac is developing self-rostering procedures, giving workers more personal control over their own schedules. This not only helps to prevent burn-out, but also assists with previously unmet requests and preferences, staffing shortages and surpluses, union requirements, skills mix, and roster history. RosterLab’s approach emphasises automation first and then works with various trade-offs to give optimal solutions: fairness [to all concerned!] being one of the key targets. In all of this, robustness of the algorithm and communication with those being rostered, is critical. Currently RosterLab is working with several hospitals but is also branching out into ferry and other services. After winning the Velocity 2020 Challenge, RosterLab participated in VentureLab, an incubator also delivered by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The University’s research commercialisation company, UniServices, provided support to RosterLab and within a year it was a venture-backed company. The company is currently seeking the next tranche of venture funding to progress its expansion. Isaac answered a range of great questions stimulated by his presentation. We wish him well with the worthwhile transformation he is introducing to the way rosters are created, and with the niche market opportunity his company is developing. |
President Bill and Trish, and Alimac, take a break for the photographer on their Newmarket bike ride adventure through some of Auckland’s outlying districts on Sunday 18th February.
The REP team has started up again at Aorere College. Wednesdays 11am – 1.00pm during term time. This is proving most worthwhile for both the tutors and the Year 9 students involved this year. Contact Scott Burridge if you are available to assist, or even if you just want to come along one Wednesday to see what the mentoring entails. We certainly are making a difference, one student at a time.