Asset Vision’s move into the council market has been nothing short of transformative. In just the past five months, eight councils have come on board, a powerful endorsement of the platform’s ability to simplify, streamline and strengthen asset management.
Asset Vision’s history is rooted in supporting more efficient, safer and sustainable road maintenance outcomes.
For years, major road and transport agencies have entrusted the platform to collate data and information that can be actively used to deliver improved transport asset portfolio results.
Now the company is looking to take on new horizons, by supporting municipalities in their asset management quests.
As Marius Dragan, Client Delivery Manager – Asset Vison explains, the company’s focus on the council market was a natural evolution.
“When we initially started, the platform was more built towards linear assets and linear asset inspection,” he says. “So obviously, roads were the main asset type that we focused on initially, and then, with identifying certain opportunities in the market, we moved into other verticals.
“We had some clients using it for buildings, some clients using it for water, open spaces and so on, and when you think about it, the council segment is an amalgamation of all those different asset types.”
Asset Vision’s platform provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for asset management, particularly suited for councils and organisations managing diverse and complex asset portfolios.
Its applicability across a vast range of assets allows the platform to cater to the entire asset lifecycle, from acquisition and maintenance to operations, disposal, and overall financial management. This is delivered through built-in reports for asset condition, financials, and compliance, reducing reliance on external tools, therefore, offering a centralised and streamlined method of asset management.
“There’s obviously increasing pressure for councils around budgets and compliance, as well as increased community and ratepayer expectations,” Dragan says. “We’ve got a solution that’s able to be introduced easily and is applicable and flexible across all asset types.”
It was this versatility that caught the eye of the City of Greater Dandenong last year.
“I met the Asset Vision team at the 2024 Municipal Works Australia Conference in Bendigo,” says Arran Gray, Team Leader, Civil Maintenance – City of Greater Dandenong. “At the time, I was looking for future-proof solutions regarding work management, as well as streamlining our processes and efficiencies.”
After learning more about the platform and meeting with Asset Vision’s existing clients, Gray says Asset Vision’s platform looked like a promising tool to add to Council’s arsenal, and they started a trial as an interim deployment to accelerate benefits while longer‑term options were assessed.
“It’s been a fantastic journey working closely with the Asset Vision team to bring this project to life. From day one we were aligned on our goals of improving visibility, control, and efficiency across our works maintenance operations. To see it all come together in just 10 weeks is a true credit to the collaboration, dedication, and professionalism on both sides.”
Local Solutions for Local Government
Situated 35 kilometres southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, the City of Greater Dandenong extends across 129 square kilometres, with a population of 167,000 people.
According to the Victorian Government, this municipality is the most culturally diverse in Australia, with residents originating from more than 150 different birthplaces. The region is also one of the fastest-growing areas in Melbourne.
City of Greater Dandenong’s main use of the Asset Vision platform includes planning and scheduling maintenance and operational works, as well as assigning and managing jobs for field and office staff – the majority of which consists of proactive and reactive asset inspections. As an interim solution, this configuration prioritises operational uplift and reliable service delivery to the community.
One of the biggest perks so far has been the ability to create custom roles and allocate work to roles instead of individuals.
Gray says sign maintenance is just one segment that has benefited from this capability.
“We’ve got one person who does all the allocation. That person will allocate all the relevant work to the sign maintenance team, then the team leader will see ‘right, there’s x number of jobs here, I’ll put these staff members on them’,” he says.
“The team on the ground can then log in and see the work they’ve been assigned. A lot of other systems make you allocate to a person. But if they’re not working that day, or something changes, you need to ‘unallocate’, reallocate – a lot of work is involved in that.
“With Asset Vision, having the ability to assign to a role instead means that anyone can go and complete the assigned work. That way we’re never stuck in a spot where we can’t get a job done on time.”
Under the trial, the platform is used for both day‑to‑day operations and strategic management of council assets.
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“Asset Vision’s web-based platform gives us a lot of power to mould it from an operational sense. As part of that, we’ve established a system that requires 10 data points or less from staff, that way they’re only recording exactly what they need to as part of that role,” Gray says.
“We’ve built quite a comprehensive maintenance program for different assets and built a lot of inspection routes in there to capture all relevant information.”
Gray says Asset Vision’s AutoPilot+AI feature has been a standout in this process.
“AutoPilot+AI by Asset Vision has transformed the way we manage and maintain our council’s infrastructure. Its ability to provide clear visual evidence of inspection programs gives us confidence in our data. The real-world data it generates is invaluable for building proactive, data-driven maintenance plans. Additionally, having concrete evidence to support claims during storm events will provide quick resolutions. This is an essential tool for any council committed to smart, efficient asset maintenance.”
Beyond benefits with assigning and filing jobs, the volume of customisation provided is another glaring benefit.
“From what I saw, everything was customisable. From workflows, to how you allocate work, to how you schedule – it was all really fluid around your organisation, team and workflow,” Gray says. “That was one of the big kickers for me, to be able to have the opportunity to build a system that suits us.”
Asset Vision’s platform allows for the ‘drag-and-drop’ configuration of forms, permissions, and workflows, all without developer or vendor intervention.
“The way we set up and introduce the platform leaves the door open for the user. So, if they need to go in and move things around, change permissions or change a form, it’s all effectively a very intuitive drag and drop visual interface,” Dragan says.
“They’re not just locked into a certain format; you can go ahead and tweak it and use it in as many different ways as you need to collect the right quality and volume of data. “And for any changes that require additional support, Asset Vision’s local team is on station to assist. Gray says this local support can be clearly felt, with timely solutions helping to minimise disruptions in council services for taxpayers.
“They’re relatively around the corner. Some companies have support networks that are stationed overseas, which is fine. With Asset Vision, that makes all the difference,” he says.
“When we raise an issue, it’s not just lodged as a ticket and added to a cue in their system; their local team instead is working with you directly to resolve any issues.”
City of Greater Dandenong is just one of a number of municipalities that have recently signed up for the Asset Vision platform. A sign – Dragan says – that points towards more potential growth in the segment for Asset Vision.
“What excites me is that we’ve got a solution that’s quick to implement, and very easy to use,” he says. “We’re giving them a solution that’s a one-stop shop for the entire asset management lifecycle. We’re innovative, we’re keeping ahead of trends, and we’ve got a great team that understands council challenges and can effectively shape and implement the solution to address these pain points.
“No longer do councils need to use and have multiple integrated systems to obtain their information. They can get it all from one place, and via a mobile device directly in the field”.
This article was originally published in the October edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
