The power of reaction: Helping our clients grow on-the-go
Reacting to customer needs at pace is a skill - and one that our team at Buzz likes to nail, every time.
That’s why, when long-time client Reef Water Solutions faced a new challenge to land a big contract, we were ready to jump in feet-first and help make it happen (all part of our ongoing work developing their portal, Orac).
The result? An opportunity that has since turned into a major win; a lucrative contract for Reef’s water compliance services at a large manufacturing site, that even has potential for further roll-out across more locations.
HOW IT STARTED
Reef approached Buzz back in 2018 to build Orac, a bespoke compliance platform that helps the team’s engineers digitally track and submit results through tablets. In fact, from creating contracts to managing schedules for compliance, the system does it all.
Not only does it mean businesses using the service can see their results in real-time, but it also takes out time-consuming paperwork, and ensures better work-life balance for the team working on the ground.
With this latest update, though, they needed Orac to do something that few other water companies have managed to do to date - revolutionise how water safety compliance is handled at scale.
For Reef, it came down to the ability to effectively asset label hundreds of water assets (we’re talking taps, tanks, and more), and track them easily, so their team could focus on doing what they do best.
And, thanks to Orac being in such a strong position with its continuous development, the system was already geared up so we could easily unlock this new potential and push the job through as a priority.
TAKING IT FURTHER
Reef’s initial request was for a feature that would allow the team to export the site’s asset configuration from Orac, helping the team find the assets they were servicing in an organisational way, with references and locations.
Our team took it one step further; by introducing the capability to edit and move assets around in the system, so the team could easily keep the site’s configuration in Orac aligned with what was happening on the ground.
Before this update, asset tracking on large sites was a logistical headache. Engineers had to rely on location descriptions and assumptions (often based on schematic diagrams) to find the right equipment, potentially wasting valuable time.
The new labelling features allow the already-configured assets in Orac to be clearly marked on-site, so they can be easily identified within the system. Now, Reef’s engineers can instantly verify they’re in the right place, and managers can track tasks and issues with total clarity.
Sometimes, it’s the small changes that create powerful capability - and, for a site this sprawling and complex, is no doubt a game-changer.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The new Orac features were born from real-world needs, and were a success thanks to the quick and decisive response from our Buzz developers. In fact, we not only addressed the request, but exceeded expectations by anticipating additional needs.
“The Buzz developers were just so responsive,” says George Biggs, Reef Water Solutions’ service manager. “I asked for one thing and they delivered three. It was exactly what we needed, and more. I wish I had asked for it sooner.”
The impact was immediate. Reef successfully delivered on their work, impressing the client so much that they’ve committed to rolling the same approach out across all their sites over the next 12 to 18 months.
That means significant new revenue potential for Reef with minimal extra effort - all thanks to Buzz’s ability to move fast and build smart, right from the beginning.
COMPLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE
Beyond the asset labelling itself, the Orac platform continues to deliver benefits across the board. Engineers now input work directly into the system, cutting out paperwork, and reducing admin time. From a compliance standpoint, it also allows full visibility of issues and resolutions, streamlining audits, and enhancing accountability.
And the future? Well, the Reef team aren’t ready to stop just yet, with ideas to build more features that could potentially allow clients to input their own routine checks directly into Orac, making the platform even more future-proof.
For us, the mission is simple. It’s not just about smart software - it’s about partnership, innovation, and delivering real-world solutions that make a difference.
