Meticulous planning is the cornerstone of any successful election. Every aspect of the electoral process must be planned with precision to ensure tasks are executed on time, on budget and efficiently. This according to Chad Vickery, Vice President of Global Strategy and Technical Leadership at IFES at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Edgalia Leandro, a Project Manager at Smartmatic with over 15 years of experience overseeing critical electoral deployments in Armenia, the Philippines, Los Angeles, and Argentina, agrees with Vickery’s sentiment. Drawing from her extensive field experience, she has witnessed the transformative impact of Business Intelligence (BI) tools in revolutionizing logistical operations by allowing enhanced control and supervision over the thousands of variables that occur during electoral deployments.
Business Intelligence harnesses processes and tools for data analysis, transforming raw data into actionable insights and guiding efficient decision-making. BI systems consolidate and deliver valuable information through easily digestible reports, intuitive dashboards, and dynamic graphics, charts, and maps.
Overseeing an operations center in Los Angeles that covers nearly five acres, our Project Manager shares her perspective, stating that “thanks to technological applications with real-time data insight through intuitive dashboards, we can more effectively monitor staff performance, pinpoint bottlenecks, and make data-backed decisions.”
“When election day nears, we roll out approximately 130 Vote Centers for seven consecutive days within a strict 12-hour schedule. This task requires synchronized coordination of more than 500 individuals across the county—a challenge that demands thorough preparation, planning, and quick problem-solving to meet our customers’ schedules,” Leandro adds.
Focusing on Smartmatic’s logistical tools for deployments in Los Angeles, Leandro highlights some of the applications on Smartmatic’s Smart e-360. SmartField, SmartGPS, and the Warehouse Production Management System (WPMS) have allowed the company to increase logistical efficiency and safeguard electoral processes.
In Los Angeles County, orchestrating the rollout of approximately 15,000 devices across 650 Vote Centers in 88 municipalities presents an intricate logistical challenge. The application of Business Intelligence (BI) technology becomes indispensable for the real-time management of staff and the monitoring of equipment movement, from the initial dispatch from the warehouse to its strategic placement at Vote Centers, and ultimately, its return.
Our Project Manager emphasizes the vital role of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the scrupulous oversight of every operational phase. These KPIs are instrumental in guaranteeing that equipment deliveries are on schedule, transit times are optimized, and the adherence to stringent distribution and retrieval timelines are met. “We place a high premium on training our staff responsible for setting up Vote Centers and on verifying the equipment’s functionality upon its arrival, to ensure a seamless, error-free voting experience. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as precision GPS tracking and Smart Field applications, empowers us to preemptively identify and remediate potential issues. This proactive stance ensures that efficiency and security are sustained throughout each phase of the electoral process,” she asserts.
Incorporating in-depth BI analysis doesn’t just improve the efficiency of dealing with incidents during deployments; it also heightens the trustworthiness of elections by ensuring flawless operations. Tools like Smartmatic’s WPMS, SmartGPS, and Smart HelpDesk facilitate easier oversight, more granular control, and swift response to any contingencies, all underpinned by precise, up-to-date data. This level of detail can lead to significant cost savings by optimizing resources and preventing incidents through better planning and proactive actions.
