How Procomp optimisation works

Procomp’s Community Care planning solution is based on the technology used by transport logistics providers to efficiently plan large fleets of vehicles. Intelligent algorithms are used to solve the analytically demanding problem of creating schedules, freeing coordinators to work on other tasks.

We solve the ‘big problem’, creating optimised schedules from scratch. Taking client data and needed visits, available workers with their skills and preferences, along with the given planning preferences our software intelligently analyses a vast number of alternatives to produce a set of optimised schedules.

The human coordinator is always in control and may quickly fine-tune or re-plan, either manually or by making changes to care plans, staffing or planning preferences.

Procomp manage the demands of planning community care

  • Continuity of Care

    Our software uses powerful techniques to maximise continuity of care. Preferred carers are initially determined based on visit history or can be defined manually. As well as considering the past, our software also plans for continuity into the future by managing continuity in a longer-term view of up-to 28 days ahead. Using this approach, continuity is maximised and can be allowed to evolve as clients, care plans and carers change over time.

  • Double-up visits

    Two carers (or even more) may be required for some visits. Our software employs different approaches for providing these visits depending on the circumstances: Individual workers can converge to handle multi-handed visits. Alternatively, double-up teams can be used (typically a driver and a passenger). These teams may split up to handle single-handed visits and then meet up again to continue handling double-up visits.

  • Travelling

    Travelling can make up a significant part of a carer’s day and be a significant cost. While our software minimises travelling, it includes realistic amounts of time for the travelling which is needed. This is important for ensuring that plans are realistic and workable, and for reducing rush and stress on workers. Different modes of transport are supported, and time is given for parking and walking between clients if appropriate.

  • Client needs and preferences

    Clients may have various needs and preferences. Needs include such things as the time and duration of visits, and qualifications of the carer. Preferences might include being seen by carers with particular interests. Some clients might have a requirement to only be seen by certain carers, or not to be seen by others. Our software takes into account all client needs and preferences when allocating carers and building schedules.

  • Worker skills and preferences

    Workers may have certain skills, availabilities and preferences, and often have preferences or strict requirements for working areas of amount of travelling. These are all taken into account when allocating visits and building schedules.

  • Handling constant changes

    Our software makes it quick and easy to update plans or re-plan to account for changes: Small changes, such as adding a new client or care package, can be managed while making minimal changes to the existing schedules. Sometimes bigger changes are needed, for example if several workers are unavailable with nobody to cover for them. In cases such as these our software can quickly and easily re-plan the day to handle the required work with the available workers.

The Procomp Advantage

Logistics is about having the right resource at the right place at the right time. While delivering care in the home is a logistics problem, it is very different to delivering a parcel. Procomp have specialised in logistics planning since 2001, and since 2011 we have been pioneers in bringing advanced logistics planning tools and methods to address the challenges of delivering community care. We have worked with European homecare and other community care providers and have developed a unique and powerful solution to handle the challenges of delivering quality community care.

Learn more about the possibilities of optimisation

If you’re considering optimisation or would just like more information, we’re happy to answer all of your questions.