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7 March/April 2021 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN STOPPING DISTRACTIONS, IMPROVING DRIVER SAFETY This year, Davey is rolling out companywide the TRUCE mobile app to reduce distractions and improve driver safety within Davey vehicles. The TRUCE app restricts mobile device use when paired with a beacon installed inside Davey vehicles. The TRUCE app, once installed on company-issued mobile devices, limits cell phone capabilities and notifications when the beacon is detected. Brent Repenning, executive vice president, U.S. Utility and Davey Resource Group, said the TRUCE app implements a Davey-customized policy when it is activated by a beacon inside a Davey vehicle. "We're customizing that policy to limit what can be done with a mobile device while it is inside a moving vehicle so that our drivers can focus on driving safely without distraction," Repenning said. "Our TRUCE policy will still allow the use of certain functions such as hands-free capabilities, hands-free calling, hands-free texting and navigation. But it can block unwanted distractions, like social media notifications, news alerts and other apps that may take your attention away from the road." Many states in the U.S. already have laws in place stating mobile devices cannot be used while driving unless it is in a hands-free application. Davey company policy is the same. "Some of our clients are also requiring us to take action on distracted driving," Repenning said. Davey is applying the TRUCE functions flexibly. Passengers can still use their Davey-issued mobile devices – so employees on long trips for storm responses will not be affected. TRUCE can also permit podcast apps in hands-free mode, so drivers can still listen while driving. "We've done a lot to make it a user-friendly tool that will eliminate the potential for distraction while driving," Repenning said. "People have to admit that we have been conditioned to look at our device when it makes a sound; we're hoping to cut down on the unnecessary stuff but still allow our staff to safely complete their work assignments. Safety is a Davey core value and implementing the TRUCE app is about the safety of our employees and the people we encounter on the road." The implementation kickoff for S/4HANA started in February. It will roll out to different operations in three separate phases. The first phase will not go live until March of 2022, with complete companywide integration by the end of 2023. Affected employees will receive communications updates from their service line leaders and instructional training as the rollout progresses. Countryman said the methodology the company is using to implement S/4 is vastly different from the 1999 introduction of SAP. "This time we have specific business processes we know we need to have to run our business," he said. "We're starting with a system that is already basically configured for Davey from the get-go. So, when our team starts with S/4, they'll be working on a system that already works for them and doesn't need additional configuration time." SUCCESSFACTORS: A 'FACELIFT' FOR HUMAN RESOURCES One component of the SAP S/4 upgrade is SuccessFactors Employee Central. Portions of this program are already in place, as the project kickoff started in March 2020. Anna Davis, director, human resources administration, said SuccessFactors will empower employees through information accessibility as the company shifts from manual, paper-based processes to more electronic streamlined processes. "Every employee will have access to this system and the ability to update their own appropriate information," Davis said. "Employees will be able to manage their own address information, direct deposit information, dependent and emergency contact names. You will be able to log in and see your current wage, paystub, current job title and your past positions within the company. "Managers will have digital workflows for their team that are currently paper-based," Davis said. "Supervisors will be able to manage position transfers, wage changes and more. It's basically the complete employee cycle from recruiting through retirement." The Employee Central components of SuccessFactors will go live companywide in June. User education and training modules were developed early this year and will be communicated to employees in advance of the implementation. "All Davey employees should look for communication in advance of the June go-live date with information about learning how to use the new system," Davis said. Number of text messages managed by TRUCE in February. 49,000