Officials of technology company Trimble (News - Alert) says it “has acquired LET Systems, a provider of incident and outage management system products and services for utilities.”
According to Renew Grid, LET Systems “provides OMS, network modeling, customer contact and mobile workforce management software for utilities, including its end-to-end eRespond platform for incident and outage management.”
NewsTimes.com reports that LET Systems, based in Cork, Ireland, was purchased “for an undisclosed sum.”
ERespond is also used for monitoring events and yields automatic user alerts, which are received via third-party SCADA, AMI and telemetry systems, company officials explain.
“LET's software is used by electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities. It makes mobile work force management software, as well as software that helps utilities manage outages,” NewsTimes reports.
“LET Systems and the eRespond smart grid OMS provide utility customers the tools to save time and cost to improve decision-making and operational efficiencies,” says Katherine Sandford, general manager of Trimble's Utilities Field Solutions business.
According to NewsTimes, “Trimble's technology is used in construction, agriculture and other industries, as well as for public safety and mapping. The company said the acquisition is part of its plan to provide products to the utilities industry.”
About a year ago LET Systems established a partnership with Google (News - Alert) to embed Google Maps in its flagship product eRespond. According to Marcus McCarthy, Managing Director , part of LET’s strategy is the drive to improve spatial functionality. “The utility sector in particular is very keen on spatial functionality and our partnership with Google is a major step forward in this regard.”
The embedded Google Maps are particularly beneficial for utilities with no GIS. However, even where a GIS is present, the benefits of the embedded Google Maps are significant, LET officials said.
Access to the embedded Google Maps will be by way of annual subscription. Once signed up, it will allow utilities to take advantage of Google range, quality and continuing improvements in mapping.