The Evolving Workforce and how interoperability will help

People play a crucial role in achieving interoperability. They are the users, designers, developers and decision-makers who work with each other to manage the network. They are the ones who must use the available data and technology to provide outcomes. However, to ensure the right outcomes, people must be given the relevant skills and then empowered to make decisions.

Overcoming the digital skills gap

As data and technology continue to change the way we work, traditional skills will need to adapt. Each role will need to be analysed and optimised. To overcome the ongoing digital skills gap and to cover a projected 83% increase in demand for digital roles in the coming years¹), stakeholders must upskill their people to broaden the talent pool. This applies to roles in front-line operations and maintenance and equally to those needed to design, develop, and implement new data-driven solutions.

Managing workforce interoperability

Different technologies, data sets and ways of working between organisations increase the complexity of skills required by the workforce. Additionally, decisions made by one organisation may have interoperability implications for another. Any differences in technology, rules and processes between organisations perpetuate this complexity. Consistent technologies and operating rules will prevent technology locks and improve the overall efficiency of the industry. For example, a single system would reduce workforce training requirements, lower operational costs, and facilitate labour mobility. To achieve this will require a clearly articulated pathway forward and collaboration between stakeholders.

Optimising the Human Element to achieve Interoperability

It is essential to take a human-centered approach to interoperability because it addresses the way people interact with and use data, systems and technology. The aim is to ensure the system and user are optimally aligned – whether this is by designing the system to fit the user or designing the organisation to fit the technology. If a system is designed without considering usability, or if multiple systems are required to be used in different contexts, it can lead to errors, frustration and reduced productivity. By taking a people-focused approach, the system (software, equipment, rules, and processes) can be designed so they are easy to use, error-tolerant and more likely to be adopted, championed and used effectively.

Success lies in bringing together stakeholders early in the design process, prioritising communication, and collaboration throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring diverse and user-friendly solutions are created. As the transport sector becomes increasingly connected, a human-centered approach is critical to ensure interoperability.

1 National Rail Skills Hub

In many of its use cases, achieving interoperability will require data, technology and people working together to achieve outcomes.

Data and technology can help bring together disparate systems, but creating a common platform is more complex. For systems to become interoperable, data and technology need to be successfully managed, protected, structured and available to the various user groups. Each step will come with its own challenges and risks.

Successfully Managing Data

Successful data management means collecting, cleaning, aggregating, structuring and anonymising organisational data. It involves key steps such as:

1. Data governance
2. Data quality management
3. Data integration
4. Security and privacy
5. Data storage
6. Analytics and insights
7. Continuous monitoring and improvement.

Effective data management will unlock the immediate benefits of interoperability, such as smarter real-time decision-making, streamlined information sharing, asset tracking and resource management. It will assist those who interact with, manage, and maintain the complex networks of today and in the future.

Moreover, as each organisation opens, shares and integrates data into the broader IoT ecosystem, this will empower the entire transport industry to achieve its full potential. We will see further innovations and technological advancements, including new services to improve customer journeys, modern asset-management practices—such as predictive maintenance, improved planning, responses to disruptions— and giving greater transparency and consistency over network operations. This, in turn, will improve safety.

Navigating Emerging Cyber Security Risks

With data and technology integral to interoperability, the ever-growing number of IoT-powered devices will leave organisations vulnerable to cyber threats. Navigating cyber risk in critical infrastructure will be essential to safeguarding the integrity of vital systems and protecting the privacy and safety of customers.

To counter risks, organisations will need to build many layers of protection and detection into the design and operations of their various systems and will need to utilise a wide selection of products and services developed by a range of different cyber security suppliers.

Organisations will need to implement a cyber security and data protection strategy that covers people, process, and technology. Such a strategy will help provide multiple levels of protection across:

• Security: infrastructure, network, application, information, and cloud.
• Employee awareness and security training.
• Disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

To implement a successful cyber strategy, organisations should consider bringing in subject matter experts to establish processes and provide ongoing assistance.

In addition, organisations must also comply with several industry and international cyber security standards. These include ISO27001 & IEC62443 and state and federal legislation such as the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act) and relevant privacy legislation.

The MoC has been developed as part of the NTC’s National Rail Action Plan for the industry, operators and governments to consider interoperability when investing in the rail network, directly addressing long-standing legacy issues that continue to impact productivity and safety. 

First signed by Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Hon. Catherine King MP, Victoria’s Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Jacinta Allan MP and the Australasian Railways Association, the MoC has now been signed by all Australian state and territory governments and many rail operators and industry participants. 

This groundbreaking agreement marks a pivotal moment in the country’s transportation sector, with potential far-reaching implications for the efficiency and sustainability of rail networks. 

The MoC, signed at SYSTRA ANZ’s head office in Sydney, establishes a collaborative framework for the two entities to work together in achieving the shared goal of creating a more seamless and interconnected rail system in Australia. The partnership aims to address critical challenges such as standardisation, data sharing, and regulatory alignment, all of which are essential for the development of a modern, efficient, and sustainable rail network. 

The signing ceremony was attended by Alana Newbrook, CEO, SYSTRA ANZ and the NTC’s Executive Leader Dimi Rigas. 

For more information on the MoC and the NTC’s National Rail Action Plan, please click here. 

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