Daniel Lewis, Digitalisation Manager at Applus+, recently shared insights on digital transformation in workforce compliance at the Mainstream Conference in Perth. Applus+ is a multinational company and one of the leading international players in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector, with over 28,000 professionals across 65 countries. Managing 600+ workers in Australia's energy and resources sector, Daniel experienced firsthand how modern platforms can transform safety and operational efficiency. We sat down with Daniel to ask a few question and learn more about the journey:
- What were the main pain points you were trying to solve?
- What changed after implementing the digital platform?
- Can you quantify the impact?
- What surprised you most during implementation?
- What were the biggest lessons learned?
- What would you tell others considering a similar transformation?
- How does this fit into Applus+'s broader approach to innovation?
- What's next for Applus+ in this space?
What were the main pain points you were trying to solve?
"We were dealing with four major challenges: ensuring safety compliance in high-risk environments, maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple sites, the significant admin burden on our back-office team, and delays in worker mobilisation. When you're managing 600+ workers across energy and resources projects, these issues compound quickly.
The manual processes - reviewing certifications, storing records in folders, and manual retrieval - just weren't giving us the visibility we needed to manage risk effectively."
What changed after implementing the digital platform?
"The transformation was significant. We moved from manual certification reviews and folder-based record storage to real-time compliance tracking with operational visibility and greater access control.
As Rachel Carcallas, our Operations Administrator, put it: 'The improvements in MyPass have significantly streamlined our processes and made my tasks much more efficient.'"
Can you quantify the impact?
"Absolutely. We saw 32% faster worker mobilisation, which is huge when you're trying to get people to site quickly. Training completion increased by 17%. We reduced administration time by 32%, and we're now 15% faster in responding to client requests.
Perhaps most impressively, we're saving about 100 hours for each compliance cycle. That's time our team can now spend on higher-value activities rather than chasing paperwork."
What surprised you most during implementation?
"Three things stand out. First, co-designing with field staff was invaluable - they helped shape a system that actually works in the real world, not just in theory.
Second, we had to be very clear in communicating with our workforce about privacy protections and security controls. Workers needed to understand their data was more secure in a digital hub than being shared in spreadsheets and emails.
Third, we had to prepare for legacy data gaps - missing or mismatched records from the old system. Expecting this challenge meant we could plan for it."
What were the biggest lessons learned?
"Three key insights:
First, visibility drives accountability. Real-time access to workforce competency data dramatically improves decision-making and risk management. You can't manage what you can't see.
Second, automation reduces risk. Eliminating manual processes enhances safety, audit readiness, and operational consistency. Human error in compliance is a real risk we've now minimised.
Third, digital assurance builds trust. Having verified, compliant personnel strengthens our reputation with clients and gives everyone more confidence in our operations."
What would you tell others considering a similar transformation?
"Start with your field staff in the design process. Communicate clearly about data security - that's often the biggest concern. And prepare for data migration challenges.
But most importantly, understand that this isn't just about efficiency gains - though those are significant. It's about fundamentally improving how you manage risk and assurance in high-stakes environments. Our spreadsheets have gone out the window, and it's been a game-changer for our safety performance and productivity."
How does this fit into Applus+'s broader approach to innovation?
"Applus+ has always been committed to working alongside clients to build a more sustainable future - that's reflected in our motto 'Together Beyond Standards.'
Our business strategy focuses on maximising opportunities from key global trends like decarbonisation, electrification, and connectivity. Digital workforce assurance is a natural extension of that - it's about using technology to enhance safety, compliance, and operational excellence.
For me, this project demonstrated how innovation in compliance management directly supports those broader strategic goals."
What's next for Applus+ in this space?
"We're looking at three areas: expansion to other regions and projects, integration with our existing LMS and other systems, and growth through continuous improvement and broader workforce adoption."
The views and experiences shared here are Daniel's personal insights from his work at Applus+. This article is based on his public presentation and does not constitute official company communications.
About Daniel Lewis
Pacific Manager, Technology, Innovation & Digitalization | Implementation Lead, MyPass – Applus
Daniel Lewis spearheads digital transformation initiatives for Applus across the Pacific region, focusing on practical technologies that optimize field operations, workforce management, and reporting efficiency. As the Implementation Lead for MyPass, Daniel champions the deployment of advanced competency assurance solutions, ensuring skilled personnel are matched accurately to job requirements, enhancing compliance and operational reliability.
Leveraging extensive experience in inspection and testing, Daniel blends frontline expertise with strategic digital enablement. He directs key projects involving mobile reporting, remote inspection, digital work instructions, and reality capture technologies, significantly reducing operational risk and improving asset management resilience in critical infrastructure sectors.
