The impact of load shedding on the South African economy cannot be overstated. Its effects ripple across various sectors, causing disruptions and challenges for businesses and service providers alike.

One of the primary challenges faced by service providers is maintaining customer service level agreements (SLAs) based on site or network availability. However, this becomes increasingly difficult in the face of frequent power outages orchestrated by Eskom.

Every time a region experiences a power outage, service provider call centres are inundated with alerts originating from monitoring tools to measure and ensure availability and performance of a company stores and sites around the country. The overwhelming number of alerts make it arduous to differentiate between outages caused by load shedding and those due to other faults requiring attention.

The sheer volume of data makes it nearly impossible to meet contractual obligations like responding to an outage in a pre-determined and agreed time frame, and resolution of these problems often cannot be achieved, as resources are stretched thin trying to discern the nature of each outage.

Recognising the need for a solution to this pressing issue, Iris has introduced an innovative feature to address the challenges posed by load shedding. Leveraging the locally developed and well-known ESP app that most South Africans have on their smartphones, Iris now enables the marking of events specifically as “down due to load shedding”. This innovative approach provides clarity amid the chaos, allowing service providers to identify and prioritise genuine outages over those caused by scheduled power cuts.

For clients utilising Iris’s Events View or integrating their systems with Iris, this feature offers invaluable assistance. It empowers them to filter out sites affected by load shedding, thereby streamlining the troubleshooting process and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively. By focusing efforts on addressing real outages promptly, businesses can minimise downtime and mitigate the impact of load shedding on their operations.

Financial benefits

In addition to the immediate advantage of significantly improved response times to genuine outages, there are noteworthy financial benefits for service providers. By focusing on resolving genuine issues that require intervention, staff morale is boosted, as they are spared from the frustration of navigating a constant stream of inaccurate alerts.

Moreover, since power outages typically fall outside the scope of service providers’ SLAs with customers, any penalties incurred for service disruptions beyond their control are minimised. This reduction in financial liabilities further enhances the bottom line for providers, contributing to improved operational efficiency and overall profitability.

Moreover, this feature underscores Iris’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. By actively addressing the pain points faced by its clients, Iris demonstrates its dedication to enhancing operational efficiency and service quality in a challenging environment.

In conclusion, the introduction of event suppression by Iris represents a significant milestone in addressing the challenges posed by load shedding in South Africa. By providing a means to distinguish between genuine outages and those caused by scheduled power cuts, Iris empowers service providers to maintain service levels and mitigate the economic impact of load-shedding.

As businesses continue to innovate and adapt in response to the country’s energy crisis, solutions like this will play a crucial role in ensuring resilience and sustainability in the face of adversity.

About Iris Network Systems
Iris Network Systems, a South African based technology company, offers innovative network management software known for its notable scalability, lightweight design and robust functionality. Tailored to deliver your network information in a user-friendly, visually intuitive format, Iris empowers you with straightforward and efficient control over your network environment. Committed to supporting your business holistically, we provide on-demand training resources and comprehensive technical assistance to all our clients. Backed by over two decades of experience in networking and telecommunications, our dedicated team comprises industry experts deeply passionate about delivering excellence in their field.