Room in the Inn | Vertech

Room in the Inn (RITI) was juggling four disparate software packages and Excel to run their operations. Even so, their logistics were still too complex for all their tools to handle, leaving them with significant gaps. Vertech offered to build RITI an Ignition application that combined all their software packages plus filled in these gaps with the additional features they desperately needed. And Vertech offered to do it for free. Recruiting over 150 volunteers from around the world, Vertech led the 2-1/2 year project to provide RITI with the right solution to better serve the homeless community in Nashville, Tennessee.

Room in the Inn (RITI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, meals, and resources to those experiencing homelessness. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, RITI operates year-round to support individuals with housing, health services, and community resources. Their facilities accommodate various needs, including overnight shelter, day services, and emergency support, often partnering with other local organizations to extend their impact.

By focusing on care, compassion, and sustainable support, RITI serves as a critical resource for Nashville’s homeless population and those transitioning to stable housing.

In the Beginning...

Previously, Room in the Inn used Client Track, Volgistics, JotForm, and Razor’s Edge, along with multiple spreadsheets and email communication to run their operations. It was a logistical nightmare to manage 13 shelters, 111 congregations, thousands of homeless participants, and thousands of volunteers. RITI knew that their existing software solutions weren’t cutting it. Furthermore, they weren’t able to increase the winter shelter efforts or provide improved care for those in need.

The Plot Thickens

Chris McLaughlin, Vertech SCADA & MES Specialist and regular RITI volunteer, offered to build RITI one cohesive software platform that would encompass all the existing functionality and add the missing features required to scale their service for the homeless. Whether it was the offer to build a multi-million-dollar solution for free, or Chris’ “charm,” RITI trusted Vertech, Chris, and his community of engineers to make a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) despite having never made one before.

Inductive Automation's Ignition wasn’t the obvious software platform for a HMIS; a homeless shelter doesn’t have any I/O or industrial equipment. But Ignition is Vertech's bread and butter, and Inductive Automation had a community of volunteers willing to help. Over 150 global engineers volunteered their time to develop RITI's new Ignition HMIS system.

The Happy Ending

After 2-1/2 years, the HMIS went live and was named Discovery by RITI. Now over 40 staff and volunteers use Ignition everyday to run shelters, manage operations and resources, and provide services to the homeless. They are already using it as a foundation for automating tasks, generating KPIs and reports, and continuous improvement of their services. Next winter season, the system will debut to all the congregations in the winter shelter program with their own portal logins.

Chris McLaughlin summed it up, “It feels so good to see the system in operation, and I am honored to have served with so many volunteers from the Ignition community!”

This Room in the Inn project was featured in the ICC 2023 Discovery Gallery and received a 2023 Firebrand Award.

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Smart Alarming

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Nuisance Alarm Filtering.
We improved the alarming logic across the fleet to prioritize alarms and consolidate repeat alarms into one action.

Built-in Alarm Hierarchy and Dependencies.
This feature allows the client to add dependencies to alarms. When equipment upstream fails or shuts down, the alarms on downstream devices automatically shut off. This enables the client to identify and solve the root cause of the problem, rather than responding to hundreds of subsequent alarms.

Enterprise-Level Maps

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Our team designed custom maps on Mapbox and integrated them with Ignition, so they blend beautifully into the visual application theme.

KPI’s

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Power and Revenue
Our team collaborated with SB Energy to measure power and revenue using KPIs. By having the system display information from both business and operations in one application, decision-makers now have a clear understanding of what's happening across the entire portfolio.

Data Popups
Alongside the KPIs, trending popups allow operators and management to keep up with real-time data patterns and stay aware of site curtailments and revenue losses.

Weather Forecase Integration

forecase-integration

We integrated with Open Weather Maps and Windy.com to provide real-time weather updates for each site. We make real-time API calls to Open Weather Maps and Windy.com. We also leverage Windy.com's crisp map displays as needed throughout the system.

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maps

kpis

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