The focus of the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) is to remain the industry leader of particular services rendered to clients, the motorists. For this reason the AA recently contracted a Professor at WITS University, Prof. Anton van Wyk, along with Riaan Hefer, Director at On The Verge, to devise a suitable solution for a more accurate forecast of its service vehicle capacity requirements in order to stay on top of its game.

After having analyzed the multi-divisional service segment of the AA by conducting an in-depth study of the organization’s need, Prof. van Wyk and Riaan Hefer decided to develop a ‘Proof of Concept’ (PoC) to determine optimized capacity through sound mathematical calculations. With the PoC completed and applied, it soon became clear to these two experts that optimized capacity could only effectively be determined by running historical live data through a simulation model as well, rather than solely relying on pure mathematical calculations alone. A customized ‘Simulation Model’ (SM) based on a Data Visualization concept was therefore developed through the collaboration of the two experts and Wesley Kiloh of the AA – demonstrating the effectiveness of firmly based partnerships between consultants and their clients. The closely formed partnership effectively brought science and modern technology together resulting in a successful solution for the AA.