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Saturday, 7 November 2015

A team of University of Adelaide students has taken out first prize in the 2015 Australian eChallenge with a new app that aims to boost efficiency in the workplace and reduce absenteeism by keeping track of shifts.

The winning project, known simply as Shift, helps to fix an age-old problem: the creation and management of staff rosters. Shift is a mobile app and cloud-based device designed to help companies save money and time by doing away with spreadsheets and printouts, a time-consuming process that often results in miscommunication with staff.

The Shift team – comprising University of Adelaide students Michael Phillips and Rye Smith – has won cash and prizes valued at almost $19,000. Shift also won the People's Choice Award.

"Shift is one of those rare projects that could have direct transferrable benefits to a wide range of businesses and industry, which is one of the reasons why it’s won this year’s eChallenge," says Professor Noel Lindsay, Director of the University’s Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC), which runs the annual Australian eChallenge event.

"Being able to find innovative ways of improving day-to-day business processes and helping companies to save money along the way shows great insight into the kinds of solutions businesses need and want.

"This year’s pool of talent in the Australian eChallenge has been outstanding in every way. The event is not just about having great ideas, but also having the skills and knowledge to be able to develop those ideas into a sustainable business," Professor Lindsay says.

Other eChallenge winners announced at the awards event, held at Adelaide Oval last night, include:

•   2nd prize: STEMTAP (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Teaching Activity Platform), a teaching resource design to assist in school-based learning of STEM subjects. STEMTAP has also won the A Day @ Microsoft prize.
•   3rd prize: ModuCar, a computer module that plugs into a vehicle and provides up-to-date information to insurance companies about a driver’s safety rating. ModuCar has also won the Vroom Award.
•   ECIC Commercialisation Encouragement Award: Traks, a smart travel app that uses local knowledge to uncover hidden travel gems.
•   Best Presentation at Venture Showcase: GradStart.

The winner of the Australian eChallenge NextGen Award was Enniovation Textiles, which utilises the expertise of Australia’s largest manufacturer and supplier of netting to the meat industry to produce textiles for the medical industry.  The People's Choice Award in the NextGen family business category went to Barossa Hop Co. specialising in South Australian-grown hops for craft beer.

Winners of the Australian eChallenge in Schools include:

•   1st prize: NitroCloud (Renmark High School). A mobile ice-creamery, the first of its kind in Australia. NitroCloud also won best presentation at the Venture Showcase.
•   2nd prize: H2X (Renmark High School). A new water bottle that can carry multiple liquids, for recreation and sport. H2X has also won the EU Centre for Global Affairs award.
•   3rd prize: SOS (Mitcham Girls High School). Supportive On-road Service, an electronic device that assists drivers transitioning from a Learner’s Permit to a Provisional Licence.
•   A Day @ Microsoft prize: Home-e (Cardijn College). A wireless system that assists in day-to-day jobs around the house.
•   The Moody Crab 'Great Potential' Award: Warehouse of Design (Renmark High School). An online-based ‘pop up’ shop to provide art and design needs.
•   ECIC Encouragement Award: Click Social (Renmark High School). Creating a social media presence for regional businesses.

adelaide.edu.au/echallenge

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