Air Force members get new app to solve their own computer problems

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Bernal Del Agua
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As the Air Force Enterprise Service Desk goes virtual, McConnell members will see a new application on their computer today, Nov. 24, that allows them to immediately tackle and fix their minor IT issues.  

The Virtual Enterprise Service Desk is a client-based application that allows the user to solve common issues and self-initiate trouble tickets for e-mail, desktop, laptop, and mobile devices and will eventually include network, software, hardware and other user account capabilities. The application allows for status checks of any current trouble ticket, feedback submission and provides further contact information for more help.

The application began rolling out across the Air Force in stages, starting with Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, Texas, and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, in Oct. 2014. After those locations, the app will be implemented across the major commands in stages.

Users who experienced account or network problems over the last few years have called a central customer service center. With a customer base of over 650,000 people, the ESD's automated phone system had been significantly overburdened, which led to a cascade of inefficiencies. Not immune to the fiscal challenges so familiar across the Air Force, the 67th Cyber Wing advanced on a new approach to customer service, necessary to solve this complex problem.

"Back in February, the average call wait time was around 20 minutes, but during peak periods this could easily run up to an hour," said Col. Chad Raduege, commander of the 690th Cyberspace Operations Group. "That's a 60 minute wait just to tell an ESD technician that you have a problem. Coupled with the ESD's backlog, our return to service time took up to seven days. That's unacceptable."

The ESD is transforming to more efficiently empower users to find solutions to their technical challenges as well as leverage new automated programs to eliminate the need for a call center. It is important to note the ESD is not closing. It will still exist.  It is simply transforming its business processes on more proactive tasks.

"The ESD continues to modernize and retool in order to address the call wait times and return to service rates," said Lt. Col. Mark Reith, commander of the 690th Network Support Squadron and responsible for the ESD. "It started with an online tool called MyGAL, then we added IAO Express. These tools drastically improved user experience. Today the average wait time is 5-10 minutes and users should expect an average return to service time of about half a day. The vESD app is the final piece of the new IT support model, and it comes just in time before the Air National Guard migration into the AFNET."

With vESD, the user simply clicks an icon on their desktop, answers some simple questions, and the software attempts repair. They effectively reach a virtual ESD technician immediately. Similar to the human technician, vESD will attempt repair based on the user's response to questions and will perform its own "health check" of the user's computer.  If it can't resolve the problem, vESD will automatically initiate a trouble ticket and route it immediately to the appropriate office at one of the Network Operations Squadrons or the local Communications Focal Point, depending on the problem identified.

"Historically, about 70 percent of all tickets are minor issues that could be resolved through this type of automation," said Reith. "The remaining tickets are generally forwarded to other offices for resolution because it is beyond the expertise of the first line technician. Virtual ESD is great because it either resolves the minor issue or routes the ticket to the right back shop office. Instead of waiting for someone to answer the phone, the tough tickets are created and routed to the right specialist faster."

The local Communications Squadron will continue to be an important partner in the new IT support model. Armed with additional IT permissions, they are empowered to work their local leadership's priorities. In extreme cases, users may need to call their local support when a computer is completely broken or off the network. This is actually a faster approach since even if the ESD did take the call, they would not be able resolve it since remote access wouldn't be possible. Eliminating the middle man actually improves the user experience.

"Automation allows our users to update more information on their own, and even solve common problems at their desktop," said Craig Biddington, senior communications officer for the 366th Communications Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. "Now our technicians see fewer tickets, allowing us to recapitalize resources toward more critical tasks."

The ESD will continue to be an important part of IT support, just not as call center. The future ESD will focus instead on proactive activities that prevent issues in the first place. One example is the creation of a problem management team. Often cited as an industry best-practice, problem management focuses on finding the root cause of enterprise-wide issues and ensuring that solutions are worked through the engineering and acquisition battle rhythms. Another example is the creation of an AFIN Mission Assurance Center to orchestrate maintenance actions amid real-world operations. These initiatives are key elements of realizing IT efficiencies and maximizing limited IT resources while protecting AF missions.

If you experience any problems with the vESD or have an issue that needs further assistance, please call the communications squadron at 316-759-2666.