An Aberdeen offshore worker hopes a new app created to let him arrange time with his friends could become an industry standard for oil and gas staff.
Warehouse administrator Calum Naiper became frustrated after trying to organise a golf day with fellow offshore friends.
Now he has turned that frustration into a new iPhone and Android app called Back2Back which will let workers create networks to synchronise calendars with friends and family to allow them to make the most of their time onshore.
“It all came about after I tried to organise a simple golf outing with my mates,” he said.
“We tried for weeks and weeks to get a date which was good for all of us but it was a nightmare. We eventually just abandoned the idea and I just ended up playing a game with one of them rather than all of us together as originally planned.
“I just thought there must be an easier way than emailing people and trying to coordinate everyone, or putting something on Facebook and then people tell you they can’t make that date as they’re offshore.”
Watch our interview with Calum below
Mr Napier, who was working as an administrator on a rig off Angola, had no experience in app development before coming to the project, and worked with Aberdeen firm AVC to develop the programme.
Users add their friends into a network which shares rotation information, allowing them to remotely plan days when they are all free.
“It’s so difficult trying to coordinate people on and offshore, never mind factoring in the different countries too,” he said. – I’d love it if everyone I know and work with gets the app, just so I can see at a glance when everyone’s available.
“Some of my mates offshore said it’ll be really helpful for their wives and girlfriends back home who can plan social events without having to constantly check with their other half when they’re back onshore.”
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