When I read this case study I was instantly blown away by the showcase of value-add from Office 365 and PowerApps for Nascar. Even though I’ve watched many a Jeff Gordon race in my own personal time, I realized that I didn’t have a clue about how much work went into broadcasting each race.\u00a0NASCAR sanctions more than 1,500 events in 11 series at 110 racetracks in 37 US states and in Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a huge amount of logistical effort required to coordinate efficiently the activities of more than 200 employees and vendors who work together to produce some of the most highly attended sporting events in the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe like to call ourselves a traveling circus,\u201d says Stephen Byrd, Director, Technology Integration and Development at NASCAR.<\/em><\/p>\n Technology Transformations – SharePoint Online<\/strong><\/p>\n How does NASCAR achieve this feat, week after week? Luckily the same advancements in technology that revolutionized racecars and trackside mechanics also accelerate operations throughout the company.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last five years, we have seen NASCAR retool technology in every aspect of our business, from electronic fuel injection to how we work in the office,\u201d says Franza. \u201cWe have moved beyond sitting behind desks using a computer linked to a local network to embrace technology that\u2019s expected by a younger, high-energy, mobile workforce. We operate in an around-the-clock digital world, dealing with in-the-moment broadcast and race logistics. So we use Microsoft SharePoint Online as a cloud-based digital cockpit that accelerates how we work together to get things done. Our folks can get their files anytime, on any device, to keep us moving forward. It\u2019s become essential for our business to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n NASCAR developed a company intranet called Inside Track, a one-stop shop for all employees to stay up to date on current NASCAR news and to find resources they need to be productive. Built using SharePoint Online in partnership with Microsoft Consulting Services, the intranet includes department sites such as HR and Finances, but it\u2019s a subsite called the @Track site that has really made a difference for the logistics team in NASCAR Productions\u2014before, during, and after an event.<\/p>\n The whole idea of creating the @Track site for the logistics team came about when members of the Technology Integration and Development department heard team members, who work in an adjacent office, continually calling out to each other over their cubicles to coordinate hiring and scheduling crews, make travel and catering arrangements, and accommodate rainouts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought there must be a better way to communicate,\u201c says Franza. \u201cThe ideal way to work today takes a mobile-first, cloud-first approach. We looked at G Suite, but Microsoft Office 365 provides a single platform of services that are enterprise ready. Employees can go from email to SharePoint Online to OneDrive for Business to Skype for Business Online without leaving our work environment\u2014and with security and access management tied in.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThings change from second to second building up to a race, but the logistics team stays on track with SharePoint Online. We\u2019re saving time putting out fires, and our productions run more smoothly,\u201d says Franza. \u201cWe no longer mail around locked Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. With the ability to coauthor, we can have 15 people working on the Operations Workbook at the same time. The documents indicate who makes changes in real time, which is incredibly helpful before, during, and after each event.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Mobilizing Information – PowerApps<\/strong><\/p>\n Mobility is critical for NASCAR, but building and managing custom mobile applications across platforms has historically been cost prohibitive. Robert Burg, Senior Manager, Technology Integration and Development at NASCAR, recently used Microsoft PowerApps to build a custom mobile app in a matter of days rather than weeks.<\/p>\n The \u201cTrack App\u201d<\/strong> displays maps, the TV compound, locations for officials, catering operations, hotels, and other logistic information directly from SharePoint Online<\/strong> on Android, iOS, and Windows mobile phones.<\/p>\n