Coming Soon: GCSS-Army DISCOPS

Modernized defense business systems are critical to readiness and lethality. Soldiers on the front lines need reliable, continually accessible and user-friendly web-based information and logistics systems that help them perform critical logistics functions. 

Having embraced a continuous modernization approach, U.S. Army Program Executive Office Enterprise’s Global Combat Support System – Army (GCSS-Army) product office is partnering with the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, to upgrade the GCSS-Army system — the Army’s web-based logistics management system — to ensure it functions in remote environments where Soldiers might not have network connectivity. 

GCSS-Army’s new Disconnected Operations (DISCOPS) capability will allow Soldiers from the tactical logistics community to continue performing critical mission functions involving maintenance, unit supply, property book and warehouse during times of planned and unplanned network inaccessibility and limited bandwidth conditions for up to seven days.   

HOW IT WORKS 

After the initial download of data specific to a unit’s scope of operation, the system will synchronize at regular intervals to ensure accurate data is available during disrupted communications. While disconnected, Army users can continue performing transactions — such as dispatching, fault and work order creation, and goods movements, — and have access to dashboards to track and report on the unit’s status.   

When the unit is reconnected to the GCSS-Army Enterprise Resource Planning Central Component, the disconnected device will synchronize and upload the updated data to it.  

BUILT WITH SOLDIER INPUT  

GCSS-Army’s new DISCOPS solution will feature a new intuitive user interface, reducing mouse clicks and training requirements and providing more automated processes for better ease of use. During the solution’s development, Soldiers across all three U.S. Army components, plus government civilians, were able to log into a demonstration environment, explore DISCOPS capabilities and provide feedback.  

During the initial evaluation period, 79% of users reported they understood how to use the solution immediately or within one day, according to the GCSS-Army team, and 86% of users reported that using familiar icons, symbols and menus allowed them to quickly adapt to using the DISCOPS solution.  

PEO Enterprise anticipates releasing limited DISCOPS capability to a small group of users for user testing in January 2025 and an initial rollout to around 15,000 users from motor pools and forward support companies later in 2025. 

“The cool part about the implementation is it raises the game for the user experience and user interactivity in dealing with the system, and it can operate in a disconnected environment,” said Bill Hepworth, program executive officer at PEO Enterprise. “Soldiers can use one app for both purposes, and the product will work in both cases.” 

CONCLUSION 

The GCSS-Army product office is part of PEO Enterprise’s Defense Integrated Business Systems portfolio. In the coming years, GCSS-Army and four other Army enterprise resource planning systems will be merged into one common modernized platform as part of the Army’s Enterprise Business Systems – Convergence initiative.  

For more information about GCSS-Army DISCOPS, contact Beverly Whitmore at beverly.b.whitmore.civ@army.mil.