In the age of digital transformation, shifting from manual, labour-intensive processes to automated, digital workflows is essential. At the same time, utility leaders often struggle with implementing new technologies within their organisations.

One of the biggest hurdles is putting technology into the hands of field crews and contractors who may be resistant to change and are less comfortable with digital solutions. How can utility leaders overcome this challenge?

Adopt a User-Friendly Approach

Ease of use is imperative. In order to close the technology gap, a user-friendly approach is an absolute necessity. Field users can adapt to a digital construction solution when it’s easy for them to use without excessively technical functionalities or complicated workflows.

Complex mapping workflows can be made simple and easy so that they can be used by construction crews rather than highly trained specialists. If a field crew member or contractor employee can take pictures with a smartphone, they can use a digital construction platform to scan barcodes on pipes and materials, collect digital as-built data, and more.

The easier and simpler the platform, the greater the likelihood of high adoption rates.

Ensure Clear and Simple Workflows

Simplicity is key. When a field user takes an action, such as capturing geolocation data via a mobile app, the next step in the process should be clear. He/she should not need to exit the app or take note of something with pen and paper. There should be no guesswork - next steps should be automated with clear messaging and a simple UX. For example, when a field user confirms different materials were used on a job than previously approved, the project supervisor should receive an automatic notification without the need for an email or phone call. This creates a more streamlined workflow and improves communication between the field and back office.

Enable Real-Time Visibility

Many utilities are burdened by a lack of visibility in the field. Paper as-builts, for example, cannot be reviewed by a project supervisor or inspector until after manual submission to the back office. Even those who do have a digital as-builting solution may experience inefficiencies or unreliable data. Asset or material data captured in the field may be incomplete or may contain inaccuracies, typically caused by human error. Design changes are difficult and time-consuming to implement.

To offset these challenges, utilities can implement a digital construction platform that offers real-time visibility into field work.

With real-time visibility, field users can be restricted to using only pre-approved materials according to the company catalogue, receive automatic alerts for errors, and incorporate design changes without any calls to the back office. They can collect construction data with greater accuracy, which is automatically synced to the cloud. Supervisors can track project status, receive warnings or violations, and manage review and approvals in real time.

A more timely digital solution optimises field work, leading to improved data integrity and operational efficiency.

Implement Automated Reconciliation

Optimising field work is contingent upon automation. Only by automating repetitive tasks and reporting can utility leaders achieve better - and more accurate - results alongside higher productivity.

One of the key focus areas of automation is material reconciliation. Many utility executives find that their financial accounting is disorganised and difficult because of limited material traceability and reconciliation.

Sophisticated digital construction technology can track the status of materials including received, installed, scrapped, and lost. Project materials can be automatically reconciled against the Bill of Materials to provide accounting with an accurate report upon project completion.

Automated labour and material reconciliation leads to complete financial accounting and faster close-outs.

Make Remote Inspections a Reality

In a Covid world, the need to limit on-site work has increased dramatically. How can utilities increase worker safety while ensuring construction project goals are met?

Advanced technology allows an inspector to view construction work in real time without the need to physically remain on a job site. From a home or office, an inspector can perform their duties by viewing construction data and photos in near real time as crews and contractors complete their work in the field.

Field crews can complete checklists and take pictures of critical steps as construction work progresses. Inspectors can view the checklists and photos to ensure that tasks have been properly executed prior to the asset being buried. Rework is then minimised, saving critical time and costs.

By combining sophisticated technology with a user-friendly experience, utilities ensure that field work is transformed for greater transparency and improved efficiency through all stages of construction work. This is the thinking behind Locusview’s “Field User First” philosophy. It decouples the user experience from the underlying technology with a user interface and workflows designed specifically for construction field work.

Want to learn more? Visit Locusview at the upcoming Field Service Management Summit. We’ll be in booth #10 to discuss how we can help utilities digitally transform field work and efficiently manage the complexities of construction projects.