Take the quiz: Is your utility using modern data collection practices?

Take the Quiz

Does this look like your organization?

1. Print-out work orders
2. Hand printed work orders off to field techs
3. Field techs do the work and fill out the work orders
4. Return physical work orders to the office
5. Someone types the data into the computer
6. Maintenance routing is done on a paper map
7. Highlight (with a highlighter) the street where the work is being done

If you answered “Yes” to any of the items above, can you answer these questions easily?

1. How are you accessing historical records?
2. How do you know what work was done on an asset in the last three months?
3. Do you have a process for preventative maintenance?
4. Are there redundancies in your data collection and record-keeping workflows?
5. Do you have easy access to data and reports to know what’s happening in your organization at all times?
6. Can you prioritize work based on geolocation?
7. Are you certain you’re closing the loop on work orders and scheduling follow-up work?

If you answered “No” to any of these, you’ll want to keep reading!

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming; we promise. Lots of utilities are implementing software that will help them gain visibility into the data they need while improving service levels and lowering replacement costs at the same time. Compliance and safety protocols are much easier to manage with data collection software.

With mobile data collection tools, field workers can collect data on their mobile devices and sync it instantly to the office. The office staff has visibility into what is happening in the field to track progress against key goals or respond quickly if an issue arises.

Utility Cloud can help you digitize your paper forms and simplify field data collection processes. If you would like to develop more automated processes, you can find the right solution for your organization with this buyer’s guide.