In the rapidly evolving landscape of the utility sector, digital transformation is not just a trend but a necessity. The concept of a "digital utility" encompasses the integration of advanced technologies to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer service, and support sustainable practices. At the heart of this transformation are mobile solutions, which play a pivotal role in modernizing utilities and addressing the complex challenges they face.
Understanding Digital Utilities
Utilities are increasingly moving toward digital technologies to optimize workflows across their lifecycle, from planning and building to operations and outage response. The future of these technologies will be digital solutions that enable real-time data analytics and more predictive workflows, and these solutions must include the ability to access the data and perform the work in the field. This office-to-field digitalization helps utilities manage resources more efficiently, reduce operational costs, and improve service reliability.
Image credit: Dobri Dobrev
Traditional Utility Challenges in the Field
Utility field workers have traditionally relied on paper maps to locate grid assets where work needs to be performed, which can be laborious and inaccurate. They then must record their work manually with map mark-ups and time-consuming spreadsheets. Field crews and back-office operations and processes are often siloed, leading to communication delays and disjointed decision-making. These problems are exacerbated by duplicate and manual data capture without a common foundation, which frequently results in data errors, omissions, and potential safety issues in the field.
The Importance of Digital Mobile Solutions
More than 50% of the typical utility workforce comprises field personnel, so digital mobile solutions are crucial for utilities as they provide the flexibility and real-time capabilities needed to manage the grid effectively. The key benefits of mobile solutions for utilities include:
Case Studies and Practical Applications
Some recent utility case studies have demonstrated the practical applications of mobile solutions in their workflows:
- Case study #1: A major utility located in the northwest U.S., serving approximately one million customers across 700 predominantly underground circuits, relies on a modern mobile solution for its electrical distribution system operations. They report that the integration of mobile devices for field operations has been crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and supporting the transition to renewable energy. This robust digital field mobility strategy is proving essential for achieving their renewable energy targets, facilitating the seamless integration of distributed energy resources, and modernizing their energy grid.
- Case study #2: A large interstate electric and gas utility in the northeastern U.S. Field crews now use mobile computers to perform inspections of distribution systems that are not instrumented. Their digital mobile solution for maintenance and construction includes work order hyperlinks that will bring up the map location of the work and will zoom into the exact location on the map.
- Case study #3: A major city in north-central California leverages cutting-edge mobile geospatial technology to improve the efficiency and accuracy of field operations across various city departments including utilities. By providing real-time access to geospatial data and enabling the direct update of information from the field, the accuracy and reliability of collected data will be markedly enhanced.Â
Improved data quality will empower field personnel to make more informed decisions and deliver services more efficiently.
Image credit: Steve Tongish, IQGeo
Conclusion
Digital mobile solutions are indispensable for the transformation of electric grids. They provide the tools needed to enhance data accuracy, ensure safety, optimize asset management, facilitate real-time communication, and streamline workflows. As utilities continue to modernize their operations, the integration of mobile technologies will be essential in achieving greater efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
By embracing mobile solutions, utilities can not only meet the challenges of today but also pave the way for a more resilient and responsive energy future.
Empower grid modernization with a mobile geospatial strategy.
To read more on this topic, download the research paper for insights on:
- Strategies for improving field efficiencyÂ
- Essential mobile software capabilities
- Empowering your field workforce
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Image credit: Jake Anderson, IQGeo