Improving Contractor Workflows with Mobile Apps

Radius operates the Denmark electric grid that supplies energy to over one million customers in Copenhagen, North Zealand, and Central Zealand. Because Radius operates and maintains the distribution grid infrastructure, the utility takes a keen interest in safety and quality assurance. New mobile apps improved the safety and quality of Radius's contractor work. 

Radius employees make regular inspections to ensure that contractors follow safety measures as well as to perform quality checks on their physical work products. For example, inspectors verify proper work area barriers. The utility uses many contractors to perform construction and maintenance tasks on its infrastructure, housekeeping, and signage.

Radius noted that some departments were working in relative isolation, making contractor decisions based on limited information. Moreover, manual data handling and reporting failed to consider historical patterns. Pattern detection is helpful for predictive maintenance scheduling. The company was using over 10 independent inspection surveys without coordinating them.

These inspections generate essential data to provide feedback and optimize decision-making. As a result, Radius executives decided to manage this information more effectively. Furthermore, they needed to create accurate reports and communicate them readily for maximum value. 

Radius tracks its infrastructure and project boundaries in an ArcGIS system of record—staff built on this foundation to capture inspection information in its location context. In addition, the utility implemented digital forms for field inspectors with a single app: ArcGIS Survey123.

ArcGIS Survey123 conveniently includes all potential options and everything the inspectors need in a clean interface. Its internal logic presents only the desired information and calculates summary scores automatically. All results are communicated and recorded in near real time, making them immediately available to the entire organization. In addition, Radius technical staff simplified data maintenance by managing the results in a single feature layer in ArcGIS Online.

Three dashboards, created using the ArcGIS Dashboards app, show summary statistics tailored to specific audiences. Furthermore, a built-in map visually links inspection results to project areas. Color-coded results differentiate any problems requiring further evaluation. As a result, users access additional detail by drilling directly into the facts of each inspection.

The utility analyzes the data in ArcGIS Insights to understand patterns and also make predictions. Radius communicates the resultant business intelligence with tailored web apps conveniently referenced with ArcGIS Hub. Colleen Madigan Schelde, a senior system specialist at Radius, noted that "hub sites are a great way to deliver content and disseminate it across the organization without maintaining a series of separate links."

Radius also used ArcGIS Experience Builder to help the contractors. Radius publishes web apps for each contractor, showing the results for their particular projects. Using the apps, contractors see only the results for their given work, providing excellent feedback on performance results. 

Radius increased its focus on the safety and quality of contractor work. The ArcGIS apps helped streamline a previously burdensome process. Johan Djurhuus, Radius's department leader for work environment and supervision, observed, "Working with all the GIS [geographic information system] solutions has helped the quality and safety department improve our communication with external contractors, ultimately improving monthly safety scores."

The new workflow performs calculations and summaries automatically. With these tools in place, staff rely on the results as a single source of trustworthy information. Radius adds value by using location to tie the inspection results to active projects presented in a web map.

As the technical lead, Schelde values the automation of her solution. She stated, "The system is doing all the work. Just set it up, and it does the tasks for you."

Inspectors, contractors, and Radius managers alike appreciate the more efficient user experience. Allowing the system to do many mundane tasks has streamlined the workflow. Consequently, this has freed valued employees to be more productive. Employee satisfaction has increased from the ease of use, the time saved, and the elimination of formally tedious tasks.