Schneider Electric has been selected by Lincoln Electric System (Nebraska) to implement the task-based, map assisted mobile solution, Orbit, to accurately capture, manage and unify all field data from transmission poles, while improving the efficiency of infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
LES needs to capture and manage data from various types of field inspections. Orbit solves this problem by providing the seamless integration of field data capture with the enterprise's asset record in the GIS. Field workers can easily identify, inspect, and document assets while in the field and communicate the completion of work back to the office. This integration will support LES in its desire for improved knowledge of its infrastructure, more efficient operations, and ultimately a higher level of customer satisfaction. Orbit keeps LES's data secure by integrating with the utility's existing corporate security model so that users are required to sign on with their corporate login credentials in order to access the solution.
"Orbit offered the most economical way for us to consistently handle additional field work processes without a lengthy or costly implementation," said David Miller, Manager of Geospatial Technologies for LES.
With easy-to-use mobile applications for both Windows and iOS devices, Orbit provides utility workers with an experience that is flexible, intuitive, and similar in look and functionality to devices used in personal lives.
Orbit's open-ended flexibility will further benefit LES as priorities and data capture requirements evolve – a common challenge for utilities. With Orbit's focus on configurability, LES can shape the mobile application to quickly and inexpensively accommodate any changes without needing costly software upgrades. Powered by the Microsoft Azure platform, Orbit provides real-time capabilities to the solution, allowing updates and data to be distributed throughout the entire workforce immediately. Enhancements to the Orbit mobile applications are automatically made available to field workers, freeing up resources from utilities' IT departments. These innovations make the solution easy to maintain over time while lowering Orbit's total cost of ownership compared with other solutions.
"With Orbit, Schneider Electric is providing LES with easy integration of field inspection data and assets, eliminating the delay and cost of data conversion," said Jon Arnold, Managing Director, Worldwide Utilities Industry at Microsoft. "Since Orbit utilizes the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, data-sharing and integration will be much easier and more cost-effective for LES."
