Four Mobile Deployment Pitfalls Utilities Should Avoid

headshot2As a Panasonic Field Engineer Senior Manager, Alfred Tolentino is part of an elite engineering team focused on providing complex technical support to large utilities and businesses utilizing Toughbook and Toughpad products and services throughout the United States. A highly skilled IT professional with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering,  its Al’s job to assist customers in resolving technical and non-technical issues, quickly and completely. He’s been part of  the Panasonic Toughbook team for over 16 years and now manages the Mobility Field Engineers Eastern region team. As  one of the original Toughbook field engineers, Al has seen thousands of customer installations and he’s sharing some best  practices for deploying a mobile solution.

Mobile devices have become an invaluable tool for a number of applications within the utilities industry, from facilities management to meter reading to line construction and pipeline maintenance. From my experience, I know the right rugged tools can provide workers with the ability to easily access and share information, which leads to better-informed decisions, increased productivity and improved customer satisfaction. And I’m proud to represent the Toughbook brand trusted by so many utility companies when failure is not an option.

However, if a mobile deployment isn’t planned with care, the expected benefits can quickly turn into the unexpected consequences, leaving IT and procurement frustrated.

Here are the pitfalls you should avoid in order to maximize your technology investment:

1.    Not Knowing Your Use Case

It goes without saying that before deploying a mobile device, a utility must know how and where workers plan to use it – or maybe it doesn’t. Too often, utilities chose a mobile device without talking to the people who will actually use it – this can severely limit the value of the technology investment.

Utility IT decision makers must talk directly to the employees who will use the device on a daily basis. Will the worker be using the device in direct sunlight all day or while wearing gloves? Is the end-user walking with the device all day or in a vehicle? These questions will help guide a utility to the right device. For example, a utility field worker who spends most of the time moving on foot from meter to meter would want a device that’s durable, lightweight and ergonomic with a daylight readable screen.

Additionally, we often hear, “we don’t need a fully-rugged device,” in an effort to justify spending less on a semi-rugged model. In our experience, if a utility is planning for a mobile device to head out into the field, they will need the extra durability. Deploying a semi-rugged computer for an application such as line management, will result in some device failures and a need for replacement devices. Even a brief period of downtime has a ripple effect that can impact productivity and customer satisfaction. In this case, the ultimate price of that device substantially increases. In comparison, a fully-rugged tablet may deliver maximum uptime and productivity, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership over time.

Beyond knowing your current use cases, utilities should work with mobile technology vendors to map out anticipated needs at least two to three years in the future. Will your mobile devices be used for line maintenance and management or meter reading? Perhaps both? How do they expect workflow to change in the next couple of years?

2.    Underestimating Your Connectivity Needs

It’s not uncommon for a utility company to underestimate its connectivity needs, believing devices will be used for facilities management – requiring only a Wi-Fi connection – only later to realize they need to repurpose the computer for remote field work. Retrofitting a device with an embedded LTE connection is a costly process that also takes devices out of service. In order to be truly mobile, an embedded cellular solution is needed. Software solutions can help utility workers maintain connectivity even through challenging remote network conditions, allowing mobile workers to remain productive wherever their work takes them.

3.    Neglecting Employee Training

As a new mobile solution is rolled out, IT teams are focused on device selection, pricing, services, shipping, warranties and more. It’s easy to forget training. But unless end-users understand how to use a new device and how it will benefit them, they’ll end up frustrated and reject it.

The push to improve workforce connectivity will demand training for workers who aren’t accustomed to receiving, capturing, sharing and interpreting increasing levels of information on the job. Utilities should work with hardware vendors to set up an on-site training program to ensure end-users are comfortable with a new mobile device.

4.    Skipping Deployment Services

Let’s face it, rolling out a new mobile deployment is not a simple task – one that shouldn’t be attempted without support. I’ve seen how stretched our customers’ IT teams are, so I highly recommend considering how you can augment your in-house resources with specific rugged mobility expertise. I recall one utility customer we worked with on a large scale tablet deployment on the east coast. They attempted to save costs with the imaging process and handle completely in-house. However, they continually had installations issues with drivers and as a result they experienced extensive delays both in device configuration and in testing prior to end user deployment.

Utilities should look for hardware partners that offer both disk imaging and kitting, enabling them to streamline the rollout. Kitting consists of configuring a device with software and imaging to the exact specifications of a customer. For example, a hardware kit may consist of the vehicle mount, wiring harness, and carrying case that can all be shipped in a single ‘kit’ to the customer. This support saves time and ensures your crews can be up and running as quick as possible.

Beyond deployment, utilities should look for vendors that offer unlimited access to dedicated technical support representatives 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year and near next-day shipping for device replacement.

By avoiding these common deployment pitfalls, utilities can take full advantage of their mobile investments and ensure customers receive the services they’ve come to expect.

Whether you’re embarking on a large-scale mobile device project or a simple refresh, we hope you take advantage of Al’s experience and insight to ensure success.

More information about Panasonic Mobility Solutions for Utilities is available online.

 

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