Driving Efficiency Across Transmission Lines and Substations [Case Study]

Interloc’s Mobile Informer for IBM Maximo Gains 100% Acceptance by GTC Field Workers

Highlights:

The next generation Interloc Mobile Informer for IBM® Maximo® enables field workers to increase productivity while decreasing costs and outages using smart devices running iOS or Android. Interloc Mobile Informer requires no middleware and provides GTC field workers with great benefits, including a reduction in time to complete a work order by 80% and increased of work orders reported by field workers by over 400%.

Other benefits were:

• Mobile Device Management (MDM) support
• Real-time updates, with connectivity managed seamlessly
• Simple, client-defined, native applications that are widely accepted

As a mid-sized utility company, Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) is not only responsible for managing the grid for more than 4 million Georgians—they are counted on to be reliable, efficient, and mitigate as many outages as possible. That can be a daunting scenario for a company that inspects and protects more than 3000 miles of power lines and 650 substations. 

GTC determined that they needed to expand their IBM Maximo implementation to include mobile capabilities in the field to ramp up their efficiency. Their field workers already carried iOS devices so they were familiar and comfortable with the interface. 

After a thorough vetting process, GTC chose Interloc’s next generation mobile solution—Mobile Informer for IBM Maximo.

Why did GTC choose Interloc’s Mobile Informer for Maximo solution? They knew that Mobile Informer was a native Maximo application that runs simple client-defined, native applications on either the Android or iOS platform. Having simple, native applications would provide the user acceptance required by GTC. In fact, the Mobile Informer applications are not only simple to use but they also mirror field workers’ exact processes  with familiar consumer interfaces. Given this level of familiarity, the application was not only widely accepted but it was welcomed. Mobile Informer was also embraced by GTC’s IT staff because of its ability to leverage both the existing Maximo technical infrastructure and built-in iOS device functionality, including Mail and Camera, without the need for additional hardware or duplicate development efforts.

Shortly after GTC went live, the mobile application gained 100% acceptance by field workers. This group includes four operations and maintenance departments within GTC. 

"We have never had such complete acceptance of any new management product."

- Dale Mann, Group Lead Maintenance Management Systems, GTC

With Mobile Informer, GTC field workers now have instant access to all the necessary documentation to get things done, including asset and repair histories, one-line diagrams, test plans, and photos. Instant access means that they can work smarter and more efficiently.

And because Interloc Mobile Informer sits within Maximo as a native application, providing real-time updates, operates online and offline, and requires no additional middleware, GTC admins enjoy familiar administration, rapid deployment, and widespread adoption.  

The next-generation Interloc Mobile Informer solution provides the GTC field workers: 

• Unobtrusive performance for transmission line and structure inspections 
• Full integration with Maximo workflow processes 
• Access to the application whether online or offline 
• Faster transmission and accessibility of work orders to and from Maximo
• Flexibility to view and update assigned Maximo work orders
• Customization features for organizing custom groups 
• Native compatibility with iOS and Maximo  

Ready to learn more? We'd like to extend a unique opportunity to meet with an Interloc expert at the IBM Pulse 2014 conference. Sign up and obtain a detailed, customized roadmap of how your business can transform its productivity by implementing a mobile solution that mirrors your field workers’ exact processes.