When emergencies strike, efficient supply chain management is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted service. Imagine wind just knocked out some powerlines, and neighborhoods are clamoring to get power back. Teams head to the lay-down yard to pick up the parts they need. Jim, the guy who has been working there for thirty years, has the location of every piece of equipment stored in his brain. But Jim just retired. This forces the crew to spend half a day locating the spare—hours in which they could have been repairing other downed lines.
Responding to a Power Outage Shouldn’t be a Disaster
This is a hypothetical scenario describing a very real trend. The US Bureau of Labor statistics cites 13 million working Americans in 2024 are age 65 and older. As veteran employees retire, they leave a significant experience gap. The utility sector needs to automate processes and adopt advanced technologies to deal with the vacuum of invaluable institutional knowledge left by this aging workforce.
Some of the nation’s top utility companies are already embracing modern asset tracking solutions to gain visibility over their supplies, with others quickly following in their footsteps.
How Asset Tracking Systems Work
These days, barcodes have evolved beyond the familiar UPC code on your box of cereal to 2D QR codes and RFID readers, each with its own advantages. Asset tracking systems combine hardware tags like barcodes or RFID chips with software to monitor physical assets.
At a basic level, this technology works like this: light (or radio waves, in the case of an RFID tag) hits the label and bounces back. These tags provide unique identifiers and sometimes store additional data. Software translates this information, giving real-time or periodic location information, allowing users to manage maintenance schedules and optimize operations.
Maintenance Relies on Accurate and Visible Materials Supply
Situation One: Undersupplied
Not having the right equipment or sufficient quantities can cause massive delays in repair or new builds. Before a pandemic sent shudders through global supply chains, the U.S. was 82% reliant upon imports to meet its need for large transformers, according to a 2020 study by the Commerce Department.
Situation Two: Oversupplied
Instead of blowing budgets by stocking up “just in case,” it’s better to have visibility into existing stock to improve planning accuracy.
Situation Three: Can’t Find Inventory
Even when buyers are diligent about maintaining accurate inventory, resupplying loses efficacy without an asset tracking management system to locate what’s needed in a timely manner. Not having visibility also means it’s harder to share with other regional utility companies that might need supplies.
Common Pain Points:
∙ Problem: Manual process of taking asset inventory is time-consuming and error prone.
∙ Solution: Accuviti automates cycle counts to ensure time-saving accuracy.
∙ Problem: Crews don’t have the right tools and equipment when needed.
∙ Solution: Accuviti streamlines work-order processing and automates tracking from warehouse to work site.
∙ Problem: Third-party software doesn’t align with our tech stack.
∙ Solution: Accuviti material handling software solution Integrates seamlessly with the leading asset management system.
∙ Problem: Intermittent Wi-Fi makes data capture difficult.
∙ Solution: “Store and forward” feature allows users to scan inventory and upload when Wi-Fi is available.
∙ Problem: High security requirements make sourcing software and hardware a challenge.
∙ Solution: Zebra protects devices with sophisticated, enterprise-grade security.
∙ Problem: Harsh outdoor environments destroy commercial-grade devices.
∙ Solution: Zebra’s rugged tablets are built to withstand hot, cold, wet or dusty conditions and using the correct Zebra Certified Supplies ensures that barcodes remain readable and adhere to the surface.
From Records to Reimbursement: The Importance of Asset Management in FEMA Claims:
Getting reimbursed by FEMA means having accurate records of what was used, its value and its cost of replacement. Having an asset management system in place before disaster strikes simplifies the reimbursement process, saving time, money, and frustration.
The Hidden Cost of the Status Quo:
Not adapting to this new technology comes at a high cost. Depending on seasoned employees’ institutional memory will fall apart when these knowledgeable workers retire. As more and more utility companies adopt this new technology, relying on older systems will put more cost pressures on late adopters struggling to keep up. Adapting to this new system doesn’t just increase efficiency; it also makes a company a more attractive employer for the next generation of workers keen on building a career in the utilities industry.
Made for The Utility Industry
AB&R’s Accuviti software automates Maximo data capture and eliminates both manual inputs and data entry errors.
Zebra’s 3600 series scanners can accurately and swiftly read both 1D and 2D barcodes from 70 feet away. Zebra also makes scanners that can read multiple barcodes simultaneously. This means that a worker could pull over a vehicle, scan an entire pile of utility poles, and know instantly where they came from, how long they’ve been there, and how many there are.
AB&R® (American Barcode and RFID) is a nationally recognized integrator of proven solutions that drive efficiency and productivity in the supply chain. Those solutions include asset tracking, inventory management, workforce mobilization, wireless networking, and the managed services to support them all.
Zebra Technologies leads in enterprise asset intelligence for utilities with advanced RFID and barcode scanning solutions. These technologies automate asset tracking, providing real-time monitoring and efficient inventory management through rugged handhelds like the TC72 and mobile printers such as the ZQ520. Zebra’s expertise enhances asset utilization, reduces downtime, and improves operational visibility, ensuring utilities can effectively manage assets and enhance overall efficiency.
For more information on how to implement an asset tracking solution, please feel free to reach out to AB&R.
In collaboration with Zebra Technologies and Power-Grid.com