| |
|
Mobile
Success Story:
Hydro One
|
Since
rolling out Xplore rugged Tablet PCs, Hydro One has achieved
an
83% reduction in tower inspection times, and near-100% accuracy
rates.
|
|
| Public
Corporation |
| Stock
Symbol: XPL |
| Operating
Systems Served: Windows Tablet PC Edition |
| Markets
Served: General Enterprise, Agriculture, Construction,
Emergency Services, Environmental Services, Field Service,
Healthcare, Military, Public Safety / Law Enforcement,
Security, Supply Chain (Manufacturing, Warehousing), Transportation,
Utilities |
| 2005
Mobile Star Awards™
Winner: |
|
|
|
|
| Hydro
One's field force is responsible for inspecting and maintaining 47,000
transmission towers and 1.6 million utility poles across the province
of Ontario. In order to access some of these remote locations, workers
often rely on unconventional means of transportation. Added to the
sheer logistical challenges of accessing these locations, Hydro One's
workers face the difficulty of conducting accurate inspections and
database updates in unforgiving environments.
Challenge
Hydro One needed to replace the manual, paper-based forms used
when inspecting towers, poles and other transmission equipment.
These handwritten reports were difficult for data entry clerks to
read and would often become damaged or lost in transit. The utility
distributor needed an electronic solution that would offer accuracy
and dependability in harsh conditions.
Solution
The electricity delivery company tested several products to determine
which one could handle the demands placed on it by the field force.
These tests included water submersion and drops onto concrete. As
a result of their research, the company has equipped half of its
field technicians with iX104 tablet computers from Xplore Technologies.
Results
Hydro One is experiencing accuracy rates approaching 100 percent
compared to less than 70% before the tablets solution was implemented.
Technicians who ride in helicopters to inspect transmission towers
are experiencing an 83% reduction in inspection times by using the
Xplore tablets. Hydro One has estimated that it will achieve a return
on investment in about 1.4 years due to labor savings, improved
accuracy and the durability of the tablet computers.
|
|
