The demand for electrical energy is surging due to several key factors, including the electrification of society—spanning residential and commercial heating, cooling, cooking, and EV charging—storm hardening initiatives and the need for undergrounding, and the rapid growth of power-hungry AI learning models. Record levels of federal, state, and utility funding are all contributing to unprecedented investments in transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure. As a result, hundreds of billions of dollars are being directed toward new and upgraded T&D projects.
Utilities often lack the in-house construction workforce needed to keep pace with the growing investment. To bridge this gap, utilities are further expanding their use of third-party contractors to handle larger portions of the workload. Managing this expanded contractor workforce efficiently requires advanced digital solutions that streamline communication, improve project visibility, and enhance operational oversight.
The Role of Digital Construction Management (DCM)
Digital Construction Management provides exceptional value to both utilities and contractors by enabling near real-time communication, reducing project reporting delays, and ensuring advanced visibility into field-derived changes (extras) required for project completion.
Benefits of DCM for Contractors:
1. Digital Delivery of Work Assignments: Crews receive detailed work orders, including design drawings, bills of materials by location, construction standards, permits, and forms.
2. Enhanced Work Order Visibility: Contractor management gains full visibility of work progress without overburdening field supervision with frequent status update requests.
3. Real-Time Crew Tracking: Enables quick crew redeployment for emergencies.
4. Project Progress Monitoring: Near real-time access to crew location, work completion, field changes, and overall project status.
5. Reduced Administrative Burden: Automated tracking reduces the need for manual updates to master work order documents and schedules
6. Automated Unit Calculations: Field changes automatically update compatible units and pay units.
7. Material Tracking: Near real-time updates on material usage.
8. Streamlined Billing & Payments: Faster invoice preparation and unit cost tracking, reducing transcription errors and back office clerical and administrative costs.
9. Improved Utility Communication: Contractors provide real-time project updates, eliminating delays in responding to utility inquiries.
Benefits of DCM for Utilities:
1. Real-Time Project Visibility: Utilities can monitor project status anytime online.
2. Reduced Billing Conflicts: Clear documentation reduces disputes over unapproved extra charges.
3. Faster Customer & Government Responses: Enables rapid handling of work activity inquiries and complaints.
4. Incident Evaluation: Quickly assesses contractor crew activities related to unplanned outages.
5. Emergency Readiness: Accurate crew location tracking enhances emergency response capabilities.
6. Improved Field Change Documentation: Detailed records, including asset photos and obstructions, ensure transparency.
7. Enhanced Project Reporting: Facilitates clear communication during weekly/biweekly status meetings.
8. Operational Safety Improvements: Real-time updates on work order completion and energized segments support safer operations.
9. Efficient Work Order Reconciliation: Automated linking of photos, sketches, and approvals reduces post-completion disputes.
10. Error Reduction: Minimizes transcription errors in work completion updates.
11. Outage Recovery Support: Completion status insights assist in outage response planning.
12. Seamless Data Integration: Post-construction data analysis ensures accurate billing and updates within work management systems (WMS).
By integrating Digital Construction Management, both utilities and contractors can significantly enhance efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure faster project completion, all while improving safety and operational oversight.
The demand for electrical energy is surging due to several key factors, including the electrification of society—spanning residential and commercial heating, cooling, cooking, and EV charging—storm hardening initiatives and the need for undergrounding, and the rapid growth of power-hungry AI learning models. Record levels of federal, state, and utility funding are all contributing to unprecedented investments in transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure. As a result, hundreds of billions of dollars are being directed toward new and upgraded T&D projects.
Utilities often lack the in-house construction workforce needed to keep pace with the growing investment. To bridge this gap, utilities are further expanding their use of third-party contractors to handle larger portions of the workload. Managing this expanded contractor workforce efficiently requires advanced digital solutions that streamline communication, improve project visibility, and enhance operational oversight.
The Role of Digital Construction Management (DCM)
Digital Construction Management provides exceptional value to both utilities and contractors by enabling near real-time communication, reducing project reporting delays, and ensuring advanced visibility into field-derived changes (extras) required for project completion.
Benefits of DCM for Contractors:
1. Digital Delivery of Work Assignments: Crews receive detailed work orders, including design drawings, bills of materials by location, construction standards, permits, and forms.
2. Enhanced Work Order Visibility: Contractor management gains full visibility of work progress without overburdening field supervision with frequent status update requests.
3. Real-Time Crew Tracking: Enables quick crew redeployment for emergencies.
4. Project Progress Monitoring: Near real-time access to crew location, work completion, field changes, and overall project status.
5. Reduced Administrative Burden: Automated tracking reduces the need for manual updates to master work order documents and schedules
6. Automated Unit Calculations: Field changes automatically update compatible units and pay units.
7. Material Tracking: Near real-time updates on material usage.
8. Streamlined Billing & Payments: Faster invoice preparation and unit cost tracking, reducing transcription errors and back office clerical and administrative costs.
9. Improved Utility Communication: Contractors provide real-time project updates, eliminating delays in responding to utility inquiries.
Benefits of DCM for Utilities:
1. Real-Time Project Visibility: Utilities can monitor project status anytime online.
2. Reduced Billing Conflicts: Clear documentation reduces disputes over unapproved extra charges.
3. Faster Customer & Government Responses: Enables rapid handling of work activity inquiries and complaints.
4. Incident Evaluation: Quickly assesses contractor crew activities related to unplanned outages.
5. Emergency Readiness: Accurate crew location tracking enhances emergency response capabilities.
6. Improved Field Change Documentation: Detailed records, including asset photos and obstructions, ensure transparency.
7. Enhanced Project Reporting: Facilitates clear communication during weekly/biweekly status meetings.
8. Operational Safety Improvements: Real-time updates on work order completion and energized segments support safer operations.
9. Efficient Work Order Reconciliation: Automated linking of photos, sketches, and approvals reduces post-completion disputes.
10. Error Reduction: Minimizes transcription errors in work completion updates.
11. Outage Recovery Support: Completion status insights assist in outage response planning.
12. Seamless Data Integration: Post-construction data analysis ensures accurate billing and updates within work management systems (WMS).
By integrating Digital Construction Management, both utilities and contractors can significantly enhance efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure faster project completion, all while improving safety and operational oversight.
.png)
