Field crews deserve tools that keep up
Field work is demanding. Crews manage weather, terrain, aging assets, customer schedules, and the occasional rabid dog. What shouldn’t be demanding is the workflow that supports them.
When information is unclear or stuck in a truck, field techs waste time chasing answers instead of doing the work.
Why mobile workflows matter for utilities
Mobile workflows remove the delays baked into paper.
- Crews get work orders instantly with clear steps.
- Supervisors see progress in real time.
- Office teams stop re-keying notes.
- Return trips drop because photos, GPS, and required fields prevent ambiguity.
This is not about replacing clipboards but about clearing bottlenecks across the meter-to-maintenance cycle.
A quick real-world scenario
A technician spots a service-line issue while on a completely different service call. With paper, the note waits until they get back to the office. Hours pass.
With mobile workflows, they flag it on-site. Supervisors reroute the nearest crew, if necessary. Photos and timestamps document the repair. What used to take half a day is resolved in far less time.
The cost of not modernizing
Staying on paper leads to predictable problems:
- Lost or incomplete notes
- Slower billing cycles
- Higher non-revenue water risk
- More truck rolls and labor costs
- Misalignment between office and field teams
Utilities moving to structured mobile workflows often report 20–40 percent fewer return trips.
When updates sync instantly, priorities shift smoothly, documentation improves, and customer service becomes more predictable.
Where UPM fits in
UPM’s mobile work order tools were built for utilities that want improvements just like these.
- Guided steps and required fields
- Photos, GPS, and timestamps built in
- Data sync to billing and service records
- Supervisor visibility without extra admin work
Your crews get simplicity, while your supervisors get accuracy and efficiency. Your office gets cleaner data, and your customers get faster service.
Clipboard hieroglyphics and coffee-stained service orders had a good run. It’s time for tools that keep pace with work.
More Efficient. More Effective. Greater ROI.
When you have the right tools for the job, everybody wins — especially your customers. Reduce or eliminate pain points, dramatically increase operating efficiency, and provide greater service. Fill out our contact form or call 800.455.3293 to learn more about how United Systems can help!