Challenge
St. George, Utah, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, has experienced steady population growth that strains infrastructure and service delivery. The city's Energy Services Department (SGESD) provides electric service to approximately 31,800 residential and commercial customers across the region.
The SGESD spends more on materials and equipment than any other city department, managing over $1 million in inventory value across items ranging from fuses and power poles to substation transformers. Before digital transformation, the department relied on paper, pens, and clipboards for inventory management—a workflow that lacked real-time visibility and was prone to errors. An initial homegrown digital solution provided only basic digital clipboard functionality, failing to address the complex, multi-step workflows required by the department's 60-person team of linemen, substation technicians, SCADA operators, and field workers.
Solution
St. George selected a comprehensive solution combining Zebra MC3300 rugged mobile computers, ShopVue Material Traceability Warehouse Management Software, and integration with Cityworks Storeroom. The system was designed around end-user needs from the beginning, creating a supermarket-like warehouse experience where workers can scan items, identify tasks, and check out efficiently.
The implementation leverages Cityworks APIs to create a web page with QR codes for every active work order. Crew superintendents digitally assign work orders, making it easy for employees to identify tasks. Every component is barcoded for seamless tracking. Workers scan their work orders and are guided to the correct equipment and materials needed for each job. Material usage is tracked in real-time—if a lineman brings eight parts but uses only five, that detail is recorded and inventory is automatically updated. ShopVue’s user-friendly interface with barcode scanning runs in the background, automatically updating the Cityworks system with real-time inventory data.
Results
- 98% reliability in delivering utilities with minimal outages
- Nearly 90% return on investment achieved in under 30 months
- Saved 20 hours per week of manual data entry
- 80% time savings on overall inventory tasks
- Audits completed in 25% of the time previously required
- Real-time inventory visibility eliminates lost materials
- Barcode scanning eliminates manual input errors
- Increased cycle counting capability without warehouse downtime
- Faster response to repairs and issue identification
- 100% device reliability in harsh desert conditions
The Impact
Key Features Used
- Zebra MC3300 rugged mobile computers for harsh field conditions
- ShopVue Warehouse Management Software for inventory visibility
- Cityworks Storeroom integration with barcode scanning
- QR code work order assignment and tracking
- Real-time inventory updates and material usage tracking
- Automated audit capabilities without printed lists
- Multi-workflow integration across department operations
- Supermarket-style warehouse picking experience
- Seamless Cityworks API integration
- Rugged device reliability in extreme desert heat and dust
