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UK Power Networks faced a major operational challenge: how to find a new way to uniquely identify, label and geotag nearly half a million wooden poles across its East region - without overextending internal teams or budgets.
Executive Summary:
UK Power Networks (UKPN), the UK's largest electricity network operator, needed a scalable solution to uniquely identify, label, and geotag nearly half a million wooden poles across its East region. The legacy plan required specialist engineers, expensive proprietary hardware, and a 4-year timeline. By switching to CHiME’s field-friendly application, UKPN deployed over 60 contractors using their own smartphones (BYOD), completing the project under budget and nearly two years ahead of schedule.
The Operational Challenge
Resource Bottlenecks: High dependence on specialist field engineers and costly laptops/hardware.
Data Inaccuracies: Incomplete location records and risks of off-site/inaccurate reporting. Deployment Delays: Traditional software integration bottlenecks threatening timelines and budgets
How CHiME Solved It
CHiME delivered a lightweight, field-first workflow operational within weeks:
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Allowed lower-skilled field workers to capture data using personal devices.
Prescriptive Workflows & QR Verification: Ensured accurate on-site scanning, photo confirmation, and automated error-checking.
Public Engagement Integration: Added QR codes enabling residents to report damaged assets directly.
"CHiME let us train contractors quickly, deploy them using their own devices, and verify every job was done on-site — all while delivering the program ahead of schedule and under budget." -Andy Horstead, Senior Asset Engineer, UK Power Networks
