From chaos to clarity: How AI bridged the skills gap at Utility Week Live

In case you missed Utility Week Live, our Director of Strategic Projects, Scott Broadley, shared a story that resonates with many in the field operations sector. Meet Karl, a utility manager facing a common but challenging scenario.

The story of Karl: A typical day in utility management

Karl is a dedicated utility manager whose teams are spread across various locations, performing tasks ranging from maintenance to inspections. However, Karl’s management experience is far from seamless. He often finds himself in the dark about what his teams are doing, especially in complex tasks such as excavation and repair. These activities, often hindered by outdated paper processes, slow down operations and obscure progress.

The wider issue: A sector-wide challenge

Karl’s challenges are not unique. Many utility managers face similar issues:

• Limited Visibility: Without real-time updates, managers like Karl struggle to track their teams’ activities, leading to inefficiencies.
• Manual Processes: Paper-based methods hinder productivity and make it difficult to identify areas needing improvement.
• Skills Gap: Transferring knowledge from experienced workers to new hires is a constant struggle, affecting overall team effectiveness.

According to the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, the sector needs to recruit 277,000 new workers in the next decade to address these issues. 

Moreover, 76% of leaders in the utilities sector are concerned about the availability of key skills, especially digital skills essential for operational efficiency.

The transformation: AI-powered solutions

Thankfully, there’s an answer. Scott presented a compelling solution: AI-powered work execution platforms. By integrating this technology, Karl’s team experienced a transformative shift.

• Unified Expertise: AI made decades of collective knowledge instantly accessible, levelling the skill levels across the team and streamlining operations.
• Improved Decision-Making: Data-driven insights allowed Karl to allocate resources better and solve problems proactively.
• Enhanced Performance: AI highlighted best practices from high performers like Jessica, whose innovative techniques were shared with the entire team, boosting overall productivity.

The result? Minimised operational bottlenecks, maximise team productivity, and a closed skills gap.

This is where FYLD comes in

FYLD bridges the skills gap and streamlines field operations through its AI-powered work execution platform. Our platform provides real-time visibility into team activities, eliminates paper-based processes, and ensures knowledge transfer from managers to fieldworkers. With FYLD, managers can leverage collective expertise, make data-driven decisions, and empower high performers to elevate the entire team’s efficiency.

Want to learn more?

Head over to our website to see how our AI solutions can help you achieve similar results. Book a free demo with an expert to see FYLD live in action. 

Don’t let the skills gap hold you back. Take control and transform your field operations with AI!