Reducing Sensor Damage for Water Utilities with CareAR
Helping Sapphire Utility Solutions improve knowledge transfer and prevent damage to sensors across the vast utility network with our augmented reality services platform, Care AR.
About the Client
Sapphire Utility Solutions specialises in clean water, wastewater, gas, digital networks, and infrastructure. Established in 2013, it has quickly become the partner of choice for homeowners and many key utility providers across the UK, with a particular focus on water utility companies.
Collaborating to develop new intelligent network solutions, they work closely with their clients to meet changing needs and exceed customers’ expectations whilst protecting the environment.
The Challenge
Preventing water flow sensor damage and downtime
Water utilities use sensors in areas across their network to monitor the flow of water and detect issues such as blockages and the rise of water in the sewer networks quickly so proactive action can be taken before they impact customers or the environment.
It is critical that these sensors are operational at all times. However, they are often disturbed and damaged during standard maintenance works. Their client was looking for a solution to help them share knowledge about the sensors at the point of installation, bridge the skills gap so they could be safely removed and replaced after work is complete and prevent them from being damaged.
The Solution
Bridging the skills gap and transferring knowledge everywhere
Working with many water utility companies across the UK, Sapphire Utility Solutions understands the challenges they face. Sapphire Utility Solutions engaged their trusted IT partner, Xerox, to help them devise a solution to these problems.
Working collaboratively, teams from Sapphire Utility Solutions, Xerox and CareAR came together to rollout CareAR. An augmented reality services platform that makes expertise accessible for employees and field workers.
There are three key elements to CareAR: Assist helps with real-time support in the field, Instruct provides step-by-step processes and at the core of the platform is the Experience Builder, which can walk maintenance teams through how to safely remove the sensors without damage and replace them ensuring they are fully operational with minimal downtime.
The Results
Forecasted reduction in sensor damage 10% to 0%
During CareAR’s pilot phase, Sapphire Utility Solutions quickly saw reduced sensor damage, and increased health and safety guidance.
In a short period of time, CareAR has helped Sapphire Utility Solutions increase productivity, reduce downtime, lower failure costs and upskill its workforce.
CareAR now supports over 18,000 sensors across the wastewater network in the North West. Over 100 crews are actively using the technology daily, helping to reduce sensor damage and realise significant cost savings.
Ultimately, CareAR has helped them achieve their number one priority of reducing their carbon footprint to become a more sustainable business.
The Challenge
Needed a solution that helped with network monitoring, preventing damage to water flow sensors during standard maintenance works
Wanted to be able to transfer knowledge every where and bridge the skills gap across maintenance teams
Service calls need to be solved first time reducing unnecessary journeys of engineers
The Solution
Rolled out CareAR, an augmented reality services platform
CareAR provides realtime sensor knowledge and instructions to safely remove and replace the sensors for network maintenance
Enabling employees in the field to access a digital library at their fingertips
The Result
Helped reduce their carbon footprint to become a more sustainable business
Enhanced experience in the field, upskilling their workforce
Forecasted reduction in sensor damage 10% to 0% leading to significant cost savings
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