Energy and water utilities companies are responsible for delivering vital services to the public. To do this effectively while keeping costs to a minimum, they must maintain accurate and efficient supply chains with clear visibility over their processes and assets. A lack of inventory control could result in revenue loss, low productivity, and regulatory consequences for businesses in this space.

Energy and water utilities using asset management with oracle cloud and rf-smart

Why Mobile Technology is Critical For Utilities

Energy companies typically manage diverse inventory including raw materials, tools, hardware and machinery, and finished goods, while operating on pre-defined budgets and fast turnaround requirements. The reliance on manual, paper-based processes creates significant risks as these methods are error-prone and time-consuming. Often operating across multiple sites or out in the field, maintaining a record of asset transactions with cellular or offline capabilities allows users and admins to rely on the accuracy of the data in a single system of truth.

Mechanical room for utility using rf-smart for oracle cloud asset management

How Water and Energy Utilities Can Achieve Supply Chain Management Success

Fixed Assets for water and energy utility companies

Maintain Real-Time Visibility of Assets and Inventory Locations

From the extraction of raw materials to the production of solar panels, businesses in this industry manage and rely on a range of valuable fixed assets. Operating on project-driven basis with pre-defined budgets requires accurate, up-to-date visibility of the stock levels and locations of these assets.

RF-SMART's Mobile Fixed Assets functionality works with Oracle Financials Cloud to speed up counting, simplify transfers, and eliminate manual processes without losing visibility or accuracy of the data. Workers can leverage handheld devices to scan valuable company property, automating and simplifying fixed asset management.

Material Transfer for Energy and Water Utility Companies

Ensure Regulatory Compliance Through Digital Traceability

Companies in the utilities sector must comply with strict regulatory requirements for production and inventory management. Maintaining accurate traceability and capturing critical information like lot or serial numbers is essential.

RF-SMART extends Oracle Cloud SCM capabilities with purpose-built mobile inventory tools that eliminate paper-based processes. The solution provides digital traceability with mobile cycle counting functionality, enabling companies to count faster while maintaining 99.9% inventory accuracy.

OC Mobile Inventory for Energy and Water utility companies

Eliminate Manual Data Entry in Inventory Movement Processes

Manual transcription of data during inventory movement processes naturally results in human error. The compound effect of these errors can mean project delays, increased costs, and poor customer service delivery.

RF-SMART makes it simple for workers to handle inventory transactions through mobile functions including receiving, putaway, picking, packing, shipping, and delivery confirmation. The solution supports offline mobility for companies working across multiple large sites with limited WiFi coverage, ensuring all transactional data updates automatically when internet connection is available.

Ballard Power Systems Simplifies Inventory Management with
RF-SMART for Oracle Cloud

Challenges

Ballard Power Systems, an alternative energy product manufacturer, needed to consolidate and modernize their inventory management processes. They wanted to ensure scalability and accuracy without adding complexity to worker tasks.

Solution

Ballard implemented RF-SMART to leverage the robust functionality of Oracle Cloud SCM through barcode scanning capabilities across the warehouse. Configurable printers added further automation of assembly line processes allowing them to set up printers at any location and print on-demand.

Results

By implementing RF-SMART for Oracle Cloud SCM, Ballard Power:  

Increased efficiency and productivity by eliminating manual data entry into Oracle Cloud SCM.

Mistakes during receiving and picking were prevented with RF‑SMART’s step-by-step on-screen prompts.

RF-SMART’s Label Printing provided convenience and eliminated interruptions on the assembly line.

Worker training and adoption was made easy with intuitive, user-friendly mobile handheld scanners.

Energy & Water Utility Asset Management Software for Oracle Cloud

Streamlining Asset Management in the Utilities Sector

Why Mobile Technology is Critical For Utilities

How Water and Energy Utilities Can Achieve Supply Chain Management Success

Maintain Real-Time Visibility of Assets and Inventory Locations

Ensure Regulatory Compliance Through Digital Traceability

Eliminate Manual Data Entry in Inventory Movement Processes