Information transfer is an essential need in today’s complex distribution landscape. Distributors routinely manage hundreds or thousands of hardware assets, housed at multiple locations and sublocations, usually with multiple sensor types. In keeping track of these assets, there are often communication gaps between field technicians and operations management. Many of these gaps can be traced to insufficient documentation, which ends up costing time and money.
Create tight, flexible connections between team members
Pulsa answers this challenge with its new Notes and Images feature, which connects boots-on-the-ground teams with operations management in a way that was never before possible. Now technicians can easily and conveniently organize, categorize and document assets while in the field, right from their smartphone. Pulsa Notes and Images makes it easy to create detailed records of any issues pertaining to a sensor, tank, or location, providing a powerful communications tool that brings new efficiency - everything is conveniently kept in the Pulsa Dashboard.
The addition of photo capability is another industry first by Pulsa. In many cases out in the field, a picture really is worth a thousand words. Important details beyond the ordinary regarding placement, mounting, sensor fitting and tank condition, to name just a few, are often best conveyed by a close-up view that technicians can immediately understand. Pulsa allows up to a dozen photos for each sensor or location, with five selectable labels -- all zoomable through familiar pinching and spreading motions on a smartphone. The images can even be zoomed in the desktop version of the Pulsa Dashboard.
The efficiencies created by Notes and Images deeply extend communications. The straight line between technicians and operations teams eliminates confusion and reduces uncertainty – both of which cost time, which of course, is money. Because not all information is meant to be shared freely, a note or an image can be set to either Private (distributor team only, those with a “Limited Viewer” role can’t see it) or Public (customers can be allowed, or those assigned a “Viewer” role and higher). And sharing is simple – just click the note and it’s copied to clipboard, ready to send to relevant parties.
Information helps remote troubleshooting, saves costly trips
Distributors know all too well that tank and sensor installations are rarely uniform, and that troubleshooting tank issues can be tricky. Hardware gets installed and tank-related problems get tackled at different times by different parties in changing conditions, often without sufficient (or even any) documentation. Without this information, problem-solving often requires a costly trip. Now with Notes and Images, more issues can be identified and assessed remotely, creating a speedier path to the problem’s resolution.
Our why: to save money and pain
"During the testing phase of Pulsa Installation Service, our team uncovered the significance of on-site data collection and recognized the potential for information to become diluted or lost in the transition to office stakeholders. We also discovered the importance of specific location-related details, such as access codes for customer locations. Some missed communication early on caused us a lot of pain and it became clear that a feature like Notes and Images could save a lot of time and create more efficiency."
Dave Wiens, CEO
Pulsa
Build documentation that transcends turnover
By entering a note or uploading a photo, the technician and team communicate more tightly and create a detailed historical record of a sensor, tank, and/or location. There’s no more guesswork or sifting through past paperwork, old emails, or text messages to see specifics about individual or grouped tank assets. Notes and Images can contain a rich set of descriptors that together become institutional knowledge. The preserved information serves both present and future field activity and reduces the risk of information loss due to employee turnover.
By taking the work out of the documenting process and making it richer and more descriptive than possible, Pulsa provides another powerful tool to streamline gas distribution operations, creating more efficient businesses that enjoy greater profitability.
Notes and Images is available today for all Pulsa customers to use in the Pulsa Dashboard on desktops and mobile devices. To learn more about how to use the feature, check out the Pulsa Help Center here.
