I've been doing more on-site audits for Avista customers here in Spokane and I'm looking for a good mobile app to streamline data collection. Need something that can handle meter readings, photos, and notes that syncs back to my office systems. Currently using a mix of phone camera and handwritten notes which feels pretty antiquated. What are you folks using for field work?
Mobile apps for field auditing - any good options?
Ted, I've been using AuditPro Mobile for about six months now and it's been solid. Good for photos with automatic GPS tagging, voice notes, and it has templates for common audit checklists. The sync feature works well when you're back in WiFi range. Costs about $30/month but it's worth it for the time savings and organization. Works great for MLGW site visits.
I've been using Microsoft Forms on my tablet for Duke Energy site audits. It's included with Office 365 so no extra cost, and you can build custom forms with photo uploads, dropdown menus for equipment types, and GPS location data. Not as fancy as dedicated audit software but it gets the job done and integrates well with Excel for analysis.
Wayne's Microsoft Forms approach is smart for budget-conscious operations. I use something similar with Google Forms for National Grid audits. The key is setting up good templates ahead of time with all your common data points. I have separate forms for different types of facilities - manufacturing, office buildings, retail, etc. Makes data collection much more consistent.
For TVA audits, I've been using a combination of OneNote and the native camera app. OneNote syncs across devices and lets me organize everything by client and site. Not perfect but it's cheap and works with what I already have. The search function is actually pretty good for finding specific notes later. Though I'm intrigued by the dedicated audit apps you folks are mentioning.
I tried AuditPro Mobile after Randy's recommendation and it's been excellent for Dominion Energy site visits. The equipment database is particularly useful - you can scan model numbers and it pulls up specifications automatically. Caught several billing errors where customers were being charged for higher capacity equipment than what was actually installed. Worth the monthly fee just for that feature alone.
Bill, that equipment database feature sounds incredibly useful. I've run into situations where the utility has incorrect equipment specs in their billing system. How accurate is the database? Does it cover most commercial and industrial equipment types? Avista has some pretty specific requirements for demand response equipment that might not be in generic databases.
Ted, the database is pretty comprehensive for standard commercial equipment - HVAC, lighting, motors, etc. For specialized utility equipment like demand response devices, you might need to add custom entries. The app lets you build your own equipment profiles which is handy for utility-specific gear. I've created custom entries for MLGW's load control switches and smart thermostats.
This thread is really helpful. I'm just getting started with field auditing for Appalachian Power customers and was wondering about the best approach for data collection. Randy, does AuditPro Mobile work well offline? Some of the industrial sites I visit have spotty cell coverage and I need something that can store data locally until I can sync later.