Australia’s utility networks are built on infrastructure that has largely stood the test of time, but with inefficient logistics that time might soon be up.
With much of Australia’s critical infrastructure operating well beyond its original design life, utilities are under mounting pressure to extend asset lifespan without compromising service quality, safety or reliability.
While maintenance is the frontline defence, behind-the-scenes logistics play a significant role in the success of these maintenance efforts – and with our essential service networks evolving faster than ever before, Droppoint identified a real need for smarter and more efficient approaches to inventory and logistics.
From ageing transformers and substations to decades-old water and gas pipelines, legacy assets still form the backbone of essential service delivery across the country. Replacing them outright is expensive, time-consuming and disruptive, so many utilities are focused on extending the life of legacy assets.
But as these assets age, they also become harder to support, making strong proactive maintenance and rapid reactive maintenance especially important; however, both rely on fast, reliable access to the right inventory and materials.
This equation calls for visibility over spare parts, timely resolutions and a logistics model designed to increase uptime, otherwise field service teams are left scrambling – chasing inventory, waiting on deliveries from vendors, improvising workarounds, or losing time on return visits.
Ineffective logistics models place added pressure on field technicians who are already stretched by labour shortages, complex maintenance schedules and increasing service level agreement (SLA) expectations.
Maximising the time these technicians can spend on their specific roles is key to ensuring critical infrastructure continues to power ahead. So, rather than continuing to rely on static warehouse models, utilities are increasingly turning to smarter, more proactive approaches to inventory and logistics – and that’s where Droppoint comes in.
As one of Australia’s leading providers of field service inventory management software and logistics solutions for field workforces, Droppoint ensures utilities always get the right part to the right place at the right time.
As one of Australia’s leading providers of field service inventory and logistics solutions for field workforces, Droppoint leverages its MOS (Material Orchestration System) in combination with its partners to ensure utilities always get the right part to the right place at the right time.
Droppoint’s expansive inventory logistics network includes more than 500 secure pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) locations across Australia and New Zealand. These 24/7 access points reduce time from vendor to delivery, bringing parts closer to technicians and reducing the time, cost and delays associated with transporting or retrieving spare parts, even in remote locations.
The company’s MOS ties it all together behind the scenes.
Purpose-built for field environments, MOS gives utilities real-time visibility over spare parts across vans, depots, bespoke locations and PUDOs, integrating seamlessly with existing systems to support smoother workflows and proactive decision-making.
By aligning logistics with preventive maintenance schedules, MOS helps reduce emergency repairs, improve SLA compliance and extend the working life of ageing infrastructure. And when the unexpected does happen, MOS enables a faster response by ensuring field technicians have the right parts available exactly where they need them.
As infrastructure continues to age, utilities around the country are facing a growing disconnect between what their assets require and the logistical support available to their field teams. Bridging that gap is critical to the continued success of Australia’s essential service delivery.
Droppoint empowers utilities to take control of their spare parts and logistics, and for utilities that have made the switch, the benefits are almost immediate. According to Droppoint, clients report up to three extra technician jobs per week, a more than ten per cent increase in scanning compliance, and a 30 per cent reduction in inventory holding.
The smarter field logistics and improved inventory visibility provided by Droppoint, utilities can boost their uptime, increase technician productivity and keep legacy infrastructure running stronger for longer.
For more information, visit droppoint.com.au
