.svg){kind=small}
.avif){kind=spacer}
An on-site inspection needs to be done right the first time. Inspection locations are not always easy to reach, especially when combined with a busy work schedule. A missing photo, measurement or signature can quickly become extra work or a second visit. Yet, inspection data is still often recorded on paper or in separate files, after which photos, Excel files and reports have to be combined manually.
You can digitise inspections by converting existing checklists into mobile forms that technicians can complete on-site. This allows them to record inspection results, photos, measurements, deviations and signatures directly. Reports can then be generated automatically, and deviations can be shared with the people responsible for follow-up actions.
This means you are not just replacing paper with an app. You are turning the entire inspection process into a clear workflow: from preparation and execution to reporting, integration and follow-up.
In this blog, you will learn what a digital inspection is, how to digitise inspections in Energy & Utilities, what information you can capture, and how MoreApp helps turn inspection data into clear reports and workflows.
Many Energy & Utility companies work with established inspection processes. Inspectors know which checkpoints are required, which measurements need to be taken and what information a report should contain. The challenge is often not the inspection itself, but everything that happens afterwards.
Once an inspection is completed, the collected information still needs to be organised and linked to the correct report. When this is done manually, it takes time and makes it harder to keep track of deviations, responsibilities and outstanding actions. Digitalisation brings the inspection process together, allowing data to be captured and followed up more efficiently.
A digital inspection is an inspection where a technician completes a form on a smartphone or tablet instead of using paper or Excel. The content of the inspection remains the same. The inspector still checks the correct installation or safety measures. What changes is how the information is recorded and processed.
During an inspection, a technician can check off control points, enter measurements, add comments and take photos. Information such as the date, time, location and signature can also be included in the same record. This keeps all inspection data in one place and allows it to be processed directly for further reporting.
Digital inspections can be used for:
If you already work with a Scope, NEN, safety or maintenance checklist, you can use it as the basis for a digital version. The form can then be optimised based on what is needed in practice.
Digital forms can include required fields and conditional follow-up questions. For example, when a checkpoint fails, a field for a photo, an explanation or follow-up action can appear as needed. This keeps the form clear and helps prevent important information from being missed.
In MoreApp, you build forms using fields. You can add fields, configure them and make them mandatory. Rules can automatically show follow-up fields when needed. No technical knowledge is required.
Digital templates are also available for common inspections, such as SCIOS Scope 7 and NEN 3140 templates.
A digital inspection process starts with a well-structured form. Offline working is also possible, for example at locations with limited internet connectivity.
After submitting the form, no one needs to enter the data manually into a separate report. This is where a digital workflow can save time. The collected information can be turned into a report and sent directly to the right people.
Inspection data is often needed for more than just a report. It may also need to be added to a maintenance system, planning tool or another system. By connecting data, you can avoid entering the same information manually in multiple places.
For example, an inspection can lead to a maintenance task. A failed checkpoint can trigger a notification to the responsible colleague.
Start with one clear workflow. You do not need to connect every system at once. A simple approach is:
MoreApp supports importing and exporting data. This allows you to make existing information available in forms and use completed registrations in other tools or processes, such as Word or SharePoint.
A digital form only works when it is easy and practical for the people who use it every day. Field workers know which checks are needed and where an inspection takes time in practice. Involve them when choosing or adapting a digital template.
Ask your team these questions:
Use this feedback to adapt an existing template, choose the right template or create your own form.
Then show what digitalisation delivers. This makes it clear that a digital way of working does not just change the process, but can also make daily work easier and more efficient.
The transition to digital inspections does not have to be large or complicated. It often works best to start small and build from practical experience.
First, choose one inspection type that is carried out frequently or takes a lot of administrative time. Then use the existing checklist as a basis. Or use one of the available templates to save even more time. These templates can also be adapted. Test the form not only at a desk, but also at the location where it will actually be used.
A short pilot quickly shows what works well. You may find that a checkpoint needs to be worded differently, that a photo should be easier to add, or that an additional dropdown saves time. Adjust the form based on this feedback and then expand it to other teams, locations or inspection types.
Digitising an inspection is not just about replacing paper with a digital form. It is also about making sure the new way of working fits the company and its users. MoreApp supports companies not only with digital forms, but also with their implementation.
With Custom Onboarding, companies can receive guidance when setting up their way of working. This starts by defining goals and is complemented by personal training for both administrators and users. During the training, there is room to set up forms, ask questions and align the workflow with day-to-day practice.
Support is also available after the training. A feedback session helps review progress, the process and the goals that were set. Follow-up sessions can also be used to discuss improvements and receive targeted advice.
MoreApp helps organisations to capture inspections digitally, and implement, use and continuously improve a digital way of working.
Ready to digitise your inspection process? Contact MoreApp and discover together which solution best fits your company and way of working.
.avif)
.avif)