Utility’s new portal helps builders track the status of new meter installation requests
The new construction status tracker offers contractors the up-to-date information they need within a straightforward, intuitive, and mobile-responsive experience.
Overview
When a metropolitan gas and electricity service provider needed a solution for letting builders and contractors track new meter installation requests online, they contacted Primitive Logic.
The Challenge
When builders and contractors in our client’s service area need to install new gas and electric meters, the process involves (1) completing an online request form; (2) submitting fees, building designs, and other documentation; and (3) waiting for approval … and waiting. The builders had requested a solution that would let them track the status of each request online and provide explanations for any delays to help them estimate when installation could begin.
As one construction manager shared, “We do our job, we get things initiated, then it goes into a black hole. It could be four weeks, it could be six months.”
Why They Chose Primitive Logic
Primitive Logic had delivered several successful projects for this client, including customer portals and microsites. Given our track record and familiarity with their business operations and systems architecture, the client decided we were the right choice to create a portal that would greatly improve communications between the utility and the builders by providing real-time tracking of the status of their meter installation requests.
The Results
Primitive Logic designed and built a comprehensive new construction status tracker that offers users the functionalities they need within a straightforward, intuitive experience. User interfaces include
- A dashboard that lists every job and indicates where it stands in the approval process, as well as providing status details and alerts regarding missing documentation and other issues that could delay installation
- A job detail page that maps out the five-phase approval and installation process (initiation, planning/engineering, final design, pre-construction, and construction) and details what has occurred or is currently occurring in each phase
- Detail pages for multi-address jobs offering at-a-glance tracking for all addresses
- Responsive views that provide users with a seamless experience across desktop, mobile, and tablet devices
In addition to delivering the functions our client wanted, we took time to understand end-users’ needs and to incorporate these insights into the portal’s user experience and visual design. Since builders spend most of their time either at construction sites or in transit between jobs, we leveraged a “mobile first” approach to information design and architecture to ensure that every screen offered a responsive experience across mobile and tablet devices as well as desktop and laptop PCs. We created a visual design that was consistent with our client’s public site while eliminating extraneous interface elements to deliver the information users need quickly and efficiently.
When we tested the portal with a group of our client’s customers, the response was unanimously positive, including statements such as “Having everything in one place will be really beneficial” and “I’m overwhelmed by how useful this is.”
We Can Help
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