Digital Transformation Strategy in Water Utilities

As cities continue to grow rapidly and regulatory requirements become more complex, compliance managers face a wide range of interconnected challenges with insufficient resources. 

Against this backdrop, various new technologies have arrived to help compliance managers harness the full power of the information at their disposal. More and more water utilities are looking online to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their compliance program and drive operational excellence.  

Of course, any new technology presents challenges and opportunities. In fact, a comprehensive study carried out on 64 water utilities around the world in 2023, noted that ‘learning from utilities that already initiated the digital transformation journey, collecting best practices, and overall improving our knowledge of the current progress  is fundamental to overcoming potential limitations and enabling all involved stakeholders to embrace digital technologies’.

Following a well-thought-out implementation plan is vital. At SwiftComply, we have developed a basic three-step digitization process to help our backflow customers transform their systems and maximize their investment.

Phase 1 – Moving your program online

By moving your program online, you can enhance your existing systems. We will create a custom portal for your testers to upload their reports directly to the city database. The new system will automate your most time-consuming processes while instantly improving the reliability and accuracy of your data. With SwiftComply, the City of Houston raised compliance by half quickly. The city even introduced a processing fee for each backflow test uploaded online, which is now fully funding its program. Having an integrated system and a comprehensive view of your entire network will allow your team to respond to future challenges proactively.

Phase 2 – Streamlining your communications 

An effective communication network is foundational for any utility looking to digitize its processes. As the regulatory landscape becomes more complex and pressures mount, backflow managers must make every dollar count. By streamlining your communications with your entire network, you can take advantage of more opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Our system allows you to send various types of communications directly from the system, including customer letters and notices.

Phase 3 – Building your capabilities 

Small and large utilities alike often struggle to integrate multiple data streams throughout their compliance network. The sheer amount of data can be overwhelming, and it is impossible to analyze effectively using traditional processes. We provide you with advanced reports and dashboards, making it easy for inexperienced team members to develop insights and spot compliance patterns. You will also be able to conduct advanced analysis of your jurisdictional records. Our system also integrates with other third-party software. Having an integrated system and a comprehensive view of your entire network will allow your team to respond to future challenges proactively.