Large Rural Broadband Provider Scaled for Expansion with Vitruvi

The Challenge

Like many infrastructure construction businesses in the industry, this large rural broadband provider faced significant challenges in managing permitting processes. For this company, each project involves thousands of permits that must be approved before construction can commence. This is particularly complicated when trying to manage multiple projects simultaneously and involves navigating the intricate regulatory frameworks set by utility companies. Their business is currently tracking 6,300 permits, and will soon hit 10,000. They expect to eventually tack on an additional 10,000 permits on top of that.

With the vast scope of this broadband construction company’s projects, they needed a solution to manage the overwhelming amount of data, ensure timely permit approvals, and prepare for the mobilization of construction teams. The company also required a tool that could manage construction projects, and streamline processes once construction began, and further adapt to their evolving needs and allow for customization as new challenges arose.

The Solution

This company turned to Vitruvi to help tackle these challenges. Vitruvi was implemented to manage their end-to-end construction processes. They began using Vitruvi for advanced permit tracking, project set-up and planning, enabling them to manage complex dependencies between permitting and construction activities more effectively. The Vitruvi platform’s flexibility allowed this business to go beyond their original expectations.

They initially used Vitruvi to track the status of permits across roughly 420 FSAs. Each FSA could require anywhere from 10 to 40 permits, and Vitruvi helped the team monitor where permits were approved and where there were delays. This allowed them to mobilize construction teams to areas where permits were available, ensuring less downtime and that resources were always efficiently allocated.

Innovative Use of Vitruvi for Planning and Permitting

One of the creative applications of Vitruvi that this company integrated was the development of a custom planning module. This tool enabled the team to track key milestones and dependencies across their work breakdown structure. They had identified 27 key milestones for their construction process (which initially consisted of 180 steps) that they incorporated into the system. Vitruvi allowed them to establish timelines for each milestone and tie the milestones together based on dependencies.

For example, their team was able to track how delays in permit approvals would impact subsequent construction milestones. By modifying start and end dates and projecting when FSAs would be delivered, they ensured that all steps in the process were aligned and optimized. This has provided a real-time view of the project’s progression and allowed the team to adjust their plans as new information becomes available.

Vitruvi’s ability to integrate permitting, planning, and project management has been instrumental in helping to move their projects forward. They are also tracking the ISC generations as well in Vitruvi. This integration means that this business can not only monitor the permit approval process but also seamlessly transition to construction as soon as permits are cleared.

Data Integration and Reporting

This large utility construction builder also utilizes Vitruvi to improve their data management and reporting capabilities. By integrating Vitruvi with their data warehouse, they are able to create detailed reporting mechanisms. They use daily data uploads in Vitruvi to generate reports that provide real-time insights into the status of their permits, the time elapsed from submission to approval, and how long permits have been pending.

This tactical reporting has been essential for their project managers, allowing them to identify permits that are lagging in the approval process and apply pressure where needed. For instance, they can see which permits have been in submission for 30, 60, or 90 days and use that information to engage with permitting authorities more effectively. By pulling data from Vitruvi on a daily basis, their team has gained the ability to spot inefficiencies and act quickly to resolve them.

Preparing for Large-Scale Construction

While this company has initially been primarily focused on permitting and planning, they are on the cusp of ramping up construction activities. For their team this year has seen a lot of movement as they mobilize construction teams based on permit approvals, and by 2025, they expect operations to be in full swing, and even more streamlined.

The company has already begun using Vitruvi to prepare for the construction phase, tracking construction packages and ensuring that all necessary permits and designs are in place before teams are mobilized. They have created a seamless workflow where the completion of permits triggers the mobilization of construction teams, ensuring that no time is wasted.

They noted that Vitruvi’s mobile app would be crucial during the construction phase, as it allows on-the-ground teams to stay connected with the central project management system. This integration will enable real-time updates from the construction site, ensuring that the entire project remains on track.

Scaling for the Future

As this utility provider moves their projects into full-scale construction, they anticipate a significant increase in the number of users on the Vitruvi platform. Originally estimating they would need 50 users, they quickly expanded to 100 and are now preparing for 150 or even 200 users as construction begins in earnest. This scalability is another key advantage of Vitruvi, as the platform can easily accommodate the growing demands of large infrastructure projects.

This valued Vitruvi customer expressed excitement about the future, highlighting how Vitruvi has become deeply embedded in their operations. From tracking permits to planning construction and managing contractors, Vitruvi is providing the tools that they need to succeed in their complex and large-scale projects.

The Results

This customer’s journey with Vitruvi showcases the platform’s versatility and power in managing construction projects from start to finish. By leveraging Vitruvi’s capabilities in permitting, planning, data integration, and project management, they have been able to optimize their processes, reduce downtime, and ensure that resources are always allocated efficiently.

As this company moves into the next phase of their construction projects, Vitruvi will continue to play a central role in helping them manage the complexities of large-scale construction. With real-time tracking, robust reporting, and automation of processes, Vitruvi is enabling them to take control of their projects and drive them toward successful completion.