How 10 Oversight Resources Covered 75+ Crews on Oncor's $100M+ Program with KYRO AI | KYRO Case Study

When a utility's capital program grows faster than its oversight capacity, the options are: hire more people, or give the people you have a system that multiplies their reach. Without that, backlogs build, closeout errors compound, and the utility loses visibility into its own program.  

Following the February 2021 winter storm, Oncor launched more than $100 million in distribution system improvements and brought on over 75 contract crews to execute the work. Remarkably, just ten oversight resources managed all of it. They used KYRO AI as their dedicated system of record for work order packages, GIS maps, daily field reports, final inspections, and program dashboards. Oncor accepted these KYRO AI-driven workflows, receiving the field reports and dashboards directly.

The Challenge

Oncor operates the largest transmission and distribution system in Texas, delivering electricity to more than 4.1 million homes and businesses across 145,000 circuit miles.

In the wake of the 2021 winter storm, the utility initiated a massive wave of distribution upgrades. The work spanned both overhead and underground construction, stretching from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex all the way to remote West Texas oil fields. To handle the volume, Oncor brought on more than 75 contract crews, all of whom required dedicated oversight.

Oncor’s construction volume was growing much faster than its oversight staff could match, causing backlogs to inevitably build up. The utility urgently needed these projects finished on time and strictly to spec. They also needed to shorten their closeout cycles and eliminate errors in their closeout documentation.

How KYRO AI Was Used

KYRO AI stepped in as the oversight vendor's system of record. While Oncor kept its own internal systems in place for overarching project schedules, KYRO AI became the engine for the field, handling the maps, the documents, the reports, and the inspections.

• Work Order Packages on Site: Each project's work order package was digitized and broken down into its specific parts within KYRO AI: staking sheets, sag reports, material sheets, spec books, and handbooks. Inspectors had the complete package available directly on site.

• Interactive GIS Mapping: Every structure on a project was mapped in KYRO AI. Design and Construction Coordinators used this map to check project status and plan their day across multiple sites. They could edit the map live in the field on an iPad, adding critical logistical details like gate openings.

• Daily Field Reports: Inspectors submitted daily digital reports to track work activity and flag issues, easily uploading supporting field documents, like concrete tickets, straight to the project file.

• Field redlines: When what was built did not match the drawings, inspectors redlined the drawings in KYRO AI on site. Those markups went back to engineering for the as-builts, so the utility's records matched what was actually in the ground.

• Mobile Inspections: The team used mobile apps to seamlessly capture data during aerial patrols, ground verifications, and hardware inspections.

• Photo-Backed Final Inspections: Every single job went through a final inspection in KYRO AI, supported by photos of the installed equipment to prove the work was done right.

• Scope-Based Dashboards: Progress on individual projects was measured directly against the initial scope, which then rolled up into a clear, overarching view of the entire program’s progress.

• Role-based access: Coordinators and supervisors each see the projects and dashboards for their role, reports and program dashboards.

The Result

• Just 10 oversight resources successfully covered more than 75 contract crews on a program exceeding $100 million.

• The team established a single, unified system of record for progress, inspection findings, and compliance, built entirely from daily field data.

• The utility gained better, more accessible field data, ground verifications, and hardware inspections, allowing for smarter decisions and proactive maintenance.

• Every job was closed out with a complete, error-free document trail.

Why This Matters for Utilities

When a capital program scales rapidly, adding more people isn't always an option. Success comes down to equipping the people you already have with a system that can actually handle the load. Ten oversight resources were able to cover more than 75 crews on a $100 million distribution program because KYRO AI gave them the maps, the documents, the reports, and the dashboards they needed to keep up.

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FAQs:

Can KYRO work alongside a utility's existing systems?

Yes. KYRO integrates with more than 50 tools including QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, Esri ArcGIS, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Box, Dropbox, Slack and Zapier. Enterprise plans support connections to Primavera P6, Oracle, SAP, NetSuite and enterprise HR platforms. In this case study, the utility kept its own systems for project schedules while KYRO carried the field side.

What kind of field data does KYRO capture?

KYRO captures GPS-verified timesheets, expenses with AI receipt scanning, daily field reports, GIS asset maps, work order packages, safety forms and inspections, credential documentation, and final inspection photos. All field data feeds into dashboards and can flow through to invoicing and payroll.

Does KYRO support GIS mapping?

Yes. KYRO includes native asset mapping with Esri ArcGIS integration. Structures can be mapped per project, viewed and edited in the field on mobile devices. In this engagement, Design and Construction Coordinators used the map to plan their day across sites and edited it on iPads.

How do utilities get visibility into program progress with KYRO?

KYRO includes scope-based dashboards that measure each project against its scope and roll progress up into a program view. Beyond construction, KYRO also provides real-time dashboards for storm response, vegetation management, crew deployment, financial tracking and P&L monitoring.

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