How Holmes Electric Keeps Dispatch Running From Anywhere

Holmes Electric has been wiring the Pacific Northwest for more than 80 years. The third-generation, family-owned contractor handles $70–90 million a year in commercial, industrial, tenant improvement, and data center work across the Pacific Northwest.

As the business grew, so did the pressure on their operations team. Project managers needed real-time visibility into manpower and schedules, and customers expected the same instant answers and service they get from consumer brands.

"With the Amazon effect, everybody wants information and services immediately," Ric says. "We're able to access that information wherever we're in the Pacific Northwest and offer that service to our customers."

Holmes knew they needed a way to keep dispatch running smoothly from anywhere without turning their electricians into part-time administrators or relying on phone trees back to the office.

The Challenge: Real-time answers without the IT headache

Project managers needed operational visibility into manpower and schedules without waiting on a call back to the office. And with the company's growth, cybersecurity became a real concern — "we're builders, we're not IT people," says Ric Fegurgur, Operations Manager.

Holmes needed:

• An up-to-date look into manpower and schedules for project managers in the field
• A mobile-first experience for service electricians, without extra paperwork
• Enterprise-grade security that could grow with the business

The Solution: Mobile dispatch and real-time visibility with BuildOps

The BuildOps platform gives Holmes' project managers that flexibility. When they're out talking to customers, they can pull current information on available manpower and when a service electrician is due on site — from the field, on any device.

Holmes' service electricians now run their entire dispatch from their phone, and project managers pull the same information remotely — without waiting on a callback.

BuildOps' cybersecurity team works alongside Holmes' internal IT department, so the platform keeps the company covered as it grows.

"If we didn't have BuildOps and the additional cybersecurity they give our company, we would be dead in the water — impacting our service to our customers and our revenue."

Results: Seamless service, from office to field

Today, Holmes Electric's operation is more resilient and responsive. Project managers and service electricians are working from the same live information, whether they're in the office, on site, or somewhere in between.

"Our operation is seamless to our customers — whether a PM is on vacation, out sick, or working remotely."

Holmes Electric would recommend BuildOps to other contractors.

"I would recommend BuildOps. It's been a great experience for us, from onboarding through introducing it to our service electricians. Add cybersecurity to it, and it's a win-win."

As customer expectations shift toward instant information and instant service, Holmes sees BuildOps as a long-term partner that will help them get the job done, fast. 

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