“I’m a huge advocate of Appenate. I’m such a fan that I created a 10-page PowerPoint presentation to help others in the company understand the value I get from using the platform.”
– Amber Glover (National Operations Manager, Wabtec Mining)
“I’m a huge advocate of Appenate. I’m such a fan that I created a 10-page PowerPoint presentation to help others in the company understand the value I get from using the platform.”
– Amber Glover (National Operations Manager, Wabtec Mining)
Case study: Wabtec Mining
Wabtec eliminates hours of manual work and related errors by using Appenate to collect information and generate reports.
Case study: Wabtec Mining
Wabtec eliminates hours of manual work and related errors by using Appenate to collect information and generate reports.
Business Goal
Digitize paper-based technical data collection processes to improve accuracy, reduce redundant data entry, and streamline customer report generation.
Obstacles
Managing 18-page paper forms with 355 data points, frequent errors requiring site revisits, and time-consuming manual data transfer from paper to client-ready documents.
Outcomes
Eliminated data entry errors, automated report generation with a single button press, and achieved complete ROI within 18 months by avoiding additional administrative hiring.
Their Challenge
Wabtec Corporation, a global leader with 27,000 employees across 50 countries, was struggling with an outdated data collection system despite its high-tech reputation.
Their manual process was causing significant problems:
- Technicians recorded measurements on bulky 18-page paper forms
- Management spent hours manually transferring 355 data points into client reports
- Incomplete or incorrect forms required technicians to return to sites
- The error-prone process was becoming increasingly unsustainable
“Given the level of technology we work with every day, it may be surprising to hear that we had a paper-based system for gathering the technical information needed to generate customer reports,” said Amber Glover.
The Appenate Solution
Appenate transformed Wabtec’s data collection with a customized mobile app that digitized their entire workflow from field to final report.
The implementation delivered immediate improvements:
- Technicians collected detailed information, measurements, and photos directly through the mobile app
- Built-in validation prevented incomplete or incorrect entries before submission
- Critical stop points ensured each question was answered properly before proceeding
- Digital data collection eliminated manual data re-entry for reporting
“I no longer get forms that are incorrect or missing information,” says Amber. “That’s because the Appenate app checks for completion and accuracy. If a measurement is incorrect, the app informs the technician, who can then correct the error while still in the field.”
From manual data entry to one-button report generation, Wabtec’s transformation shows how the right digital tools can eliminate hours of tedious work and costly errors.
Switching platforms is never a small decision. But for Wabtec, the results made it pretty clear they’d made the right call.
Improved accuracy
With Appenate, there is no more room for errors, as most of the process is automated.
Impressive ROI
“We’ve experienced a complete return on our investment within 18 months. We saved money that we would have otherwise spent on an administrative person to handle reporting.”
Increased efficiency
Amber no longer spends hours reviewing and transferring data — she simply presses a button to generate client reports.
Enhanced quality control
Because the mobile app has field validation, every question must be answered correctly before technicians can proceed, greatly improving overall quality control and consistency.