Halff Streamlines Proposals and QA/QC Workflows with 4M’s Utility AI Platform

‍Customer Profile

‍Halff Associates is a full-service infrastructure consulting firm with a people-centric focus. Consistently named one of America’s Top Workplaces because of its “people first” environment, Halff has been creating smart solutions since 1950 that improve lives and communities by turning ideas into reality. Among a variety of other projects, Halff works with public and private clients to design and build local and federal infrastructure, energy facilities, broadband, and more.

Background

‍Ryan Lewis serves as the director of SUE and utility coordination at Halff, working out of the Austin, Texas, office. Lewis oversees operations, working with business development and strategy teams to ensure that field teams have everything they need, from resources to equipment, tools, and information.

Key Results

1. Time savings. With instant, reliable access to utility data, Halff streamlines pre-field investigations and enables more efficient SUE work. 
2. Risk reduction. Early access to reliable and comprehensive utility data helps Halff minimize utility conflicts and provides an added layer of confidence for clients.
3. Increased efficiency. With 4M's centralized platform, Halff reduces manual utility records research efforts and streamlines workflows across proposals and QA/QC processes.
4. Competitive edge. 4M’s Utility AI platform gives Halff a clear advantage and a strong point of differentiation over competitors still reliant on outdated, less efficient manual methods.

Straight from the Source

Hear what Ryan Lewis, Director of SUE and Utility Coordination at Halff, had to say about his experience with 4M's Utility AI platform.

Challenge

Getting utility information in hand before sending teams into the field to investigate was the biggest challenge Lewis and his teams faced. Every project is different, he notes. “Some people have records, and others don’t. Some offer verbal insights, telling us where they think the utility lines are.” Working with limited information was a drain on time and efficiency in many projects. In some cases, the lack of insights prevented field teams from working efficiently. “The process and the time it took to get some of the information was significant,” he says. “Sometimes we’d go out there blind.”

Halff needed a partner that could provide reliable utility data at the early stages of a project, allowing teams in the field to work strategically — spending their time verifying utility lines they are already aware of rather than searching for what they are not sure is there. When Lewis connected with 4M Analytics, his team was initially skeptical. “We certainly understood the vision, but I couldn’t wrap my head around how to incorporate it into our workflow and manage the risk,” he says. “With no boots on the ground, I was concerned about the accuracy and validity of the data.” 

The idea of relying on AI for utility records research sounded risky until Lewis and his team started to understand the value of 4M’s data and how it could fit into their processes — not as a replacement for field investigation but to make it more efficient. “I was certainly intrigued,” says Lewis. 

Solution

‍Lewis and his team met with Austin-based 4M Analytics leaders, along with SUE industry pioneer Jim Anspach, to discuss a potential partnership. “We talked to some industry peers and it really was a mindset flip, where we started to understand the value of what you bring,” Lewis recalls. Halff decided to move forward with 4M as an investment in its clients. “AI is here to stay, and we wanted to be part of that future.” 

Today, Halff uses 4M on projects in multiple states, including Texas and Florida. Lewis uses 4M’s Foundation Utility Data for building upfront proposals in quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) to obtain quantities and discover utility parcel owners. “We can make schedule estimates, feasibility route studies, and reports on right of entries, easement, parcel acquisition,” says Lewis. “For all those things, 4M’s Foundation data gives us an edge on the front end of the project, helping us get ahead.” 

Access to 4M’s Foundation Utility Data is also helpful for quality control, says Lewis. “On some projects, we don’t get anything from our traditional records research process, so 4M data may be our only resource. We can have reliable utility data in five minutes or less, and it really sets a solid foundation for us to build a project.”

Instead of going into projects blind, Halff teams now gain a head start on utility coordination, field sketches, and SUE investigation documentation. “It’s more and better data early in the project, which leads to a better product,” says Lewis.

Understanding the speed at which 4M could deliver reliable utility data was a game-changer for Halff — and helped alleviate concerns about liabilities. Instead of replacing SUE investigation, 4M data adds another layer of confidence to the process. “As engineers, we’re always looking for ways to improve our processes,” Lewis explains. “We love anything we can get our hands on to manage risk — and 4M helps us do that with an extra layer of confidence and validity that you can build in.”

Looking Ahead

As an early adopter, Halff engaged in ongoing conversations with the 4M team as we built out new product capabilities and workflows. “It’s been a win-win solution for us and a way to stay ahead of the curve,” he says. “We’ve been able to provide feedback and discuss industry trends along the way. It’s exciting to be a part of this solution that I know will help and benefit many people.”

“Innovative” is the word Lewis uses to describe 4M. “That’s something that’s part of our strategic plans here at Halff,” he says. “AI is the future. You’ve got to get on board or you’re going to be left behind.”

4M’s willingness to lean on the industry and listen to insights from the field also impressed Lewis. “They value our input and have implemented some of our opinions and feedback. Ultimately, 4M’s vision aligns with Halff’s purpose, which is to improve lives and communities by turning ideas into reality. It’s just a good fit, and we’re looking forward to continuing that relationship.”