How N-Smart and TEKTELIC Transformed Utility Asset Management

Managing assets across warehouses, storage yards, and service trucks can quickly become overwhelming—especially for utility companies responsible for keeping critical services running. When there’s no clear visibility into what’s available, where it is, or when it needs to be replenished, mistakes happen. Inventory goes missing, restocking gets delayed, and operations slow down.

This was exactly the situation for a major East Coast utility provider. With materials and equipment spread out across different sites, their teams were relying on manual tracking to keep things organized. This led to misplaced items, unnecessary duplicate orders, and a general lack of visibility—especially during time-sensitive events like outages.

To address these challenges, the utility turned to N-Smart, who designed and deployed a smart, automated solution powered by TEKTELIC’s LoRaWAN® gateways and devices. Together, the combined technologies gave the utility full visibility over its assets—without requiring major changes to its existing workflows.

Continue reading to see how the project unfolded—from the challenge to the solution and the real results that followed.

The Challenge

Like many large utilities, this organization managed assets across multiple sites—warehouses, open yards, and mobile service trucks. Most of the tracking was done manually or through disconnected systems. That meant materials could easily be misplaced, overlooked, or even reordered by mistake.

These gaps led to:

• Equipment and materials not being where they were needed
• Unnecessary duplicate purchases
• Slow restocking and unclear usage patterns
• Higher costs and lower efficiency, especially during outages

What made things more difficult was the need to keep existing workflows intact. The utility didn’t want to replace its internal systems or go through long staff retraining. They needed a solution that could fill the visibility gaps without disrupting operations.

The Solution

To solve this, N-Smart built an intelligent asset tracking solution powered by LoRaWAN®, using TEKTELIC gateways and BLE-capable devices for real-time connectivity and localization.

Here’s how the system was structured:

• KONA Micro Gateways from TEKTELIC provided secure and reliable LoRaWAN® coverage across all key locations.
• PELICAN and STORK devices from TEKTELIC were used for scanning and tracking equipment via BLE.
• BLE tags, hubs, and nodes from N-Smart were attached to tools, materials, and larger assets to track them indoors, outdoors, and on the move.
• N-Smart’s AI-powered platform collected and visualized the data, offering real-time dashboards, alerts, and predictive insights.

This gave the utility a complete and continuous view of its inventory—covering everything from warehouse shelves to mobile crews.

The solution was also tailored for tough environments. Devices were selected and configured based on signal range, durability, and the specific layout of each location. And importantly, the system was integrated in a way that didn’t interrupt existing workflows—making it easy for teams to adopt.

The Value

The impact was clear almost immediately. The utility saw results both in day-to-day operations and long-term savings:

• 20% reduction in material loss and write-offs
• 15% decrease in inventory carrying costs, freeing up working capital
• $5,500 saved per service truck annually by avoiding lost tools and unnecessary field dispatches
• Faster restoration during outages, thanks to fully equipped and better-prepared field crews
• Improved safety compliance, with automated alerts when critical tools required calibration

This wasn’t just a tech upgrade—it was a transformation in how the utility managed its entire inventory.

“N-Smart and TEKTELIC delivered a seamless solution that gave us real-time visibility and control over every asset from the warehouse to the yard to our field crews. The tailored hardware and integrated platform made adoption smooth and ROI immediate.”
— Kiran Yeddala, CEO, N-Smart

Conclusion

This project shows how powerful it can be when an intelligent platform and reliable connectivity come together. By combining N-Smart’s AI-driven system with TEKTELIC’s LoRaWAN® solutions, the utility gained control, efficiency, and confidence in its day-to-day operations.

For other utility companies facing similar challenges—especially those struggling with inventory loss, field readiness, or tracking complexity—this story offers a clear path forward. It’s proof that with the right technology and the right partners, big results can come without big disruptions.

Partner’s contacts
Kiran, Yeddala
Founder & CEO
E-mail: Kiran.Y@nsmart.io