Fiber network projects demand precision, collaboration, and well-orchestrated workflows to succeed. While the challenges are significant, they’re not insurmountable. With effective strategies and robust tools, you can streamline execution and achieve success without compromising performance. Below are five ways to ensure your fiber network management system works smarter for you.
1. Establish project boundaries and guidelines
Smooth project execution starts with defining clear boundaries and guidelines. These boundaries help align your team, allowing every member to understand their responsibilities and monitor progress in real time. This minimizes delays and avoids confusion, creating a more efficient workflow.
Work orders are particularly useful for breaking down complex projects into manageable phases by defining tasks, assigning responsibilities, and establishing timelines for each stage. When tied to the system of record, work orders enable the assignee to work directly with network data, updating both asset and project statuses as the job progresses—reducing the need for duplicate data entry. In 3-GIS | Web, you can take this process further by attaching essential documents and tagging features with unique IDs, making them easy to query and QAQC. This structured approach ensures consistency and reduces the risk of associating the wrong features with the work order.
Updating a work order status in 3-GIS | Web
2. Leverage customized mapping outputs for clarity
Successful fiber deployment depends on clear, accurate visuals. Customizable maps can deliver detailed plotting information, meet the requirements of local permitting authorities, and offer step-by-step guidance for construction crews. The right tools can help streamline the creation of these maps, making them more precise and accessible for your teams. For example, in 3-GIS | Web, you can:
- Export maps with detailed symbology and annotations
- Generate maps tailored to specific work areas
- Create map books with cover pages illustrating the entire work area
This approach ensures everyone involved has a precise understanding of installation plans.
PDF output of a plot generated from 3-GIS | Web
3. Use configurable reports to drive decision-making
Fiber projects require a wealth of data, from splice sheets to equipment schematics. Tailoring reports to specific stakeholder needs minimizes unnecessary complexity.
In 3-GIS | Web, reports can be easily configured to address the specific needs of any project. Splice reports, for example, are known to provide detailed insights into splice closures, circuit IDs, and cable connections. However, templates can be customized to include important information, such as the contact details of the project lead. Similarly, Bills of Materials (BOM) highlight costs for materials and labor but can also be configured to exclude existing infrastructure, giving teams the clarity they need to plan resources effectively.
By exporting these reports in user-friendly formats like spreadsheets, you ensure stakeholders can access the information they need to make informed decisions, whether or not they are a user in the system. (Just remember to make any updates to the data in the system of record and not in the output itself.)
Export of a Bill of Materials list generated from 3-GIS | Web
4. Streamline outputs for project-specific needs
Cluttered, irrelevant data can stall progress and create unnecessary confusion. To address this, focus on creating outputs tailored to each project’s specific requirements. Generating work packets in 3-GIS | Web streamlines this process by consolidating essential information—such as plots, splice schematics, attachments, drawings, and BOMs—into a single, structured file. Administrators can customize these packets to include only what the recipient needs, while users can easily generate and download the packets relevant to their work. This approach saves time, reduces human error, and ensures outputs are consistent and derived from the same source data.
Work packet file exported from 3-GIS | Web
5. Harness dashboards for real-time insights
Real-time data is essential for keeping fiber deployments running smoothly. Dashboards offer an at-a-glance view of key project metrics, empowering teams to make timely decisions, avoid bottlenecks, and maintain momentum. From monitoring fiber installation progress to tracking equipment statuses and conducting quality assurance checks, dashboards simplify the management of complex projects.
However, dashboards are only as effective as the data driving them. That’s why it’s important to have a fiber asset management system capable of delivering real-time updates. Without accurate and current data, even the most well-designed dashboards can fall short of providing actionable insights.
While users are ultimately responsible for keeping data up to date, tools like 3-GIS | Web make it easier. With data validation rules, mobile capabilities (both through the web interface and 3-GIS | Mobile), and an intuitive interface, it streamlines the process of collecting and updating data in the field, ensuring that teams can keep data current.
Esri dashboard displaying information for selected project area using data created in 3-GIS | Web
Fiber deployment is a complex process, but with the right strategies and tools, you can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and deliver results that meet operational and financial goals. By defining clear project boundaries, leveraging customized outputs, and utilizing real-time dashboards, you can build a framework for success and pave the way for efficient, effective deployments.
This post is based on our recent webinar, 5 tips for optimizing fiber project execution and oversight. View it on demand here.
