About Barco Well Service

Barco Well Service provides well installation, pump repair, and water system management to residential, commercial, and municipal customers. Their clients range from homeowners to large properties like golf courses, churches, and neighborhood associations.

The Challenges They Faced

Before implementing Resource Monitor, Barco Well Service encountered several significant problems:

• Limited Water Usage Data: "My customers have no concept of how much water they're actually using," Dylan explained. Without detailed information, customers couldn't plan effectively or identify problems early.
• Costly Manual Meter Readings: Barco had to send technicians to properties to read meters, charging customers $150 per visit while only making $20-30 profit when conditions were perfect.
• Unnecessary Service Calls: Approximately 20-30% of calls from commercial customers were simply to verify if wells were running, requiring technicians to drive to sites just to check equipment status.
• Inaccurate Water Usage Estimates: They estimated water usage based on pump capacity and run time, but Dylan discovered that "after 7-8 hours, you have a 20% loss in production. After running for more than 7 days straight, you could experience up to 50% loss in production."
• Hazardous Meter Access: Some meter locations presented safety concerns, including one infested with honeybees that made readings nearly impossible.
• Human Error in Readings: Mistakes in manual readings caused customer confusion. "I can't tell you how many times I've had to reread a meter because somebody put a decimal point in the wrong place," Dylan shared.

The Solution

Barco Well Service partnered with Resource Monitor to provide digital monitoring for their customers:

• Real-Time Water Data: Digital meters that continuously track water usage, accessible through a mobile app
• Remote Monitoring Capability: The ability to check well status from anywhere without sending technicians on site
• User-Friendly Application: An easy-to-use interface for both Barco's team and their customers
• Quick Installation Process: Hardware that installs easily with existing well systems

Implementation Process

Installing Resource Monitor proved straightforward:

• Fast Installation: "On a small system, it's probably a 30-minute install. On a big system, like a golf course, it's probably an hour install," Dylan explained.
• Minimal Disruption: The meters connect to existing infrastructure without major modifications.
• Simple Setup: Activation requires scanning a code and setting up the customer in the app. "Onboarding has been pretty simple," noted Dylan.

The Results

After implementing Resource Monitor, Barco Well Service saw impressive improvements:

• Eliminated Verification Trips: "On my HOAs using the system, I don't have to send anybody. I can just look at the app." This saves significant time and resources.
• Decreased Travel Time: Their technicians were spending a third of each day driving between sites, much of which is now unnecessary.
• Prevented Equipment Failures: "We have a church with a Resource Monitor on their pump system. We got a low flow alert and found a small leak. Instead of the pump failing over the next month and costing $15,000 to replace, they fixed the leak quickly."
• Resolved Warranty Issues: "I've handled four cases in the last six months where we prevented warranty repair problems. It's saved me thousands of dollars as a contractor."
• Enhanced Customer Service: The system enables proactive support: "Being able to call and say, 'Hey, your well didn't run. I got the alert. Do you need us to check it?' I've received many thank-yous for that."
• Improved Customer Retention: "The system gives us another level of customer retention."

Additional Benefits

The implementation revealed several unexpected advantages:

• Increased Customer Trust: "It allows me to be proactive rather than just reactive with service."
• Data-Driven Discussions: "Having actual data lets me show customers exactly what's happening in their system. This wasn't possible before since everything happens underground."
• Improved Safety: Technicians no longer need to access hazardous meter locations. "That location with the honeybees still has them, but I don't need to send anyone there anymore."

Customer Feedback

Dylan shared insights about his customers' experiences:

"Customers are often surprised by all the information they can access. It's an adjustment to suddenly have this level of detail."

Commercial customers particularly value the summary alerts, while residential customers appreciate notifications when their wells don't operate as expected. "Most residential sprinkler systems run overnight. They receive a notice saying, 'Your well didn't run yesterday.' Then they call us before their landscaping dies, which is much better than calling after everything is already dead."

Conclusion

Resource Monitor has transformed Barco Well Service from reactive to proactive water management. By eliminating unnecessary service calls, preventing equipment failures, and providing unprecedented insight into water systems, they've improved customer service while increasing profitability.

As Dylan puts it, "Once you have the data and can see equipment performance, it changes how you manage systems and take care of customers."

Call to Action

Are you a well contractor spending too much time on nuisance calls or manual meter readings?

See how Resource Monitor can transform your business with real-time water monitoring. Our simple installation process takes less than an hour, and both you and your customers will gain valuable insights that prevent costly repairs and improve service.

Book a Demo Today to learn how you can eliminate unnecessary service calls and add a new revenue stream to your business.