Faced with scattered data, manual processes, and limited visibility across its maintenance operations, Naturgy needed a smarter way to manage its power distribution network. Unatec stepped in to deliver a digital platform that replaced notebooks and spreadsheets with a real-time, cloud-based system.
When Naturgy Panama set out to improve the way it managed its electrical distribution network, the company faced a daunting challenge: overseeing a vast system of substations, transformers, and overhead lines spread across the country – much of it dense jungle terrain. Inspections were carried out manually, with technicians jotting down notes in notebooks that were later stored physically in regional branches. This paper-based approach made it extremely difficult to centralize information, prioritize issues, or plan repairs efficiently.
Naturgy turned to Unatec, a long-time partner from its operations in Spain, to help modernize its processes. What started as a quick solution has grown into a fully cloud-based, modular tool that now powers most of Naturgy Panama's maintenance operations, from field inspections to repairs and planning. It has become an essential part of the company's infrastructure, enabling real-time coordination, improved regulatory reporting, and long-term strategic planning.
A Complete Digital Overhaul
The first challenge Unatec tackled was replacing the manual inspection process. Inspectors needed a mobile tool that would let them report issues in the field in a standardized, structured way. The result was a mobile app – designed as a progressive web application (PWA) – that allows subcontracted technicians to carry out inspections, log visual assessments and test results, and immediately sync them to the system (or store them locally when offline).
"This step alone was a game changer," says Javier Gómez García-Tenorio, project manager and team lead at Unatec. "It meant better quality data, faster reporting, and less room for error."
After inspections, the next critical step was addressing the problems they uncovered. This required a second module – a repair order system that enables the planning department to issue tasks to the maintenance department and contractors.
The repair orders are sent directly to technicians' phones via the mobile app, enabling real-time updates and eliminating delays caused by paperwork or spreadsheets. "Once an issue is resolved, the tool automatically updates the system, ensuring that data remains current and actionable," García-Tenorio says.
For the next step, Unatec focused on planning. The third module helps Naturgy prioritize maintenance based on issue severity, asset importance, and location. Whether it's a damaged transformer or vegetation encroaching on high-voltage lines, planners can now assign work orders based on clearly visualized data and objective criteria.
"The planning department uses the web-based dashboard to manage this process, while the maintenance department uses the mobile app in the field. This full-cycle tool ensures seamless coordination between teams," explains García-Tenorio.
A Tailored Solution for a Unique Context
Although Unatec had developed a similar tool for Naturgy in Spain, adapting it for Panama wasn't as simple as a copy-paste. "The tool might have looked similar at first glance, but the infrastructure and business needs in Panama required us to rebuild it from scratch," García-Tenorio explains. "The Spanish version used a desktop-based system with local servers. But in Panama, we opted for a cloud-based architecture that could work across a wider, more remote network."
The new web-based architecture allows for quicker development, easier updates, and faster issue resolution. Crucially, it also enables the mobile app to function offline – an essential feature in regions with poor or no connectivity.
Naturgy also uses the data generated by the tool to report its maintenance activities to Panama's regulatory authorities. This transparency helps the company avoid fines and prove its commitment to reducing service interruptions.
Built to Last
"We're most proud of the trust we've built," says García-Tenorio. "We've been able to manage a complex, long-term client relationship remotely and adapt the tool to changing needs over time. Now, the client sees this tool as a critical part of their operations."
With Unatec's cloud-based platform, Naturgy Panama has gone from handwritten notebooks and scattered Excel files to an integrated digital ecosystem. Inspections, repairs, planning, and reporting are now centralized in a single, modular tool.
This transformation has streamlined operations, improved reliability, enhanced regulatory compliance, and made collaboration between departments and subcontractors far more efficient. What began as a quick fix is now a long-term solution with a proven impact.
