When you’re managing high-voltage substation projects across job sites and trying to keep specialized crews and office staff aligned, organization isn’t just helpful — it’s everything. For Switch Power Distribution, a mix of OneDrive folders, WhatsApp groups, and handwritten notes was holding them back from growing with confidence.
We sat down with Sarah Hodnett, who leads operations at Switch Power Distribution, a UK-based HV electrical engineering company, to learn how her team uses CompanyCam to stay organized, eliminate miscommunication, and run their business without constant stress. Sarah works alongside co-founders Commercial Director Stephen Wilson and Technical Director Thomas Chambers to manage the company’s operations and growth.
The reality before CompanyCam
Before implementing CompanyCam, Switch Power Distribution’s documentation process was scattered across multiple platforms, making it difficult for crews to access information and for management to track job progress. The lack of a centralized system created constant friction, wasted time, and frequent miscommunication between the field and office.
How did you handle job documentation before CompanyCam?
“We used Microsoft and OneDrive. We still do use them, but the team has a lot less need to use those systems for each job. Before, everyone had to go into OneDrive and locate the different job folders and that’s where you accessed all the job specific information, all the drawings. We have a couple of older team members, so it was a difficult task for them to locate where the information was. This app is easier for them.”
Before CompanyCam, information lived everywhere and nowhere. Photos sat in OneDrive folders or on individual camera rolls, with no easy access for the office staff. Updates traveled through WhatsApp threads that got buried. Job progress lived in someone’s head or handwritten notes. When the office needed an update or a crew needed clarification, it meant constant phone calls and texts between management and the field.
“We made WhatsApp groups for each job, and we shared photos in that way. Then anything that we thought was pertinent, we would then save that to the job folder on OneDrive.”
Miscommunication between the field and office was inevitable when working across multiple platforms. Questions about job status, completed work, or what needed to happen next got lost in translation costing the team hours every week.
What made you start looking for a better solution?
“We were looking for something that could help. We didn’t know exactly what we wanted…but we just needed something that could have all the information in one place that was easily accessible for the whole team.”
The pressure to keep everything organized was building. Sarah needed a central place where anyone could access job information instantly — something simple enough for everyone to use, but powerful enough to actually solve their problems.
“[There was] pressure on us to make sure that we provided enough information for each project so our team could make progress. I was emailing every Friday or even every Sunday before the week ahead summarizing what projects everyone was on, what the scope was, providing relevant drawings and RAMS for the works, and sharing details about the accommodation that had been book for them. It was like a big brain dump. Now we can just have all of that information accessible at any point at any time rather than having to try and find a specific email or WhatsApp. I think it was just getting to a point where we were doing too many jobs at once and we needed one area… to put everything that the team could access day to day.”
From scattered systems to complete visibility
CompanyCam’s intuitive design meant the team could adopt it quickly without extensive training or disruption to their workflow. More importantly, it gave Switch Power Distribution something they’d never had before: complete visibility into every project from anywhere, at any time.
What were your first impressions when you started using CompanyCam?
“Really good. It’s very intuitive. I like that it’s easy to use across both the [desktop and app] versions. I use the desktop version mostly, and the team uses the app version. As we have staff who are not the most tech savvy, it was nice they could stick to a platform they were used to, staying with an app in either IOS or Android, which saved a lot of training.”
The transition wasn’t disruptive. CompanyCam fit into the team’s workflow without requiring them to change how they worked. Crews could document substation installations in the field, and the office could see everything in real time — no manual uploads, no digging through folders, no chasing people down for updates.
“The management team started using CompanyCam quickly. For the workforce, it was a bit slower just because it’s something new, something we had to explain how to use, but they’ve come on board pretty quickly to be honest. And everyone does use it now.”
How has CompanyCam changed the way you and your team work day to day?
“I think it’s made us more efficient and everyone is accountable for tasks.”
The shift from scattered to streamlined happened quickly. With all project information living in one place, Switch Power Distribution’s management team gained complete visibility into every job. When a question comes up about transformer installation progress or commissioning test results, they pull up the project in CompanyCam and see exactly what’s happening, no back and forth required.
Any previous communication issues have completely disappeared.
“Miscommunication has changed completely. There isn’t any.”
The historical photo documentation has proven invaluable too. When questions come up months later (and they do), the timestamped photos provide immediate answers without guesswork. “It’s very helpful because we can just go back and it’s timestamped and dated, it’s incredibly helpful. We always used to take those photos anyway, but they’d be in someone’s phone or in a WhatsApp group. We’d have to go and search for them.”
Saving hours every single week
Better organization translated directly into time savings. Tasks that used to require phone calls, site visits, or endless back-and-forth now happen instantly. For Switch Power Distribution, this means several hours saved each week and significantly fewer unnecessary trips to job sites — time that can be reinvested into growing the business.
How much time is CompanyCam saving your team?
“I’d say a few hours, let’s say three or four a week.”
Those hours add up. Three to four hours saved per week means more capacity for taking on new projects, handling administrative tasks, or simply reducing the stress of trying to do everything at once.
Beyond the direct time savings, the reduction in site visits has been significant. The company has eliminated approximately 10 trips to job sites because they can see everything they need remotely. Less time on the road means lower fuel costs and more productive hours spent on high-value work instead of driving back and forth to check on progress.
Can you give a real example of when CompanyCam saved you time?
“We have to do reports at the end of a lot of the jobs, summarizing results, providing comments and detailing any recommendations for the sites. Prior to CompanyCam it was difficult to get the information together quickly. So, having the checklists and the timestamped photos, we can put a report together really quickly, providing our customers with the information they need as soon as possible, and avoiding spending ages sourcing all the information verbally from the team and photos from everywhere.”
For Sarah, this efficiency compounds. Faster answers mean faster decisions. Faster decisions mean jobs move forward without delays. And jobs that move forward smoothly mean happier customers and more capacity to take on new work.
When asked how much faster the office gets updates now, Sarah’s answer was simple: “Much quicker.”
Checklists keep quality high and mistakes down
Beyond saving time, CompanyCam has become Switch Power Distribution’s quality control system. For a company that prides itself on workmanship and technical expertise, checklists ensure nothing gets missed, crews arrive prepared, and work gets done right the first time. The combination of structured task lists and voice-annotated photos has virtually eliminated the chance of mistakes or items being missed that could require a revisit at their own expense.
What’s your favorite feature in CompanyCam?
“For me, the checklists because I can create one and align it with our scope of works and RAMS, and it gives clear instructions to the team, and points where they need to take photos to provide evidence of the work. I think the team’s favourite feature is the fact that they can take photos and narrate and speak into it and say what they’re looking at, what the issue is, what they need to know rather than having to message us. And it’s just there and it’s saved to refer back to when we need it.”
The voice notes feature has been particularly valuable for documenting complex HV installations and commissioning works. Instead of trying to type detailed explanations on a phone screen about transformer configurations or commissioning test results, crews can simply speak into their device and attach context to photos instantly. This captures nuances that might otherwise get lost — details about site conditions, equipment specifications, or potential issues that need attention.
How do checklists help with quality control?
“The checklists allow us to provide clear instructions to the team, and they ensure that we know the scope of work we have priced has been completed.”
For a business where mistakes could mean costly rework, callbacks, and damaged reputation, this improvement in quality control has a direct impact on the bottom line. Crews show up knowing exactly what needs to happen. They work through jobs methodically, checking off tasks as they go. And when they’re done, there’s a complete record of what was completed.
The clarity that comes from having everything documented reducing the risk of mistakes across the board. When crews can reference photos, checklists, and voice notes before and during a job, they’re better equipped to get it right the first time.
The confidence to grow and step away
CompanyCam didn’t just make daily operations smoother — it fundamentally changed what Switch Power Distribution felt capable of doing. With complete visibility and accountability built into every project, they are confident taking on more work. But more importantly, the management team can finally step away from the business without everything falling apart. That peace of mind has been transformational for the team.
Has CompanyCam helped you take on more work and manage multiple jobs at once?
Switch Power Distribution is now confidently handling more jobs than ever before. This confidence comes from knowing that even when one of the management team isn’t physically present, work is still being progressed and getting documented, crews are staying accountable, and the office has visibility into progress.
“Yes, we are definitely able to take on more projects.”
Management doesn’t need to be everywhere at once because CompanyCam extends their reach across every active project.
But the most significant impact isn’t about taking on more work—it’s about being able to step away.
What’s the biggest difference you’ve seen in your business since using CompanyCam?
“From a business point of view, I think we are more organized, more efficient, and the stress levels of myself and the other directors has decreased since using CompanyCam. Obviously running a business is always going to have its stresses, but we no longer need to worry about the same things we used to, such as briefing the team about any project or scope changes that happen last minute (which they do!).”
For business owners in the trades or engineering, this is often the hardest thing to achieve. The business depends on you. Jobs need your oversight. Crews need your input. Customers need your attention. Walking away, left a sense of dread that the inevitable issues on a project would not be able to be dealt with without management being present on site. Now, a quick check on CompanyCam gives an overview of what’s going on at each project, no more needing to call each team to check progress, and getting caught up in the works while trying to have some down time.
“If updates or changes happen, we can update CompanyCam at any time. This means the information is ready and waiting for the team when they are next on site. It is crucial everyone has the information of exactly what needs doing on every project, meaning the correct materials and equipment can be sourced and taken to each site, reducing the worry that something will be missed. From a personal point of view, going on holiday. The fact that we can step away knowing that the progress on each job will continue is massive for us, it means we can finally take a break, which we did not feel like we could do before.”
With everything documented, accessible, and organized, Switch Power Distribution’s teams can now operate independently. Management can check in remotely if needed, but they don’t have to often. The systems are in place. The accountability is built in. The business continues to run without their constant presence.
CompanyCam solved real problems that were holding the business back. It didn’t add complexity; it removed it. And the result is a business that runs smoother, grows with confidence, and gives the management team the freedom to actually enjoy what they’ve built while maintaining the reputation for quality and reliability that Switch Power Distribution is known for.
About Switch Power Distribution
Switch Power Distribution is a Yorkshire-based HV electrical engineering company specializing in the installation and commissioning of substations up to 400kV, including all associated HV assets such as transformers and switchgear. Founded in 2020 by Stephen Wilson and Tom Chambers — who bring 18 and 12 years of industry experience, respectively — the company has built a reputation for technical excellence and reliability. They handle everything from transformer installation and switchgear commissioning to earthing systems, outdoor compounds, and maintenance works. With their extensive experience in Factory Acceptance Testing and site commissioning, Switch Power Distribution has become a trusted partner for projects requiring specialized HV expertise.
Stop chasing updates and wondering what’s happening on site.
Try CompanyCam today.
