For many gas and electric utilities, the transition from a completed design to actual field construction is still trapped in a world of clipboards, paper forms, and manual data entry. This disconnect creates blind spots, delays project closeouts, and introduces compliance risks. Updating systems of record with accurate asset and other construction data can take months and, in some cases, years. That also compromises the heavy investment electric utilities have put into operational systems like ADMS, which require accurate, timely data to run effectively. Digital Construction Management (DCM) bridges this gap, establishing a single, real-time digital platform that connects field crews with the back office to automatically capture high-accuracy asset data, scan barcodes, and track progress as it happens.

In this session, we will break down the foundational value proposition of DCM—why it is becoming an industry standard and how it fundamentally transforms utility infrastructure delivery.

To ground these concepts, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) will share its digital transformation journey. MDU initially adopted DCM to modernize its gas construction workflows, replacing paper with real-time data to streamline asset documentation and close projects faster. Recognizing that field construction challenges are universal, MDU seamlessly expanded the exact same digital platform to its electric business. Presenters will provide a "101-style" introduction to DCM capabilities, share lessons learned during implementation, and demonstrate how a single platform can be tailored for a single commodity or scaled to unify both gas and electric operations.

As experienced workers retire and workforce expectations evolve, utilities face new challenges in developing the next generation of field leaders. 

This session, explores strategies for capturing institutional knowledge, accelerating workforce development, and equipping employees with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly complex operating environment. 

Learn how organizations like WEC are leveraging technology, training, and operational insights to build a safer, more capable, and future-ready workforce.

Join Exelon to explore its evolution toward an Energy-Based Safety approach and the lessons learned along the way.

This session will examine how the organization shifted the safety conversation from human performance to exposure reduction, with a focus on identifying critical controls and addressing the conditions that create serious injury and fatality (SIF) risk.

Attendees will gain insight into the strategies, cultural changes, and future opportunities shaping the next generation of safety performance.

Join fellow Customer Advisory Board (CAB) members for an interactive innovation session focused on the future of utility safety and operations. Through collaborative discussions, hands-on ideation, and solution prototyping, participants will explore emerging challenges, validate new concepts, and help shape the next generation of industry solutions.

This exclusive forum provides a unique opportunity to influence product direction, share strategic priorities, and collaborate with peers on the operational and safety challenges facing utilities today and tomorrow.

We'll wrap Day 1 with a recap of the day's sessions, and a preview of what to expect on Day 2.

Learn how one utility is using task-specific microlearning within the Job Safety Briefing (JSB) process to deliver timely, relevant safety guidance to field crews.

This session will explore how targeted learning moments help workers identify hazards, reinforce critical safety practices, and make informed decisions in the field—providing the right knowledge at the right time to enhance situational awareness and support safer operations.

Join members of the Worker Safety product and leadership team as they provide an update on new features as well as the product roadmap for 2027 and beyond. 

Join National Grid to learn how technology is enabling front-line supervisors to play a more active role in the safety process.

This session will showcase how digital tools support targeted coaching, real-time guidance, and enhanced oversight before, during, and after work execution—helping strengthen safety culture, improve accountability, and reduce operational risk.

Join us as we welcome everyone to the Worker Safety Breakouts at Inspire 2026!

Drawing on insights from more than 500,000 completed safety workflows and the broader Workforce Safety community, this session explores emerging trends, benchmarking data, and best practices from across the utility industry.

Learn how leading organizations are using operational and safety data to improve performance, strengthen safety culture, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Join this session to hear from peers as they share key lessons learned from scaling a safety program across multiple business units and operational environments.

Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and successes of driving enterprise-wide adoption, establishing consistent processes, and building a foundation for standardization.

The discussion will also explore the evolution from standardized safety practices to operational intelligence, where data-driven insights help organizations proactively identify risks, improve performance, and support continuous improvement.

Join us as we welcome everyone to the Damage Prevention Breakouts at Inspire 2026!