Airy's, Inc:
How Better Software Took Airy's from 40 to 80 in the Field

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Airy's, Inc. - a veteran-owned underground utility contractor - used IVO Systems to grow their operations, simplify scheduling, and cut payroll processing time, all without adding office staff.
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Airy’s, Inc. - Quick Facts

• Location: Joliet, IL
• Industry: Underground Utility Construction
• Founded: 1965
• Ownership: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business
• Field Employees: 50-100
• IVO Modules Used: ScheduleVO, TimeVO, UtilityLocateVO, MaintainVO

The Challenges of Managing Operations with Notebooks and Spreadsheets

Before IVO Systems, Airy’s managed critical daily operations with notebooks, spreadsheets, and mass text messages. Schedules were built manually, and crews were contacted one by one to let them know where they were heading. On a busy day, that could mean texting or calling up to 30 people individually.

"We would build the schedule out with a notebook ... and then just make phone calls."

-Nick Hedges, Superintendent, Water/Sewer Division

Utility locate tracking (JULIE) was also managed through spreadsheets. With thousands of tickets submitted each year, all with unique dates and details, it was easy to lose track. In some cases, crews discovered that a ticket had expired only after work had already started.

Equipment maintenance at Airy's was reactive, not planned. Tasks like tracking hours and mileage for service intervals were constantly pushed to the back burner. There was no system in place to stay ahead of breakdowns.

Timekeeping was another major pain point. The solution they were using at the time forced crews to create a different timesheet for each employee, and for each piece of equipment that was used. Not to mention the hours spent every week manually processing messy hours and info from the field.

Combined with scheduling inefficiency, equipment downtime, and the chaos of tracking countless JULIE/811 tickets, it all added up to a daily grind that wasn’t sustainable as the company grew. Something needed to change.

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Why Airy’s Chose IVO to Streamline Scheduling and Improve Field Operations

Airy’s discovered IVO Systems at CONEXPO in 2023 and immediately recognized that the platform offered exactly what they had been trying to build internally. The team started with ScheduleVO and UtilityLocateVO to simplify crew planning and reduce risk in the field.

"Literally everything that I was trying to write internally and code, [IVO Systems] already had it. It was a no-brainer."

-Ryan Hill, Owner/President

With ScheduleVO, foremen and superintendents could plan jobs in advance and send out interactive schedules by text. Instead of calling everyone at night or first thing in the morning, they could now send the full schedule to all crew members by 6 PM the day before. Even on rain days or short-notice changes, it was easy to move people around and keep everyone informed.

The rollout was fast. Within days, Airy’s had crew members receiving schedules on their phones, adjusting plans on the fly, and starting each day with clarity. The ability to plan ahead also helped management spot coverage gaps, coordinate equipment more effectively, and reduce evening phone calls.

Airy’s purchased TimeVO shortly after, replacing their previous timekeeping system with a much simpler process. Foremen could log hours, equipment, and materials for the whole crew at once. There was no need to duplicate entries for every person and piece of equipment. Everything could be reviewed and submitted in one shot, and the timecards were automatically populated by employee information from ScheduleVO.

MaintainVO added visibility into equipment service intervals, making it easier to stay ahead of breakdowns. Managers could see what needed work, assign tasks to mechanics, and notify them close the loop, all without leaving the platform.

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The Results: Enabling Growth Without Sacrificing Control

Since adopting IVO Systems, Airy’s has more than doubled its field workforce, growing from 40 to 85 employees WITHOUT increasing office staff. What used to feel chaotic is now structured, efficient, and much easier to manage.

"We were at max mental capacity handling 40 people and various jobs. Now, we've taken on up to 85, and it's no sweat."

-Ryan Hill, Owner/President

With ScheduleVO, crews know where they’re going and what they’re doing before they leave for the job each day. Schedules are sent out on time, and last-minute changes can be pushed out instantly. That consistency has improved quality of life for both field and office teams.

Payroll processing, which used to take half a day, can now be reviewed and finalized in minutes. TimeVO's import process and clean interface make it easy to keep the accounting system updated without adding back-office hours.

"Payroll for 72 people used to take us about a half a day ... I think this morning took me maybe 10-15 minutes to QC everything."

-Ryan Hill, Owner/President

Using MaintainVO, the team can easily track service intervals and schedule work before breakdowns happen - reducing downtime, avoiding emergency repairs, and keeping costs under control.

Utility locate tracking is also more organized, and more accessible for anyone that needs locate information. Instead of manually checking ticket statuses or calling the office, crews can view valid locates (sorted by project/jobsite) directly from their phones or tablets. The time savings adds up, and the risk of working with expired tickets has gone down significantly.

With more people in the field and more moving parts to manage, Airy’s needed tools that could handle the complexity of their operations. IVO Systems delivered a simpler way to keep everything aligned - and that’s made all the difference in how they plan, communicate, and get work done.

"It's doing what it's supposed to do, the way it's supposed to. IVO's been fantastic for us."

-Ryan Hill, Owner/President

Interested in learning how we can help you achieve similar results at your company? Request a demo of IVO Systems using the button below.

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