“Just Use Google Forms” Is How Projects Bleed Time
Free tools are expensive. Browser-based forms create friction, rely on perfect conditions, and force field crews back to paper. Here is the cost of 'free'.
Ingrid Pipeline
The Operations Pragmatist Stockholm
Operations Lead who bridges the gap between muddy boots on site and spreadsheets in the office. She manages the messy reality of physical work: lost tools, bad signal, and teams who hate computers. Writes here about fixing broken processes with sturdy tools—whether that's an offline app, a QR code, or a bulletproof Excel macro.
Note: “Ingrid Pipeline” is a pseudonym. We use pseudonyms so we can write honestly about real work without naming clients, employers, or teams.
If We Copy-Paste It Twice, We Automate It
We call it 'Admin.' It is actually waste. Moving data from Excel to SAP is not a job for a human. It is a structural defect in your operations.
Automation That Requires a Manual Is Not Automation
If your script breaks because a file name has a space in it, you haven't built automation. You've built a trap. Industrial automation must be robust.
The Three Lights of Trust: Saved, Queued, Synced
Uncertainty generates support tickets. Workers need to know exactly where their data is. We use a simple three-state indicator to build trust.
One Trigger, One Action: The Only Automation Rule We Need
Complex automations are fragile. If you chain 20 steps together, step 14 will break. Keep your robots small, stupid, and sturdy.
The 10-Minute Automation: Auto-Rename Files So Humans Stop Guessing
We spend hours clicking on 'Scan_004.pdf' to see what it is. This is madness. Let the machine name the file. Organization must be automatic.
Sync Failed, Friday Afternoon
Silence is dangerous. When an app doesn't tell you the sync failed, you find out on Monday morning. We need loud, visual status indicators.
Zapier Is Not Magic. It Is Plumbing.
No-code tools promise miracles. They deliver pipes. Pipes leak. Pipes clog. Treat automation like industrial plumbing, not magic tricks.
If the App Needs Training, It Will Not Be Used
Field workers do not read PDFs. If your software requires a 'Training Day,' you have built it wrong. The interface must be as obvious as a hammer.
“We Need a New System” No. We Need One Clean Spreadsheet.
Buying new software to fix bad habits is expensive. If you cannot manage a list in Excel, you cannot manage it in SAP. Fix the data first.
The Audit That Turned Into a Scavenger Hunt
When the client asks for proof, you should not need to search WhatsApp. Scattered data is a liability. Structured data is an asset.
Big Buttons. Wet Gloves. Respect The User.
Tiny dropdowns are not a design choice; they are a safety hazard. Respect the worker in the rain. Design for the glove.
The Airplane Mode Test: Ten Minutes To Truth
Do not trust the sales demo. Put the phone in Airplane Mode. If the app breaks, do not buy it. A simple test for sturdy software.
The Signal Is A Lie. Offline Is The Job.
The office has WiFi. The basement does not. Relying on the cloud for field work is negligence. Build for the disconnect.