"In an industry where every minute counts, a data-driven strategy is invaluable.”
Applus+ Pacific, a worldwide leader in the testing, inspection and certification of infrastructure, use Trendspek to deliver real-time visuals and reports to their clients for informed maintenance decisions, minimised downtimes, and proactive risk mitigation.
Project overview
With a vision to transform an industry that has long relied on abseiling and EWPs to maintain industrial assets, Applus+ first adopted Trendspek’s 3D software to drive safer, more effective ways to capture asset condition.
Today, they're a leader of innovation in their field — delivering clients data-driven reports to support them in making more informed decisions that reduce risks, and also achieve better outcomes across costs, speed of delivery and scalability.
At the helm of this digital transformation is Applus+ Digital Services Business Unit Manager Christopher Louw, who spoke to Trendspek about their technology vision.
“I was brought on because of the organic growth of the business in oil and gas, alongside sectors of infrastructure, ports, new construction, and renewable energy, and with that growth comes the need to look after it for continued expansion," he says.
"There's a growing demand for Trendspek’s type of services across multiple sectors for risk-based inspections, to identify certain aspects of technicality/risk and to qualify decisions with accurate evidence."
"There's a growing demand for Trendspek’s type of services across multiple sectors for risk-based inspections, to identify certain aspects of technicality/risk and to qualify decisions with accurate evidence."
Minimised need for physical presence in hazardous areas by using drones and remote 3D modelling.
Asset condition can be compared across timeframes (e.g seasonal or daily changes) for greater clarity.
Reduced need for manual inspections results in lower labour costs and better resource allocation.
Verifiable digital records ensure consistent results across inspections, eliminating variability in analysis or the need for repeat site visits.
Traditional 2D PDFs are replaced by high-fidelity, interactive 3D models.
Clients can be given an interactive virtual 'walkthrough' of their asset, with areas of interest and/or risk clearly highlighted.
Outcomes
With the ability to clearly visualise assets, this has enabled Applus+ to “open the door” to provide advanced metrics and statistics to their clients.
"The key is the ability to visualise assets. Now, not only can clients see their equipment in a detailed, interactive way, but it also opens the door to metrics and statistics," he says.
"Traditionally, inspections have relied on the human eye and writing skills, but with Trendspek, there’s an opportunity for second and third-party interpretations. We can overlay historical data, mark high-risk areas, and focus inspections where they’re really needed, improving efficiency and accuracy.”
With scalable, digital capture in their service offering, this has also enhanced inspection methods for Applus+ team of specialist engineers – allowing them to walk through assets on-screen and communicate key insights to clients to mitigate potential risks.
“In the testing, inspection, and compliance world, we've historically relied on inspectors’ eyes and reporting skills. Trendspek changes that by offering visualisations that allow clients to see the assets themselves and relate to the information – they can now walk through their assets visually and interact with historical data and risk assessments, which saves time and enhances communication with our clients.
This also helps us reduce the frequency of unnecessary inspections and focus on the areas that need attention," says Louw.
Despite the advantages, he agrees that the industry still has a wider expectation of physical attendance – with some hesitant to adopt full digital solutions. How does Applus+ address this concern?
“It's true—there’s a bit of hesitation in the industry because of the specialised workforce. Some prefer traditional methods, like rope access and manual inspections. But at Applus+, we’ve fully embraced the advantages of technology. It's not a slow burn—it’s an exponential growth," says Louw.
"While we still need human inspectors for critical areas, technology allows us to make these tasks much more pointed. One person can now do the work of 10 people using technology to cover 90% of inspections, then focusing manpower on the remaining 10% for more detailed analysis."
"The clients can now walk through their assets visually and interact with historical data and risk assessments, which saves time and enhances communication with our clients. "
"One person can now do the work of 10 people using technology to cover 90% of inspections, then focusing manpower on the remaining 10% for more detailed analysis."
Outcomes
“In renewable energy, for example, many assets are difficult or unsafe to access. Technology allows us to reduce the need for physical inspections in dangerous environments. It also supports engineers by making their jobs more efficient and safer, especially in areas like offshore platforms, where only a limited number of personnel can be present at any given time," Louw explains.
On a broader spectrum, Louw sees two key benefits for using technology like Trendspek.
"First, technology allows us to take fewer people to high-risk areas. Sometimes, inspectors are just the eyes for a highly skilled engineer who can do the analysis remotely, saving costs and enhancing safety. For instance, older or highly specialised workers may not be able to get certified for dangerous environments, but their expertise can still be utilised remotely."
"Second, the safety factor is crucial. Inspectors no longer need to climb to excessive heights or spend unnecessary time in hazardous areas. Often, 90% of the time is spent confirming everything is okay, so using technology like drones allows us to inspect the critical points directly. This reduces time on scaffolding, ropes, or in confined spaces, making the whole process more efficient and safer".
In his view, "the industry is shifting and technology is becoming indispensable."
"Nowadays it’s all about delivering information quickly and efficiently – whether it's on your phone, laptop, or office computer, you want to be able to access real-time data, trends, and forecasts with ease. If companies aren't leveraging technology now, they will be left behind.”
Outcomes
The technological innovations that Louw oversees have already had a profound impact on maintenance practices, especially in the oil and gas sector. In these industries, downtime isn't just inconvenient—it can lead to significant financial losses and safety risks.
The ability to gather data before downtime occurs, and predict the amount of resources of personnel required ahead of time, has transformed how they execute their maintenance operations.
“Instead of waiting for something to go wrong, we can focus on the right areas when downtime happens. This proactive approach not only saves time and money but also increases operational efficiency. In an industry where every minute counts, this data-driven strategy is invaluable.”
As more industries move toward cloud-based reporting, Applus+ has adapted by offering flexible solutions such as risk-based inspections.
"Technology now allows us to back up decisions with visual evidence and data, enabling more accurate and strategic maintenance. Some clients want us to enter data directly into their portals, while others prefer PDF reports. However, more advanced clients are opting for cloud-based environments, such as Trendspek’s hosted platform, where they can access real-time data.”
With the shift towards cloud-based reporting, cybersecurity remains a paramount priority at Applus+ Pacific. Trendspek's triple ISO and SOC 2 Type 1 & 2 certification and enterprise-grade protection has emerged as a key benefit.
"When you work with military or government contracts, demonstrating a strong information security framework is non-negotiable, so GDPR and ISO 27001 are essential standards we adhere to” says Louw.
“We make sure that our data is securely hosted. Information security will continue to be a key factor in how we handle data moving forward.”
“The safety factor is crucial. Inspectors no longer need to climb to excessive heights or spend unnecessary time in hazardous areas. Using technology like drones allows us to inspect the critical points directly, and this reduces time on scaffolding, ropes, or in confined spaces, making the whole process more efficient and safer.”
What comes next
Through Trendspek, Applus+ has also been able to integrate AI into their operations to automatically recognise defects across large infrastructure.
According to Louw, the potential of AI makes the process “incredibly reliable”.
“AI delivers repeatable, reliable results,” Louw explains. “And when combined with Trendspek’s platform, we can train the system to distinguish between issues like stress cracks and fabrication defects, enabling quicker, more accurate inspections.”
“By utilising AI, we can retrospectively review inspections and identify potential issues before they become critical. It’s about moving from reactive to proactive maintenance.
“Take a wall inspection, for instance. You might be looking for cracks, dampness, or mould. With machine learning, you can train AI to recognise these defects instantly. Once it learns the patterns, the AI can deliver an analysis within seconds.
The more we teach AI, the more precise it becomes. Over time, it can differentiate between different types of cracks, like a stress crack versus a fabrication defect. As we continue using this across industries like oil, gas, and mining, we’re building a massive data source that allows for quicker, more accurate inspections with reliable outcomes.”
Repeatability: AI removes human variability. It doesn’t have a "Friday versus Monday" issue, meaning it provides consistent results.
Learning and Retention: With AI, knowledge isn't lost when people retire or leave. Every piece of data learned by AI stays, unlike with human workers where skills and experience can disappear when someone moves on.
Time-Saving: AI speeds up data interpretation. While collecting data might still take time, AI can interpret and generate reports almost instantly, compared to traditional methods where the human factor can slow things down.
Standardise Capture Specifications: Define consistent standards for data quality and capture processes across assets.
Louw is excited to continue to change the status quo using emerging technology, summarising:
“What excites me is being at the spearhead of technology, especially in industries like oil and gas, mining, and renewables. These sectors are pushing boundaries, and we’re in a position to utilise cutting-edge technology to provide reliable services with real consequences."
"The more we teach AI, the more precise it becomes. Over time, it can differentiate between different types of cracks, like a stress crack versus a fabrication defect - we’re building a massive data source that allows for quicker, more accurate inspections with reliable outcomes.”
Further reading
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