CES Utility Solutions recovers a lost $70k drone kit thanks to Shelf’s QR “Found” workflow

At a glance

• Customer: CES Utility Solutions (cooperes.com)  
• Industry: Utility infrastructure inspection (UAS/drone), data capture & analytics  
• Primary use cases: Field equipment tracking, QR labeling, lost-item recovery  
• Highlight: A complete drone kit (~$70k) was recovered after one month when a passerby scanned Shelf’s QR label and submitted a “found” report.

The challenge

CES Utility Solutions works in extreme field environments: remote transmission lines, rough terrain, substations, wildfire-risk areas. Their team transports high-value drone kits and specialized inspection equipment that must stay accounted for.

One such kit — a drone case with about $70,000 of equipment inside — fell off a truck during field work. The case went missing for nearly a month.

Operational risk:

• $70k direct replacement cost  
• Project delays for utility clients  
• Loss of calibrated gear that’s difficult to re-provision  
• Safety & compliance impacts

The solution

CES labels all critical gear using Shelf QR asset labels combined with the platform’s Found-via-Scan workflow:

1. A durable QR label ties each case to its Shelf asset profile  
2. Anyone scanning the label sees a lightweight “Found an Item?” web form  
3. Shelf instantly notifies CES with the finder’s message

The workflow requires no app and works from any phone camera, making it ideal for equipment that travels far outside controlled environments.

What happened

“Shelf saved our asses recently. We had a drone case fall out of the back of a truck with about $70k worth of critical equipment inside… it was lost for about a month. Then one day I got an email from Shelf letting me know someone had scanned the QR code and reported it found. We linked up with them and got it back.”

— Levi Seese, Asset Manager, CES Utility Solutions

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The finder scanned the label, submitted the “found” form, and CES immediately received an alert. Within hours, the team recovered the full kit.

Impact

• $70,000 avoided loss (direct replacement cost)  
• Zero friction for the finder — scan → submit → done  
• Operational continuity preserved — no need to reschedule crews  
• Long-term ROI: One recovery covers years of Shelf usage

ROI snapshot: One QR scan paid for the entire asset tracking program.

Why this works for utility field teams

Field equipment tracking demands:

• Durable labels that survive transport and weather  
• Fast scanning with any device  
• Real-time alerts when equipment is found  
• Simple onboarding for contractors & partner teams

Shelf’s QR labels and public “found item” workflows match exactly how utility and drone operators work in the real world.

See related features:  

• QR Asset Labels  
• Field Equipment Tracking  
• Custody & Chain of Custody

Implementation notes

• CES began with priority assets, labeling drone kits, cases, and field tools  
• The team adopted “unclaimed” QR codes for fast intake of new equipment  
• Shelf shipped improvements based on CES feedback (camera selection, image upload UX)

About CES Utility Solutions

CES Utility Solutions provides UAS/drone inspections and data services for power utilities across the United States. Their work supports wildfire mitigation, infrastructure hardening, and system reliability. They manage everything from field capture to final data delivery, with safety and efficiency as core operating values.

Tagline: Helping Utilities Manage Risk and Improve Asset Performance.

Key Shelf features used

• QR Asset Labels  
• Found-via-Scan workflow  
• Asset Profiles  
• In-browser QR Scanner  
• Bulk QR Export

Takeaways for similar field teams

If your gear is constantly on the move:

1. Label everything with Shelf QR codes  
2. Enable Found-via-Scan for public recovery  
3. Keep spare codes ready for new equipment

One recovery can pay for years of tracking — instantly.

Want this level of protection for your field gear?

Email Carlos directly: carlos@shelf.nu

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