At Rival IT, we’re proud to help Charlotte-area small businesses streamline operations through practical AI consulting and custom automation solutions. One of our recent projects involved a local aerospace company that was facing significant inefficiencies in its warehouse operations. We were able to deliver a solution that saved them time, money, and a great deal of frustration.
The Problem: Inefficient Image Handling in the Warehouse
In the client’s shipping and receiving department, employees needed to take photos of parts and products during intake. However, with no centralized system in place, workers were using their smartphones to snap pictures, emailing them to themselves, walking back to their desks, and manually uploading the images into the company’s internal database.
This approach created multiple problems:
- Employees were reluctant to mix work photos with personal photo libraries.
- Email inboxes quickly became overwhelmed with image attachments, creating headaches for IT management.
- There was no centralized repository for other team members to access the images when needed.
- The risk of data loss and lack of a clear chain of custody raised compliance concerns, especially in the aerospace industry.
The Solution: Simple Devices + Smart Automation
Rival IT stepped in to deliver a lightweight but powerful solution using tools the client already had in place: their Microsoft environment.
Here’s how we transformed their workflow:
- We assisted the client in purchasing and setting up a dedicated iPad for use in the warehouse.
- Photos taken on the iPad are automatically uploaded to a Microsoft OneDrive account connected to their existing Microsoft 365 (M365) stack.
- Using custom AI-powered automation scripts, we built a workflow that:
- Detects new photos in the OneDrive directory every 20 seconds
- Automatically moves them to a centralized SharePoint repository for warehouse image storage
- Cleans up storage by deleting the images from OneDrive and the iPad after successful transfer
The Results: Cleaner Workflow, Happier Staff, and Greater Control
The benefits were immediate:
- Warehouse staff no longer need to use their phones for work photos
- Email inboxes remain uncluttered, reducing IT issues
- All employees can access a centralized, searchable image archive in SharePoint
- Improved data retention and traceability for aerospace-grade compliance and audits
This automation and AI consulting project not only enhanced operational efficiency but also reduced IT infrastructure costs and security risks.
Need Help with Automation or AI Consulting in Charlotte?
At Rival IT, we specialize in AI-powered automation for small businesses, helping companies in Charlotte and beyond optimize operations, reduce risk, and future-proof their IT environments.
If you’re struggling with repetitive workflows, inefficient systems, or outdated tech, let’s talk.
📍 Proudly serving small businesses in Charlotte, NC, and around the US.
Contact us today to discover how automation can benefit your business.