Automating Digital Switch Systems for Oil & Gas
Oil & gas operators needed safer, faster digital switch systems. SEP helped automate processes and improve usability across devices.
Opportunity
In high-stakes oilfield work, every second matters. Operators struggled with outdated, inefficient tools that increased risk.
Results
- First automated switch system in industry
- Up to 10× faster system operations
- Safer, easier operator workflows
- Competitive edge through automation
Client
Trusted Partner in Oil & Gas Manufacturing
Our client is a U.S.-based, ISO 9001:2015 certified advanced contract manufacturer providing engineered components and assembly solutions for oil and gas and other industries. Since 1958, leading corporations in energy, transportation, electronics, and defense have relied on their expertise.
About The Client
Headquarters
Houston, TX
Market
Nationwide US
Employees
201–500
Industry
Oil & Gas
Opportunity
Outdated Tools, High-Stakes Work
In hydraulic fracturing, timing is critical—digital switch systems must be precise, safe, and easy to use. Our client’s legacy system, built in Microsoft Access, slowed operations and increased risk for field operators. They needed a safer, more intuitive solution that could set them apart in the market as the first to automate digital switch operations.
What We Did
Design Strategy
Desktop Development
Dual-Track Agile
Evaluative Research
Journey & Experience Mapping
Maintenance & Evolution
Personas, MVP Definition, and Scope Control
Product Ownership
Prototypes
Visual Design
Solution
Building the First Automated Switch in Oil & Gas
Together, we set out to modernize a critical oilfield tool and reimagine how operators could work safely and efficiently in high-stakes environments.
Discovery & Alignment
Our work started with product discovery to build a shared understanding of our client’s complex oilfield domain. Using a dual-track agile approach, designers and developers tested ideas, refined prototypes, and reduced risk early. Journey and experience mapping, supported by evaluative research and defined personas, kept the team focused on real operator needs.
Clearer, Safer Operator Experience
The old system forced operators to split attention between software and physical equipment. We redesigned workflows so they could monitor progress in software while receiving clear cues for equipment activation.
Visual design emphasized clarity, and built-in error recovery states helped operators respond quickly if mistakes occurred. This approach kept the system simple and intuitive, even as it became more powerful.
“I wish we’d found SEP earlier.”
I wish we’d found you earlier. The team has been great—we were so stressed before, and now I don’t have to worry. You bring fresh ideas that make us stop and say, ‘We didn’t think of that.’
Scaling for Complexity
As the product shifted from manual to automated and grew from one switch to many, the UX stayed simple and intuitive.
Together with the client, SEP made quick, informed decisions through active product ownership and a fast, collaborative process. This allowed new features to meet user needs without compromising safety.
Tech Stack
C++ 
GitHub 
JavaScript 
QML Qt Results
10× Faster, Built for Operator Safety
Our client became the first in the oil and gas industry to bring an automated digital switch system to market.
For operators, the change was dramatic. They moved from outdated, risky tools to a system that felt safe, clear, and dependable in high-stakes moments. Reported results showed up to a 10× improvement in speed, cutting run times and giving the client a strong competitive advantage.
First automated digital switch in oil & gas
Cut run times by up to 90%
Competitive edge over rivals
Safer UX for high-stakes operations