beforeUdig

What beforeUdig does

beforeUdig is a free online service that enables anyone undertaking excavation works in New Zealand to obtain information on the location of underground cables, pipes, and other utility assets before digging. The platform operates as a two-sided communication hub connecting excavators — contractors, builders, plumbers, homeowners, farmers, and landscapers — with 186 utility and asset owners nationwide, including electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, local authorities, and transport infrastructure operators. Its core technology is an interactive web-based mapping system that processes Design, Excavation, and Resubmit E-Tickets, supported by the TicketAccess module for automated ticket screening, workflow, and response management, and an Advanced Services Hub that includes an Automated Enquiry Input API, Utility Response Management Tools, and Large Enquiry Services for high-volume users.

The business generates revenue through three distinct streams: (1) recurring membership fees paid by utility and asset owners to register assets and receive notifications of planned excavation near their infrastructure, (2) recurring TicketAccess SaaS subscriptions (cloud-hosted or on-premise) for automated enquiry response management, and (3) Certified Locator Program fees comprising a one-time NZD 1,195 + GST enrollment, NZD 375 + GST annual renewals, and re-sit fees (NZD 595 practical / NZD 150 theory). The Certified Locator Program is operated under license from DBYD Certification Ltd and endorsed by NULCA NZ, creating a credentialed professional ecosystem around the platform. beforeUdig is a service brand of PelicanCorp (NZ) Limited, with PelicanCorp headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, operating across New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Singapore, with 40 years of damage-prevention experience globally.

Name

beforeUdig

Legal name

PelicanCorp (NZ) Limited

Website

https://beforeudig.co.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

beforeUdig is a free online damage-prevention platform that connects excavators with 186 New Zealand utility and asset owners to share underground asset location information before digging. The service is operated by PelicanCorp (NZ) Limited and monetizes via utility membership fees, TicketAccess SaaS, and locator certification fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Utility/Asset Owner Membership: Revenue generated from utilities and asset owners who pay membership fees to register their assets and receive notifications of planned excavation works near their infrastructure.
2. TicketAccess Software Service: Subscription-based software as a service for utility companies providing automated enquiry response management, either hosted in PelicanCorp's secure cloud environment or installed on premise.
3. Certified Locator Program Enrollment: Fees charged to locators for certification enrollment (NZD $1,195 + GST), re-sit practical assessments (NZD $595 + GST), re-sit theory assessments (NZD $150 + GST), and annual renewals (NZD $375 + GST).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

beforeUdig operates a free online platform that enables anyone undertaking excavation works to request information about the location of underground cables, pipes, and other utility assets near a proposed dig site. It acts as a central communication hub between excavators and 186 utility and asset owner members in New Zealand, processing E-Ticket enquiries (Design, Excavation, Resubmit) and distributing asset location plans to prevent infrastructure damage. The company also sells the TicketAccess automated response management software, an Advanced Services Hub (including an Automated Enquiry Input API), and a Certified Locator Program with paid enrollment, re-sit, and annual renewal fees.

Product overview

beforeUdig is a free online service that acts as a central communication platform enabling contractors to obtain information on underground utility assets before excavation works. The core platform provides enquiry lodging, plan responses, and member coordination. Additional offerings include the Advanced Services Hub (with Automated Enquiry Input API and Utility Response Management Tools), TicketAccess for automated ticket management, and the beforeUdig Certified Locator Program for locator certification. Related PelicanCorp products include Geolantis.360 for field data collection and mapping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TicketAccess: Automated enquiry ticket screening, workflow and response management system for beforeUdig members to respond to contractors automatically.
• NZ Certified Locator Program

Products and services

• beforeUdig Core Service Free online E-Ticket enquiry platform that lets anyone undertaking excavation works request information about the location of cables, pipes, and other utility assets near a proposed dig site, acting as a central communication channel between contractors and utility/asset owner members.
• Advanced Services Hub Suite of advanced services for professional users, including Utility Response Management Tools, Automated Enquiry Input API, Large Enquiry Services, and Digital Data Service, supporting bulk and automated excavation enquiry processing.
• TicketAccess Subscription-based automated ticket screening, workflow, and 24/7 response management software for utility members to handle beforeUdig enquiries, respond based on business rules, and manage plan creation and on-site visit scheduling.
• beforeUdig Certified Locator Program Certification program for locators including self-assessment, theory assessment, and practical field assessment, recognizing competency in locating underground utilities using electronic detection equipment and asset owner plans.
• Geolantis.360 PelicanCorp SaaS field data collection platform for digitally mapping subsurface assets in real time, gathering metadata to help stakeholders visualize the location and attributes of underground utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 804,623 notifications processed through the platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Select Surveys LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2024UK geospatial consultancy specializing in utility surveys and location-based services. Acquired by LSBUD (PelicanCorp's UK business) to expand service offering to 275,000 LSBUD users while strengthening asset protection for 150 members. Provides surveying and location services to government, transport, construction, and energy sectors with a fleet of 30 vehicles.
• Bad Elf, LLCcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 May 2024Partnership integrating PelicanCorp's Geolantis.360 field data collection platform with Bad Elf's GNSS receivers. Delivers affordable, comprehensive solution to accurately locate subsurface assets with high-accuracy GPS positioning. Bad Elf products are phone, tablet, notebook and OS agnostic.
• PelicanCorpcoreOthersParent company and global leader in damage prevention solutions. beforeUdig is a PelicanCorp service operating in New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Luxembourg, and Singapore. PelicanCorp connects people, applications and devices through a unified platform to help industry professionals manage risk and build quality projects safely, on time and within budget. Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia with 40 years of experience protecting billions of dollars of global assets.
• NULCA NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's utility location industry body committed to making professional training and career development options accessible. beforeUdig's Certified Locator Programme is fully supported by NULCA NZ which is building a professional skills development framework encompassing Best Practice, H&S, Theory, Systems, Practical, and other related learnings.
• Training Providers (Staking U, Accurate Training)minorOthersFace-to-face training providers recommended to candidates for practical skills development. Staking U Asia Pacific provides utility locating and awareness training throughout USA, UK, Australia and NZ. Accurate Training & Education provides programmes across a variety of fields promoting compliance of industry practice.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Utiliocate / KorTerra: KorTerra is a US-based damage prevention software vendor providing ticket management and utility locate request solutions. It addresses the same utility-side workflow that beforeUdig's TicketAccess product targets, making it a relevant SaaS peer for the utility-member side of the business.
• Geolantis.360 (PelicanCorp): Geolantis.360 is PelicanCorp's SaaS field-data-collection platform for digitally mapping subsurface assets, integrated with Bad Elf GNSS receivers. It is complementary to beforeUdig but competes for utility budget and represents the data-capture layer that could evolve into a standalone utility asset intelligence platform.

Direct peers

• Dial Before You Dig Australia (BYDA): BYDA is Australia's national referral service for underground asset location enquiries, operating under the same 'call before you dig' model as beforeUdig. It is the most natural trans-Tasman comparable and competes for the same parent company's attention and capital allocation.
• LSBUD (Linesearch BeforeUdig): LSBUD is PelicanCorp's UK 'call before you dig' service and the closest direct peer to beforeUdig. It serves 275,000 users and 150 members with the same asset-location enquiry model, and the May 2024 acquisition of Select Surveys Ltd demonstrates parallel operating playbooks across geographies.
• 811 (Common Ground Alliance / One Call Concepts): 811 is the US 'call before you dig' system operated by state-level One Call Centers. While structurally different (typically non-profit/state-mandated), it is the largest global example of the exact problem beforeUdig solves and represents the long-term competitive / regulatory reference point for the category.

Others

• PelicanCorp: PelicanCorp is beforeUdig's parent company and operates the global damage prevention platform including Geolantis.360. As parent, it is not a peer in a competitive sense, but it is the most directly comparable operating entity, owning and operating beforeUdig alongside LSBUD and other regional damage prevention services.

Broad incumbents

• Geospatial Surveying Providers (e.g., Trimble, Hexagon Geosystems): Trimble and Hexagon Geosystems are broad incumbents in geospatial / utility surveying equipment and software. Their positioning systems, GIS platforms, and asset management software are adjacent to beforeUdig's mapping and Geolantis.360 capabilities, representing a potential competitive threat if they expand into damage prevention workflows.

Regional players

• Before You Dig Australia (DBYD Certification Ltd): DBYD Certification Ltd licenses the beforeUdig Certified Locator Program in New Zealand. It is a regional player running an adjacent Australian certification program and is the closest comparable in the locator-credentialing vertical where beforeUdig is building out.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beforeUdig
• Facebookfacebook.com/beforeUdig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beforeudig

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about beforeUdig