Industry players in the smart metering space are no strangers to the challenge of managing and maintaining large amounts of operational data. When gathered and analyzed properly, this data can help utility service providers to improve their business performance, gain insights into consumption trends, and identify bottlenecks before they turn into prolonged issues. Organizations around the world are recognizing the increased importance of investing in smart metering solutions, with the global installed base of smart meters set to exceed 1.7 billion by 2030.
As smart metering projects continue to expand and grow, so does the volume of data being generated. Inability to adequately handle this data surge properly can lead to challenges such as surveys needing to be re-done, lack of transparency into inventory and material management, and operational inefficiencies as a result of data not being available when required.
It is within such scenarios that Grid, our utility data management solution emerges as a platform of choice to streamline, manage and elevate smart metering projects.
Use Case: How Grid can be Used For Smart Metering Installation Projects
Smart metering projects involve a huge number of assets (both variable and non-variable). Here, fixed assets would include metering devices, routers, reconnect switches, etc. On the other hand, variable assets are those that fluctuate in quality as per requirement, such as metering components like wiring and connectors. Other examples of variable assets in this context are consumable supplies like batteries or installation tools/equipment.
Ensuring every step of the installation project is completed on time while maintaining efficient resource allocation can be a tedious process in traditional methods that involves pen & paper or Excel sheets. Plus, there are often multiple contractors involved in procurement of items, along with numerous categories of smart metering equipment, warehouses, etc. It is also important to note that missing out on critical data during a survey (however minute the data can be) impacts the ability of the enterprise while maintaining a single source of truth for all information.
Grid addresses these issues by allowing non-IT-trained personnel like field operators or managers to easily manage and interpret this complicated data by providing them with a no-code platform that lets them create and customize their own database solutions.
Let us consider a smart metering solutioning company that undertakes turn-key power projects, along with providing a range of electricity meters. Here’s how Grid enabled them to build a consolidated project workflow, and optimize the efficiency of their projects:
Indexing & Surveys
The first step in every smart metering project involves the surveying of the existing metering infrastructure. Grid users can create customizable forms to capture data about analog meters which will subsequently be replaced by smart meters. Field operators can use our Frontline App and its digital checklists for data entry during the surveying process. Every single entry here would be validated against predefined parameters, maintaining data accuracy at all times. Additionally, the forms can also be customized with drop-down menus with multi select options, allowing users to minimize typing errors and also save time.
Grid’s dashboarding and reporting modules can be set up to display the gathered data as it gets uploaded in real-time. Teams can create a variety of reports that help them analyze this continuous stream of incoming data and build a comprehensive meter rollout plan. Grid also comes with a ‘media capture’ feature that enables the uploading of images and videos within the form itself. This helps reduce misreporting of data, as every entry can be validated by checking the images.
Inventory Management
Smart metering installation projects are a long and tedious activity that require extensive research and meticulous planning. These projects require a consistent supply of physical assets such as meter components, cabling, tools, and other accessories. Based on requirements, these assets can be:
Serialized (fixed)- remote reconnect/disconnect switches, routers
Non-serialized (variable)- wiring, connectors, safety gears
Grid’s no-code framework can also be set up by teams to create custom workflows that provide visibility into the multiple assets involved in the installation project. Custom workflows mean that users can incorporate specific data that is relevant to the operations. These ‘data’ can include details such as asset condition, location and statistics for usage. This meticulous representation of inventory data helps identify potential issues and deploy quick remedies for uninterrupted operations. For instance, if a wiring is being reported as ‘damaged’ during installation, the team can analyze this data to adjust their procurement strategy and ensure there are no shortages of ‘wiring’ assets.
The information gathered during the initial survey allows teams to plan inventory consumption. In this step, users can leverage Grid’s worksheets to create timelines, deliverables, and vendors responsible for the delivery of assets. ‘Stock-In’ forms can be used to record meter details and the total number of meters stored at a given warehouse. These forms will capture details like meter serial number, warehouse location, meter category, etc. A critical challenge during meter installation projects is a meter being damaged or displaced while transporting it from the warehouse to field location. A worksheet can be created for ‘damaged meters’, with third-party installers able to upload images of damaged assets as proof.
Teams are also able to leverage Grid’s reporting capabilities to set up live monitoring of multiple assets during installation projects. They can get visibility into metrics like total number of meters issued, stocked, installed, pending for installation, etc. In this manner, utility providers can ensure that they never run out of stock, and continue to run their operations without interruptions.
Meter installation tracking
In this phase, smart metering companies must ensure that every project progress is tracked properly. This is important to ensure that timelines are completed on schedule, and to avoid delays.
The data gathered during the survey stage helps in the strategic deployment of installation personnel and teams. This is critical since it provides field personnel with information that helps them maintain working practices that comply with local health and safety regulations.
During the installation phase, field operators or technicians have to go to the designated location, and carry out the replacement of old meters with smart meters. To streamline this activity, utility teams can create a ‘Meter Installation’ worksheet on Grid with the name of the field installer, the number of meters assigned under each installer, etc. Upon entering the name of the installer, relevant details are auto-populated as per their User ID. This can include data such as zone, district, ward number, total number of meters issued to the installers, etc.
Accurate tracking of every meter installation location is crucial to maintain both project timelines and compliance with local regulations. During surveys, Grid’s frontline app helps capture latitude and longitude coordinates for the precise mapping of the meter location. What makes Grid stand out in this scenario are its offline capabilities, helping field operators capture accurate location coordinates, even in areas of low or no connectivity. Combining Grid’s offline and GIS features, teams can ensure old meters are replaced without any discrepancies. This not only serves as documentation, but also helps adjust old meter readings into the new monthly consumption once the installation is completed.
Installation teams and management can also get detailed insights into installation project progress via dashboards on Grid. Installation trackers can be set up to attain real-time view into the overall project status, with details like:
- Total number of meters installed
- Number of contractors
- Average number of meters installed per day
- Total number of field installers
Once the installation is done, managers can approve or reject the installation after doing a verification by comparing details collected during surveys.
The democratization of data management facilitated by Grid not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures critical information is available as and when required. Additionally, Grid’s features like customizable forms and real-time dashboards allow smart metering companies to maintain a single source of information across the project timeline. The shift towards smart metering is not merely a trend but a fundamental change in how utilities interact with their data.
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