Challenge
Unreliable Data Collection and lack of QA
ESSEL relied on people to visit individual homes and take meter readings manually. This made it very difficult to streamline data collection and standardize records. The data collected was unreliable and affected decisions as a gap in revenue to be collected.It also slowed down the process of responding to customer inquiries and follow-ups and, in turn, affected operational efficiency and their bottom line.
Solution
Photometer Reading with GPS Tagging
Bynry helped ESSEL replace the outdated manual meter reading system with photo meter reading and started capturing GPS details.This made the process more reliable and accurate. introduction of GPS tags played many roles. Key amongst them is the tracking of meter location and paper bill delivery.
Challenge
Irregular Billing Schedule
Depending on a manual force to take meter readings had two main issues- there was a high risk of human error and a high chance that a meter reading would be skipped. This might be because of the the meterconditions, human error locked premise or wrong address.Without accurate and timely meter readings, bill generation impacted. In turn, this affected payment collection and cash flow.
Solution
Spot Billing and Collection
Bynry’s solution for spot billing made it easier for the company to collect payment for bills. The bill distribution time saved consumers no longer had to stand in long queues to pay their bills. It also ensured that all amounts, big and small, could be paid easily thus shortening the meter-to-cash cycle and improving cash flow. Spot billing also improved transparency in maintaining payment records and helped improve ESSEL‘s reputation.
Challenge
Non-Actual Billing
In the absence of trustworthy meter readings, a large percentage of bills were being generated by taking averages into account. While this was beneficial for customers, at times, it meant that they were billing customers less than the actual usage. There were also cases of fraud that emerged because of the non-actual billing.
Challenge
Revenue Collection
Along with bill generation being irregular, in many cases, the customers were not indexed accurately. This leads to a number of bills not reaching the consumer in time. As a result, collecting payments became difficult , also non-actual billing created gap in actual revenue to be collected. This affected the company’s bottom line Based on this, ESSEL identified that to collect revenue and maintain good relationships with customers, the company needed smart meters and other such technological innovations.
Solution
Customer Indexing
Bynry indexed all existing and new customers with GPS enabled meters. The company’s field team could not plan their route to ensure they did not miss out on any meter reading and helped identify potential fraudsters with unauthorized connections. Correct indexing of customer also simplified record management and ensured that customers got their bills in time. This improved customer experiences and reduced the occurrence of complaints.
Solution
SMS Alerts
Bynry created a seamless communication flow between the company and its customers. For example, customers can now get SMS alerts when a member of the field team was scheduled to take a meter reading. This reduces the risk of them having to skip taking a reading because the house owner isn’t at home. Better communication also led to quicker resolution of customer enquiries.
Solution
Real-Time Dashboard and MIS Reporting
Bynry gave ESSEL access to a Management Information System (MIS) in order to track consumed indexing, data,, billing, payments, enquiries and more. ESSEL now had access access to real-time data about power consumption across different sectors. This helped the company function more efficiently and smoothly.
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