Bringing Meter Reads Into Valiflo: Any Source, One System

Mark had finally solved his biggest headache—managing utilities on a single platform with Valiflo. But one of the most critical components of utility management still needed attention: how meter reads were collected and processed. In his city, meter reads came from a variety of sources—some were entered manually, others were collected through drive-by readings, and the latest technology offered cloud-connected meters. The challenge was ensuring all this data flowed seamlessly into Valiflo, maintaining accuracy and efficiency.

The Challenge of Diverse Meter Read Sources

Historically, Mark’s city had relied on different systems to handle meter reads.

• Manual Reads: Utility workers would record readings by hand and input them later—a time-consuming process prone to human error.

• Drive-By Reads: Vehicles equipped with radio receivers captured data as they passed homes, reducing labor but still requiring manual data imports.

• Cloud-Connected Meters: The latest smart meters transmitted data in real-time, but integrating them with existing infrastructure posed challenges. Additionally, these meters were cost-prohibitive for widespread adoption and carried monthly subscription fees, limiting their deployment to only a few locations.

With so many data sources, discrepancies and inefficiencies were common. Meters recorded data at different times, leading to inconsistencies in billing cycles. The city needed a way to bring all these reads into a single, reliable system.

Valiflo + Next Meters: A Seamless Solution

That’s when Mark leveraged Valiflo’s partnership with Next Meters, a leader in advanced metering solutions. He was thrilled to discover that, despite being cutting-edge technology, these new meters were actually more affordable than the older meters the city had been using. Next Meters provided a seamless integration into Valiflo, ensuring that meter reads—regardless of their source—were captured, validated, and processed in one place.

• Automatic Data Synchronization: Valiflo seamlessly accepted data from all sources, eliminating manual imports and reducing errors.

• Real-Time Updates: Smart meters delivered interval data, providing near-instant insights into water usage.

• Future-Proof Technology: With Next Meters, the city could gradually upgrade its infrastructure without disrupting existing operations.

The Benefits of a Unified Meter Read System

With Valiflo and Next Meters working together, Mark’s team saw immediate improvements:

• Improved Accuracy: Billing errors caused by manual entry disappeared.

• Operational Efficiency: Utility workers spent less time on redundant tasks, allowing them to focus on service improvements.

• Seamless Integration: Regardless of whether the reads came from an older manual system or the newest cloud-connected meters, Valiflo ensured a smooth and consistent data flow.

For the first time, Mark felt confident that his city’s utility data was complete, accurate, and efficient. By embracing the latest technology through Valiflo and Next Meters, he was helping the city move toward a smarter, more sustainable future.

Next, Mark would explore how interval meter reads could take utility management to the next level, offering enhanced alerting and faster leak detection. Stay tuned!