Integrated Approach to the Smart Meter Lifecycle: How Automation and Consistent Processes Influence Deployment Efficiency?

A report by Berg Insight indicates that the number of AMI points in Europe and North America is expected to more than double by 2028. This signifies not only an increased demand for devices but also the necessity to optimize every stage—from design and production, through installation and configuration, to remote management and servicing. 

"The European Union takes energy and water consumption reduction very seriously. New regulations mandate regular and remote readings, which requires faster information flow and more accurate resource planning," says Anna Kamieniak, UX Lead Designer at Etteplan. 

A modern meter is not just a device; it is part of an extensive system that must be designed for integration at every stage. From the outset, it is essential to consider compatibility with various communication protocols, mounting methods, and future reading and firmware update models. Data consistency - serial numbers, factory configurations, and their flawless transfer to the resource management system - must also be guaranteed. 

Installation is becoming increasingly demanding. Technicians must not only correctly install the device but also synchronize it with the master system, verify data accuracy, and ensure that the entire process complies with current legal and environmental regulations. 

Introducing automation at every stage - from production (e.g., automatic assignment of serial numbers), through installation (e.g., mobile applications scanning QR codes), to ongoing management (e.g., OTA firmware updates) - not only enhances efficiency but also minimizes the risk of human errors. 

"UX (User Experience) is crucial throughout the entire lifecycle of the device - from the factory to the end user. Properly designed processes and intuitive interfaces can make even complex IoT devices easy to operate," explains Anna Kamieniak. 

In an era of skilled technician shortages, simplifying installation processes becomes imperative. Applications featuring interactive instructions, checklists, automatic reporting, and photographic documentation significantly reduce work time and eliminate errors. 

"Smartly applied automation - such as OCR or QR codes - expedites work, documents processes, and allows for immediate quality verification from the system level," adds Anna Kamieniak. 

The need for standardization and integration is evident. Regulatory frameworks like OMS (Open Metering System) support standardization, but many challenges remain. "The idea is good; however, data from different devices, even if in the same language, are different and hard to compare," notes Anna Kamieniak. Therefore, data integration from the moment of device design and ensuring data compatibility between production and the installation system is crucial. 

Complete integration - from the digital twin of the designed device, through production and automatic testing, to integration with billing, management, and monitoring systems of meter data, as well as consumer systems of the client - enables the creation of a fully coherent and predictable process. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also allows for quicker responses to market, regulatory, or environmental changes.