Smart360 Meter Device management Dashboard - FAQ's

Getting Started & Basic Usage

Q1: What is the Meter Device Summary dashboard and who can access it?

A: The Meter Device Summary dashboard is a centralized view of your utility's complete meter inventory with real-time status information. It's designed for Meter Managers who oversee metering operations and Meter Supervisors who manage meter inventory. Access is based on your role permissions within Smart360.

Q2: How do I access the Meter Device Summary dashboard in Smart360?

A: To access the dashboard:

Log into your Smart360 system
Navigate to the "~~Meter~~meter ~~Device Summary"~~data" section from the main menu
The dashboard will load automatically, displaying your meter fleet overview

Q3: What information is displayed on the main dashboard?

A: The dashboard shows total meter count, active meters, breakdown by meter type (Electric, Water, Gas), meter health status (Normal, Faulty, RNT), service queue information (pending service orders and installations), and quick access to meter management modules.

Q4: How often is the dashboard data updated?

A: Dashboard metrics are updated at least once every 24 hours. You can check the last update timestamp displayed on the dashboard to see when the data was last refreshed.

Q5: What does "RNT" mean in the meter status?

A: RNT stands for meters that have been flagged with specific operational issues requiring attention. These meters are tracked separately from general faulty meters and may require specialized maintenance or replacement.

Meter Categories & Status

Q6: How are meters categorized in the dashboard?

A: Meters are categorized in two ways: by type (Electric, Water, Gas) and by operational status (Normal Condition, Faulty, RNT). The percentages shown are calculated based on the total registered meters in your system.

Q7: What's the difference between "Total Meters" and "Active Meters"?

A: Total Meters includes all registered meters in your system (excluding inventory), while Active Meters specifically counts only those currently assigned to customers and operational. Inactive meters might include those awaiting installation or temporarily out of service.

~~Q8: Why don't I see Gas meters in my dashboard?~~ A: The meter type cards are dynamic based on utility services selected during your Smart360 onboarding. If Gas meters aren't displayed, it means gas service wasn't configured for your utility during setup. Contact your system administrator to add additional utility services.

Q9: What constitutes a "Faulty" meter?

A: Faulty meters are those flagged with operational issues such as communication problems, reading errors, or hardware malfunctions. These meters require immediate attention and may need repair or replacement.

Q10: How are the percentages calculated for each meter category?

A: Percentages are calculated as: (Number of specific meter type or status / Total Meters) × 100. For example, if you have 4,128 Electric meters out of 9,875 total meters, the percentage would be 41.8%.

Search & Lookup Functions

Q11: How do I search for a specific meter in the dashboard?

A: To search for a meter:

Locate the search field in the dashboard
Enter either the Device # or Meter # in the search field
Press enter or click the search button
Review the comprehensive results showing device details

Q12: What information is shown in search results?

A: Search results display: Device ID, Device Type, Meter Number, Installation Date, Location, and Current Status. This provides a complete overview of the meter's key attributes and current operational state.

Q13: What should I do if my search returns no results?

A: If you see "No results found":

Verify you've entered the correct Device # or Meter # format
Check for typos or extra spaces in your search term
Confirm the meter is registered in the system
Contact support if the meter should exist but isn't appearing

Q14: Can I search for multiple meters at once?

A: The dashboard search is designed for individual meter lookup. For bulk meter information, use the "View All Meters" module which provides access to your complete meter inventory with filtering capabilities.

Service Modules & Actions

Q15: What are the service modules available in the dashboard?

A: The dashboard provides four main service modules: Add Single Meter (for registering individual devices), Add Bulk Meters (for spreadsheet imports), View All Meters (complete inventory access), and Raise Service Orders (for maintenance requests).

Q16: When should I use "Add Single Meter" vs "Add Bulk Meters"?

A: Use "Add Single Meter" when registering one new device with detailed information entry. Use "Add Bulk Meters" when you need to import multiple meters simultaneously via spreadsheet upload, which is more efficient for large installations.

Q17: How do I create a service order for a faulty meter?

A: To create a service order:

Click on "Raise Service Orders" from the service modules
Select the specific meter requiring service
Specify the service type needed
Set the appropriate priority level
Assign to appropriate field technicians
Submit the service order

Q18: What's included in the "View All Meters" module?

A: This module provides complete access to your meter inventory with filtering and sorting capabilities. You can view all meters regardless of status (except disposed meters), export data, and perform bulk actions on selected meters.

Service Queue Management

Q19: What do "Pending Service Orders" and "Pending Installations" represent?

A: Pending Service Orders are existing meters requiring maintenance, repairs, or inspections. Pending Installations are new service connections from customer requests that haven't been approved or completed yet.

Q20: How are service order priorities determined?

A: Service orders are categorized by priority levels (High, Medium, Low) based on factors like meter type, issue severity, and customer impact. High priority orders are highlighted with distinct visual indicators for immediate attention.

Q21: Can I see which service orders are scheduled for today?

A: Yes, the dashboard shows pending installations with indication of how many are scheduled for today. This helps coordinate field team activities and resource allocation.

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

Q22: Why can't I access certain service modules?

A: Service module access is based on your user role permissions. If a module appears disabled or unavailable, contact your system administrator to verify your role has the appropriate permissions for that functionality.

Q23: What should I do if I encounter a "duplicate meter registration" error?

A: When encountering this error:

Use the search function to locate the existing meter record
Verify the meter details and current status
Contact your system administrator if you believe this is an error
Consider updating the existing record instead of creating a new one

Q24: Why are some meters not appearing in my dashboard counts?

A: Meters with "disposed" status are excluded from dashboard counts. If you're expecting to see a meter but it's not appearing, check if it has been marked as disposed or if there are data synchronization issues.

Q25: How do I handle meters showing incorrect status information?

A: To resolve incorrect status information:

First verify the information through the search function
Check recent service history for the meter
Create a service order if the issue persists
Have field technicians verify the meter's actual condition
Update the system accordingly once verified

Advanced Features & Best Practices

Q26: How can I use the dashboard for maintenance planning?

A: For effective maintenance planning:

Focus on the faulty meters and RNT meters counts to identify maintenance needs
Review pending service orders with priority indicators
Allocate field resources based on priority levels
Use percentage breakdowns to identify which meter types require most attention
Plan proactive maintenance programs based on trends

Q27: What's the best way to monitor meter fleet health over time?

A: To monitor fleet health effectively:

Regularly review Normal Condition vs. Faulty meter percentages
Track trends in meter failures over time
Set up regular dashboard review schedules
Identify patterns in specific meter types or locations
Plan proactive maintenance programs based on observed trends

Q28: How should I coordinate with field teams using this dashboard?

A: For effective field team coordination:

Use pending installations count to coordinate with installation teams
Reference pending service orders with priority indicators for work assignment
Share dashboard information during daily planning meetings
Use the dashboard as a central reference point for field work planning
Communicate priority changes based on dashboard updates

Q29: Can I export dashboard data for reporting purposes?

A: While the dashboard provides visual summaries, detailed data export is available through the "View All Meters" module. This allows you to generate reports and perform deeper analysis of your meter inventory.

Q30: What should I do if critical meters are showing as faulty?

A: For critical faulty meters:

Create high-priority service orders immediately through "Raise Service Orders"
Ensure field technicians are dispatched promptly
Monitor these meters closely in the dashboard
Follow up until resolution is confirmed
Document any patterns for future prevention