Skip to main content

Smart360 Route Management - FAQs

Getting Started & Access

Q1: How do I access the Route Management module in Smart360? A: To access the route management system:

  • Log into the Smart360 system using your credentials
  • Navigate to the "Reading Management" section from the main menu
  • Select "Routes" to view the routes management dashboard
  • You will see the routes list with search, filter, and create options

Q2: What are the different types of meter reading routes I can create? A: You can create routes based on different read types:

  • Manual Routes: For meters requiring physical, visual readings by meter readers
  • Photo Routes: For meters that use photo capture technology for readings
  • Smart Routes: For automated meters that transmit readings electronically
  • Each route type has specific configuration options and performance metrics

Q3: Who can access the Route Management system and what permissions are required? A: Access is typically granted to:

  • Meter Reading Supervisors: Full access to create, edit, and manage all routes
  • Route Managers: Access to view and modify assigned routes
  • Field Supervisors: Read-only access to view route assignments and performance
  • System Administrators: Full configuration access and user management
  • Meter Readers: Limited access to view their assigned routes

Creating New Routes

Q4: How do I create a new meter reading route? A: To create a new route:

  • Click the "Create Route" button from the routes management page
  • Basic Information: Enter Route Name (e.g., "Downtown Commercial Area")
  • Service Selection: Choose Utility Service from dropdown (multiselect options)
  • Reading Configuration: Select Meter Type (Manual, Photo, or Smart)
  • Consumer Categories: Select target consumer categories (Commercial, Residential, etc.)
  • Area Selection: Choose Area, Sub-Area, and specific Premises (all multiselect)
  • Route Options: Set Dynamic Route option (Yes/No)
  • Review Dashboard: Monitor real-time meter counts and composition on the right panel
  • Click "Create Route" to finalize

Q5: What is a Dynamic Route and when should I use it? A: Dynamic Routes provide automatic meter management:

  • Dynamic Route (Yes): Meters automatically update in the route based on filter criteria
  • Static Route (No): Meter composition remains fixed after creation
  • Use Dynamic Routes for: Areas with frequently changing meter installations
  • Use Static Routes for: Established areas with stable meter populations
  • Automatic Updates: Dynamic routes adjust when new meters match the criteria

Q6: What are the mandatory fields when creating a route? A: Required fields for route creation:

  • Route Name: Descriptive identifier for the route
  • Utility Service: Type of utility being serviced (from onboarding configuration)
  • Meter Type: Single selection (Manual, Photo, or Smart)
  • Consumer Categories: At least one category must be selected
  • Area Selection: Must include Area, Sub-Area, and Premise selections

Q7: How do I prevent creating duplicate or conflicting routes? A: The system prevents conflicts through validation:

  • Unique Combinations: Routes cannot have identical Categories, Subcategories, Meter Type, Areas, Subareas, and Premises
  • Premise Validation: If categories and meter types match existing routes, no premise can overlap
  • Error Messages: System displays specific error messages for conflicts
  • Suggestion: Modify at least one parameter (area, category, or meter type) to resolve conflicts

Q8: How do I understand the real-time dashboard while creating routes? A: The dashboard shows dynamic meter composition:

  • System-wide Meters: Total meters available in the system
  • Assigned/Unassigned: Distribution of meter assignments
  • Meters in This Route: Updates based on your filter selections
  • Meter Conditions: Normal, Faulty, RCNT, and Others counts
  • Consumer Categories: Breakdown by Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Government, Agricultural
  • Consumer Status: Active, Inactive, Disconnected, and Paused counts
  • All metrics update in real-time as you modify selections

Managing Existing Routes

Q9: How do I view and edit existing routes? A: To manage existing routes:

  • Navigate to the Routes list from the main routes page
  • Search: Use the search bar to find routes by name
  • Filter: Apply Read Type and Area filters to narrow results
  • View Details: Click the eye icon to see comprehensive route information
  • Edit Route: Click the pencil icon to modify route configuration
  • Route Overview: Review basic information, area coverage, and route options

Q10: What information is displayed in the route details view? A: The detailed view contains comprehensive route data:

  • Basic Information: Route name, utility service, read type, consumer categories, dynamic setting
  • Creation Details: Created by, creation date, last modified date
  • Area Coverage: Areas, sub-areas, and premise count with "View All Premises" option
  • Dynamic Dashboard: Real-time meter and consumer statistics
  • Tabbed Views: Performance, Meters, and Audit Trail tabs for detailed analysis
  • Search Bar: Enter route names or partial matches
  • Read Type Filter: Filter by Manual, Photo, Smart, or All Types
  • Area Filter: Filter by specific areas or All Areas
  • Combined Filtering: Use search and filters simultaneously for precise results
  • Real-time Results: Filters apply immediately as you make selections

Meter Management within Routes

Q12: How do I view and manage meters within a specific route? A: To manage meters in a route:

  • Select a route and navigate to the "Meters" tab
  • Search Functionality: Find specific meters by Meter ID or Consumer Name
  • Status Filtering: Filter by All Status, Assigned, or Unassigned
  • Premises Filtering: Filter by specific premises within the route
  • Subarea Filtering: Filter by subareas selected during route creation
  • Real-time Updates: Filters apply immediately and persist across pagination

Q13: What meter information is displayed in the route meters view? A: The meters table shows:

  • Meter ID: Unique identifier for each meter
  • Consumer Name: Associated customer name
  • Premise: Installation location
  • Model/Make: Manufacturer and model information (format: Make Model)
  • Status: Color-coded status badges (Green for Assigned, Grey for Unassigned)
  • Last Read Date: Most recent reading date in configured format
  • View Details: Button to access detailed meter profile

Q14: How do I interpret meter status indicators? A: Meter status classification:

  • Assigned (Green Badge): Meter is installed and assigned to an active consumer
  • Unassigned (Grey Badge): Meter is installed but not assigned to any consumer
  • Status Logic: Based on backend system flags and consumer assignment
  • Real-time Updates: Status reflects current system state
  • Non-editable: Status cannot be modified from the route view

Q15: Can I view the geographic distribution of meters in a route? A: Geographic visualization options:

  • Map View: Click "View Map" button to see geographic distribution
  • Location Analysis: Understand spatial relationships between meters
  • Route Optimization: Use geographic data for travel efficiency planning
  • Visual Context: Better understand route coverage and density

Performance Monitoring & Analytics

Q16: How do I monitor route performance metrics? A: Access performance data through the Performance tab:

  • Overall Metrics: Completion Rate, On-Time Completion, Reading Accuracy, Average Reading Time
  • Trend Indicators: Green up arrows for improvements, red down arrows for declines
  • Historical Comparison: Current cycle vs. previous cycle vs. 3-month average
  • Visual Indicators: Color-coded trends and percentage changes
  • Real-time Updates: Metrics update at the end of each reading cycle

Q17: How are the key performance metrics calculated? A: Performance calculation formulas:

  • Completion Rate: (Completed Readings / Total Readings) × 100
  • On-Time Completion: (Readings Completed Within Schedule / Total Completed) × 100
  • Reading Accuracy: (Number of readings V1 send to V2 bucket / Total Normal readings collected) × 100
  • Average Reading Time: Time from assigning job cards to uploading meter readings
  • All metrics displayed with one decimal precision (e.g., 94.2%)

Q18: What do the different meter reading quality indicators mean? A: Quality classification system:

  • Normal (Green): Readings that pass all validation rules with count and percentage
  • Faulty (Orange): Meters reporting values outside expected or logical range
  • RCNT (Red with warning): Recently connected meters or meters with recent configuration changes
  • Quality Total: Sum of all categories equals total meters processed
  • Business Rules: Classifications applied during validation process

Q19: How do I analyze individual meter reader performance? A: Reader performance analysis includes:

  • Performance Table: Shows each reader's meters, accuracy, average time, and status
  • Status Classification:
    • Excellent: Accuracy > 97% and average time < 4 minutes
    • Good: Accuracy > 95% and average time < 5 minutes
    • Needs Improvement: Below Good thresholds
  • Comparative Analysis: Compare readers within the same route
  • Coaching Opportunities: Identify readers needing additional training or support

Q20: How do I use historical performance data for route optimization? A: Historical analysis capabilities:

  • Trend Analysis: Review 3-month rolling averages for all metrics
  • Comparative Periods: Compare current cycle with previous cycle and averages
  • Pattern Recognition: Identify seasonal or cyclical performance patterns
  • Improvement Tracking: Monitor the effectiveness of route modifications
  • Benchmarking: Establish performance baselines for route optimization

Audit Trail & Change Management

Q21: How do I track changes made to routes? A: Use the Audit Trail tab for comprehensive change tracking:

  • Chronological Record: All modifications listed by timestamp (newest first)
  • User Tracking: See who made each change with user identification
  • Change Details: Specific property changes with old and new values
  • Action Types: Created, Modified, or Deleted actions
  • Immutable Records: Audit entries cannot be modified after creation

Q22: What information is captured in the audit trail? A: Audit trail records include:

  • Timestamp: Date and time in D/M/YYYY, hh:mm:ss am/pm format
  • User Information: Name or ID of person making the change
  • Action Description: Human-readable description of changes made
  • Property Details: Specific fields changed (e.g., 'isDynamic' from false to true)
  • Contextual Information: Related object names and locations
  • Auto-refresh: Updates automatically when changes occur

Q23: When are audit trail entries automatically created? A: Audit triggers include:

  • Route Creation: Initial route establishment
  • Route Modification: Any field or configuration changes
  • Meter Addition/Removal: Dynamic route meter updates
  • Status Changes: Route activation or deactivation
  • Premise Changes: Addition or removal of premises from routes
  • System Updates: Backend changes affecting route composition

Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Q24: What should I do if I can't create a route due to validation errors? A: Error resolution steps:

  • Required Fields: Ensure all mandatory fields are completed
  • Unique Names: Verify route name is not already in use
  • Conflict Resolution: Modify categories, meter types, or areas to avoid conflicts
  • Premise Validation: Check for overlapping premises with existing routes
  • System Feedback: Read specific error messages for guidance
  • Alternative Configurations: Adjust parameters to meet system requirements

Q25: How do I optimize route performance based on metrics? A: Performance optimization strategies:

  • Completion Rate Issues: Review meter conditions and reader assignments
  • Accuracy Problems: Identify meters with frequent reading issues
  • Time Efficiency: Analyze geographic distribution and travel patterns
  • Reader Performance: Provide targeted training for underperforming readers
  • Historical Trends: Use 3-month averages to identify systematic issues
  • Route Adjustment: Modify meter assignments based on performance data

Q26: What should I do if meters are not appearing in my route? A: Troubleshooting missing meters:

  • Filter Verification: Check all selection criteria (areas, categories, meter types)
  • Dynamic Route Settings: Ensure dynamic routes are updating properly
  • Meter Status: Verify meters meet the assignment criteria
  • System Sync: Allow time for dynamic routes to update after changes
  • Configuration Check: Confirm meter metadata matches route parameters
  • Support Escalation: Contact system administrator if issues persist

Q27: How do I handle routes with consistently poor performance? A: Poor performance resolution:

  • Root Cause Analysis: Use performance metrics to identify specific issues
  • Meter Condition Review: Check for high numbers of faulty or RCNT meters
  • Reader Assessment: Evaluate individual reader performance and training needs
  • Route Restructuring: Consider splitting large routes or combining small ones
  • Geographic Analysis: Use map view to identify inefficient travel patterns
  • Historical Comparison: Determine if performance decline is recent or chronic

Q28: What are the best practices for route creation and management? A: Best practices include:

  • Descriptive Naming: Use clear, geographic or functional route names
  • Balanced Workloads: Aim for similar meter counts across routes for equity
  • Geographic Efficiency: Group geographically close meters to minimize travel time
  • Dynamic vs. Static: Use dynamic routes for growing areas, static for established zones
  • Regular Review: Monitor performance metrics monthly for optimization opportunities
  • Documentation: Use audit trail to understand route evolution and decision rationale

Q29: How do I prepare for billing cycles using route performance data? A: Billing cycle preparation:

  • Completion Tracking: Monitor completion rates approaching billing deadlines
  • Quality Assurance: Review reading accuracy to minimize billing disputes
  • Issue Resolution: Address meter problems before they impact billing
  • Reader Scheduling: Allocate resources based on route performance and complexity
  • Exception Management: Identify and resolve RCNT and faulty meter issues
  • Timeline Management: Use average reading times to plan cycle scheduling

Q30: How do I train new meter readers using route data? A: Training applications:

  • Performance Benchmarks: Use excellent performers as training examples
  • Route Familiarization: Show new readers route composition and geographic layout
  • Meter Type Training: Focus on specific meter types within assigned routes
  • Quality Standards: Use accuracy metrics to set performance expectations
  • Efficiency Goals: Share average reading times as productivity targets
  • Issue Recognition: Train on identifying and reporting meter condition problems

Q31: What reporting capabilities are available for route management? A: Reporting features include:

  • Performance Reports: Export completion rates, accuracy, and timing data
  • Meter Lists: Export detailed meter information for offline analysis
  • Historical Analysis: Generate trend reports for management review
  • Reader Performance: Create individual and comparative performance reports
  • Audit Reports: Export change history for compliance and accountability
  • Custom Analytics: Use exported data for advanced analysis in external tools

Q32: How do I coordinate route management with other Smart360 modules? A: Integration coordination:

  • Meter Management: Route changes affect meter assignments and status
  • Service Orders: Route performance data helps prioritize maintenance
  • Inventory Management: Route composition influences meter deployment planning
  • Validation Dashboard: Route performance impacts overall validation metrics
  • Work Order Integration: Route data supports field service scheduling
  • Cross-module Communication: Changes in one module may affect route performance
Back to top