Kenya Water Meter App Taking off

Water meter-reading app developed to minimise complaints

The app, which is now in its third month of use in Kisumu, ensures Kiwasco’s meter-reading services are refined for efficiency and accuracy. Kiwasco has about 216,479 clients, according to World Atlas’ Kenya Fast Facts, 2013. “This is a versatile programme that will help change the quality of meter reading by making it more accurate.

This will in turn result in fewer complaints and improve our customer relations,” says Kiwasco MD David Agumba. Kiwasco started using the digital meter-reading app in August. Wonder Kid IT consultant Josiah Opiyo says the project is known as the integrated mobile utility management system (Imum).

“It is under the utility partnership grant supported by GSM Association, a trade group that represents network operators that use GSM technology for their networks,” he says. The mobile technology website is used to enhance efficiency in water utility and customer service functions. “Our motive is to ensure efficiency of water utility to collect as much revenue and also to promote accountability. For the customers, we want then to be more satisfied,” he says.

Customers can use the app to channel their complaints. Upon making an inquiry or posting questions, they are given a special ticket number to follow up at the Kiwasco offices and confirm if their problems have been adequately solved. The meter-reading process through the mobile technology entails having an Android phone. Opiyo says they currently have over 50 employees using the app. Their meter-reading cycle is between 17th and 4th of every month. Each meter reader has a unique username and password. After logging in, the server provides a list of the services available. If one wants to read their meter, they tap the ‘to read’ icon then input the meter number.

Source: Standard Digital

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Taxonomy

• Technology
• Smart Meters
• Metering Technologies