Institutionalize Meter-to-Cash with SAP Meter Data Management and Predictive Analytics

As utilities face an aging workforce — some analysts estimate 50% will be eligible for retirement in the next decade — it becomes even more important to institutionalize the meter-to-cash process. Done right, executive management will commission a cross-departmental team that looks into every piece of equipment and business process, to document what veteran staff know intuitively but haven't written down.

Within the scope of this significant endeavor, we see two SAP tools that can help utilities prepare for the imminent internal and external sea changes:

SAP Meter Data Management can capture AMI reads from various meter vendors (e.g., Itron and Lyndis+Gyr). This will help prepare for future regulatory tariff changes that require more time-of-use (TOU) metering rate schedule offerings to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Predictive Analytics (PA) enables a deeper utilization of Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM). In our post-recession, high unemployment era, there is a real risk of increasing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and on-site collection efforts. Waiting until accounts are delinquent will only exacerbate this situation. Predictive Analytics helps illustrate the characteristics of customer accounts needing payment plans or optional payment methods, such as a push to credit card payment.