Utility Week

24 www.utilityweek.co.uk/fLeX T E C H N O L O G Y Service Request Manager from iTouch Vision e app is designed to manage incoming service requests for inspections, leak repairs, maintenance, installations and any other issues that need to be fixed at the customer location. e service desk element then allows for optimised smart scheduling; despatching tickets, task allocation as per worker's availability and expertise, SLA management, dynamic scheduling, designing e-forms and automated workflows to trigger actions to match business processes. EcoStruxure Field Device Expert from Schneider Logistics Designed to improve how engineers commission, configure and maintain field devices throughout the life cycle of the plant, Field Device Expert's Intelligent Commissioning Wizard completely automates detection, configuration, commissioning and testing of HART field instrumentation connected to an EcoStruxure Foxboro distributed control system. A Schneider spokesperson tells Flex: "Automatic binding and configuration of HART devices has been shown to reduce commissioning schedules by more than 75 per cent, leading to faster time to profit, and that's exactly why this app is so important." Resolver from Resolver is is a complaints app that allows your customers to say exactly what they want to you in the correct format, through an app. It explains their legal rights to them, helps them word an email, and creates a case file so the complaint can be instantly logged and tracked, so they can see progress and responses in real time. Although it wasn't designed specifically with utilities in mind, both GB Energy and OVO have recently started using Resolver. Powershop from Powershop is is an innovative approach to selling energy, which sees customers purchase 'powerpacks' of energy credit via an online shop. First marketed in New Zealand, it is now set to become available in the UK, having signed a franchising agreement with Npower earlier this year. Having purchased the powerpacks, customers use online tools or a mobile app to track consumption against their credit. ere are pricing incentives for paying upfront for energy, but unlike a traditional prepaid plan, customers aren't disconnected if their usage exceeds the credit they've purchased; instead, they pay for any excess consumption at the end of the month using a default payment method. In New Zealand and Australia, Powershop has around 110,000 customers and reports high levels of customer satisfaction. FieldEZ Pro from FieldEZ Better asset management, scheduling, planning, dispatch and job closure are some of the key benefits of this app, according to FieldEZ. GPS and traffic updates enable better route planning and management tools, while remote access to the range of available spare or replacement parts save time and money. e stock and chat options are designed to minimise errors and make for greater time management and efficiency. Polar from Polar Network A subscription service that allows free electric vehicle charging at any of its 6,500 UK points. It provides maps of their locations and up-to-date journey information so that users can ensure they get to their chosen charge point. A card or key fob allow for quick and easy charging. It updates constantly because up to 30 new points are constructed each month. ere's also free access to its EV Experience Fleet, which includes Tesla and the BMW i8.

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