Field Deployment ManagerEnd-to-end smart metering installation solution

In today’s evolving utility landscape, effi ciency and accuracy are paramount concerns when deploying Itron smart metering systems. Field Deployment Manager (FDM), Itron’s next-generation endpoint installation solution, leverages decades of experience to deliver innovative management applications in support of smart metering installations and maintenance activities.

FDM is designed to support both large and small deployments and maintenance activities. FDM increases end-to-end productivity for both new endpoint installation projects, meter shop operations and long-term maintenance projects.

Ensure your project’s success using FDM’s management dashboards, advanced power fi lters, appointment tracking, meter shop operations, claims tracking, exception managing, installer audit engine, route acceptance, invoicing and revenue recognition, system notifi cations and project inventory features.

SPECIFICATIONS

System Architecture

FDM is built upon a fl exible client-server architecture, utilizing a smart client interface and Internet protocol (IP), and can support over 5,000,000 work orders. The software runs on Itron’s FC300 handheld computer equipped with an integrated SRead radio, or on a Panasonic FZ-G1 laptop linked to Itron’s 900 MHz Belt Clip radio. The FDM application can be hosted by Itron or installed in your utility’s data center.

FDM software supports the safe and effi cient deployment and maintenance of meters, endpoints and network equipment, as well as ensures operational effi ciency for both back offi ce and fi eld worker personnel. FDM automates endpoint programming to guarantee the correct parameter settings are set; electronically captures and validates installation data, reducing errors and costly site revisits; ensures endpoint network connectivity; supports installation, maintenance, service and meter shop work orders; and provides the ability to automatically create quality audit work orders.

FC300

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio

OpenWay Belt Clip Radio

FIELD DEPLOYMENT MANAGER ARCHITECTURE

Laptop

Inventory

The single largest investment for every deployment project is the inventory scheduled to be installed. Errors in data supporting inventory transactions can occur at every handoff in a project. To help manage these transactions and keep constant track of assigned inventory, FDM validates and records all inventory transactions as they occur, and provides easy-to-use reports and notifi cations of inventory activity. By tracking inventory to individual vehicles and work orders, FDM ensures that only valid inventory items are installed at a customer premise.

FDM supports physical inventory counts, which are recorded in the system for immediate validation and reconciliation, as well as historical trending and reporting. Physical counts are compared to expected quantities in the database—FDM displays these quantities and percentages by which they differ.

Remote AccessItron Project Management

SQL Server Reporting Services

Itron Hosted Confi guration Main Installation Offi ce

FDM Server

FTP Server

FDM Database

SSRS Database

Windows Domain Controller Active

Directory

Remote AccessItron Support

FirewallFirewall

Utility Data Center

Dispatcher and Call Center Staff

SupervisorWork Station

Firewall

PrinterField Laptop

Field Handhelds

Switch

Internet

Panasonic FZ-G1

Invoicing and Revenue Recognition

To ensure accurate project invoicing from Itron, FDM is tightly integrated to Itron’s accounting system, which defi nes the elements of a work order and/or route completion tasks that FDM can invoice against (as specifi ed by the project’s contractual requirements). FDM also determines which data is saved within invoice snapshots at the time of invoicing for validation.

Acceptance

FDM’s Acceptance domain is designed to help managers of large meter deployment projects meet your utility’s contractual requirements for meter/endpoint installation acceptance. It lets you track your project’s progress simultaneously across all routes as

installation work orders are completed and the installations are validated through successful reads of the newly installed endpoints/meters. FDM accepts validating meter read data from Itron’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems, OpenWay® and ChoiceConnect®, as well as from its Field Collection System (FCS) or MV-RS® meter data collection systems.

Notifi cations

FDM notifi cations automatically deliver timely, critical information to subscribers through email messages and emailed reports. FDM allows you to specify which notifi cations the system will generate for your project. This allows you to confi gure which trigger, daily and weekly notifi cations you would like to receive.

FIELD DEPLOYMENT MANAGER OVERVIEW

Gas Meter

Electric Meter

Water Meter

FDM

Inventory

Dispatching

Acceptance

Contractual Obligations

Managed Dashboards

Standard Reports

User Defi ned Filters

Notifi cations

Install, Audit, Maintenance, Service

Meter Shop

Custom Work Flows

Validations/Exceptions

Apointments

Customer Contacts

Customer Claims

Work Order History

Business Units

Users/Role/Permissions

Security

Blackout Periods

Back Offi ce Project TrackingWork Flows Customer Service System Management

Utility CIS

BENEFITS

» Reduce errors and costly site revisits with electronic data validation in the fi eld and back offi ce exception management. Assuming a revisit service cost of $50, a utility installing 100,000 endpoints with a 5% error rate will spend $250,000 to fi x mistakes that could be reduced or prevented with FDM

» Reduce lost inventory by tracking inventory events from the factory to the warehouse or warehouses, as well as within the warehouse to the fi eld service representatives’ vehicle and fi nally installed at a customer’s premise

» Effectively manage project progress, installation quality and work force productivity by using FDM’s project dashboards, audit engine, power fi lters, notifi cations and reporting capabilities

» Dynamically aggregate installation statistics across business units so management personnel are afforded the ability to evaluate project status ensuring your installation objectives

» Optimize work order dispatch activities and utilize tools focused on route closure and district closure tasks with a specialized dispatch interface

» Optimize your work order dispatching activities by utilizing FDM’s route based dispatch screen, work order based dispatch screen, map based dispatch screen or crew dispatch feature

» Identify and resolve problems by verifying the activity performed on each work order with FDM’s work order historical data view

» Improve customer service during your installation project by utilizing the appointment, customer contact and customer claims features

» Signifi cantly reduce installation time when using Itron’s FC300 handheld computer or Panasonic FZ-G1 tablet: capture GPS coordinates, scan bar codes, take fi eld images, and remotely collect meter readings

» Minimize manual data entry through the use of picklists as well as reduce record keeping errors involved with paper processing

FEATURES

» Utilize the dashboard domain to communicate project information to all project stakeholders. View project status to date; planned vs. actual; cumulative/non-cumulative; actual by district; and view route saturation. Also view quality audit statistics, customer claims and open exceptions requiring closure

» Comprehensive project reporting: dashboard overview, standard power fi lters, standard and custom SQL reports, and system notifi cations

» Filter work orders with user-defi ned fi lter criteria and display user defi ned project elements, including unique utility data elements. Export this data as a .csv fi le for ad-hoc reporting or for use in external applications

» Built-in support for automated procedures

» Support for both clustered and random audits with FDM’s Audit Engine

» Project defi ned exceptions such as black-out periods and installer permissions to ensure work is dispatched to the right person at the right time

» Robust customer service features: meter access program, fi xed and windowed appointment scheduling, customer contact/claims tracking

» Leverage Itron’s standard work fl ows which support industry and utility- defi ned best practices in deployment management

» A key to the success of any project is the ability to manage fi eld exceptions in a quick, easy and effi cient manner. Use the standard FDM Exceptions work order list fi lters to easily locate and resolve work orders with exceptions

» Create and manage optional fi eld-originated work orders, found completes and can’t complete fi eld activities

» Mobile features include quick search and fi lter feature, business unit switching and masking

» All mobile data is stored and encrypted in an SQL CE database using each user’s credentials

» Built upon the latest software technology with Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server and Active Directory for all system users

FDM ToolsField Deployment Manager (FDM) is one application being offered in three product confi gurations: FDM, FDM Tools and FDM Tools with Enhanced Security.

Itron hosts FDM Tools and offers it to our utilities free of charge in support of Itron meter and endpoint sales. FDM Tools is a simple product that performs various fi eld tasks such as confi guring, reading, checking and troubleshooting Itron gas/ water/electricity meters, endpoints, telemetry devices and smart NICs.

FDM Tools with Enhanced Security supports all FDM Tools features as well as supporting Itron’s security methodology, which secures all communications to and from Itron meters, endpoints and telemetry devices. When customers choose Itron to host FDM Tools with Enhanced Security, it is free of charge to support our solution sales. When FDM Tools with enhanced security is hosted at a customer site, license and maintenance fees are applied based on the number of endpoints in the utilities service territory. Itron Security Manager (ISM) is required with the FDM Tools with Enhanced Security confi guration.

FDM is a solution designed to support Itron’s electric/gas/water meters, endpoints and telemetry device deployments as well as supporting utility maintenance and meter shop activity. FDM leverages Itron’s decades of experience delivering end-to-end installation management for utility smart metering deployment, maintenance and meter shop activities. FDM is licensed based on the number of endpoints in the customer’s service territory and is marketed along with an Itron solution sale.

The FDM Tools and FDM Tools with Enhanced Security software can be provided by fi lling out the Field Deployment Manger Tools Checklist.

OVERVIEW

All FDM confi gurations include a Mobile Client application and a Server Client application. Field service representatives use the mobile client software application to interface with the various electric/gas/water meters, devices and modules offered by Itron. Field service representatives can use FDM Tools to perform on-site contingency reading, fi eld programming and confi guration, fi eld investigation, troubleshooting, disconnect/reconnect, fi rmware downloads, LAN communications testing and in some cases creating a common reading fi le (CRF) and diagnostic data fi les. While the primary means of handling networked endpoints is the OpenWay Operations Center-Collection Manager, FDM Tools can also obtain data directly from the meters and gather additional detailed information and troubleshoot the rare case when an endpoint is not communicating with the network. The Server Client application allows utilities to manage user roles and permissions, endpoint confi gurations and parameters, meter confi gurations and parameters, the creation of the manufacturer’s File Snapshot, setting of the OpenWay Riva SSID, Utility ID, Wake-up Tones, PCOMP values, as well as other confi guration items. For utilities that require enhanced security, the FDM Tools Business Unit will be associated with your Itron Security Manager (ISM) application.

SUPPORTED MOBILE DEVICES

All FDM confi gurations operate on either an Itron FC300SR or a Windows PC running the Windows 7/10 operating system. Additionally, the Panasonic FZ-G1 and the Panasonic FZ-M1 Toughpad tablets are qualifi ed to operate with all FDM confi gurations. When using a Windows PC, Panasonic FZ-G1 or Panasonic FZ-M1 Toughpad Tablet, the Itron Mobile Radio (IMR) must be used to communicate with Itron battery powered radio devices. To communicate to OpenWay Riva electricity meters, a wi-fi dongle connected to a PC/tablet/Toughpad via a USB port.

OpenWay Water Meter

OpenWay Gas Meter

OpenWay Riva Electricity Meter

Wifi Dongle

IMR

PC Laptop

Panasonic FZ-M1 & FZ-G1

While Itron strives to make the content of its marketing materials as timely and accurate as possible, Itron makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in, such materials. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, and fi tness for a particular purpose, is given with respect to the content of these marketing materials. © Copyright 2017 Itron. All rights reserved. 101085SP-08 06/17

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