Overview

The installation phase is where the real-world network meets the future digital system,  and the quality of your data will decide whether the metering programme operates smoothly or becomes an expensive tangle of fixes later. Every meter installed is also a data event, and managing that flow properly is just as important as laying the hardware in the ground.

Plan for the Data You Need, Not Just the Data You Collect

Good data management starts before a single meter is installed. You need to be clear about:

• • what information must be captured on site

  • how it links back to customer records, billing systems, GIS, and asset databases

  • what future services depend on this information (e.g., leak detection, pressure/flow diagnostics, billing accuracy, demand analysis, housing type)

Customer data, contact details and relationship to propertyIf the fields aren’t defined early (and clearly), contractors will fill in whatever seems reasonable at the time, and you’ll inherit a database full of inconsistencies, gaps, and mismatches.

Make Sure the Data Reflects Reality on the Ground

Every record should accurately describe what was actually installed, where it was installed, and how it connects into the broader network. That means:

• • correct meter serial numbers

  • accurate GPS or spatial coordinates

  • correct property identifiers

  • photos that clearly show meter placement, isolation valves, and reinstatement

  • confirming that installed assets match the intended design (size, model, orientation)

  • Customer information – landlord, tenant, property manager

This is your audit trail. It protects the utility and the customer, and it avoids future disputes about what is or isn’t on the property. Capturing this digitally and making sure the format is agreed and transfers readily to end use systems is vital to avoid manual handling errors

Validation Is a Core Part of the Install, Not an Afterthought

Validation rules need to be built into the process. That includes:

• • automatic checks in the field app (e.g., no missing serial numbers, invalid GPS, duplicate entries, text vs number entry, etc.)

  • daily or weekly data review to catch issues early

  • exception reporting to highlight anomalies, mismatches, or unusual patterns

  • a process to reconcile contractor data with billing and GIS records before meters go live

  • spot audits and field verification on samples of installs

The cost of validating as you go is tiny compared with the pain of cleaning up a broken dataset later on.

Design the System for Future Use, Not Just Day One

The installation dataset becomes the foundation for everything that follows:

• • leak identification

  • asset lifecycle planning

  • demand forecasting

  • regulatory reporting

  • meter performance monitoring

  • customer billing and disputes

  • operational response and field maintenance

If the data is weak, every downstream process weakens with it. Strong data at installation gives you long-term operational confidence.

The Goal: A Clean, Accurate, Future-Proof Dataset

When data management is treated as a core deliverable — not an administrative chore you end up with:

• • a better understanding of your distribution network

  • reliable billing

  • fewer customer disputes

  • smoother AMI onboarding

  • easier network analysis

  • a trusted asset base

  • faster operational response for faults and leaks

You want the dataset to tell the on-ground truth— clearly, consistently, and without guesswork.