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Smart Metering Whitepaper
Knowing the benefits and challenges that imply the implementation of this technology as well as the tools that facilitate its use, is vital to maximizing the return on investment.
More connected than ever forum
Open was invited to participate in the “More connected than ever” Forum, an event led by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications MinTic, Fedesoft and Diario La República. The Forum organizers chose Open for its great contribution to the software industry in the region.
New Partnership: Milestone Utility Services
Milestone’s seasoned technical, functional and financial experts have helped U.S. and Canadian electric, gas and water complete end-to-end CIS upgrades, data migration projects, business process optimizations, application maintenance, technology upgrades, and other solution delivery services since 2002.
The Key for Effectively Managing Prepaid Services
To offer prepaid utility services effectively, providers must work with a highly-developed technological solution which is tailored specifically to the unique conditions of their industry. Prepayment is a commercial strategy which allows the use of services to more closely match the economic capacity of consumers. This model is believed to have started in South Africa in the 80’s, however it has since expanded into other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Colombia, Australia and the Philippines.
Cultivating Solutions Through Innovation, at Open
Hernando Parrott (US President, Open) sat down with Utility Market Connections to discuss the company’s 30 years of providing world class solutions while continuously innovating and expanding into new markets.
Non-revenue water management, reaching the economic optimum
Water utility companies are facing intense pressure today from both internal and external factors. Regulations related to resource conservation are getting stricter, consumers are increasingly more conscious about conservation and utility companies are expected to become increasingly efficient. Because of this pressure, water utilities must change the way they operate and seek new solutions to optimize their operations. A key driver of operational efficiency is the reduction of non-revenue water (NRW), as it is a problem which reduces revenue and
How subscriptions are shaping the retail industry
Compared to the traditional model, sales-by-subscription offers nine times faster growth for the retail business, thanks to the creation of long-term relationships that provide the opportunity to obtain continuous sales. The modern customer seeks to obtain a wide variety of products and services in an immediate, efficient and safe manner; they often wish to make their purchase online and expect a range of possible payment options. The massive use of the internet in everyday life has transformed the behavior of
Utilities Evolution – Déjà vu
Energy, gas and water service providers are currently facing challenges similar to what telecommunications companies encountered several decades ago, ranging from the integration of the latest smart devices, the focus on improving the customer experience, giving relevance to every interaction, addressing requests in a timely manner, and giving customers the opportunity to view their consumption in real time. Looking back on the evolution of telecommunications companies over the last 40 years, which involved both technological as well as cultural shifts—from
Social CRM Whitepaper
Social CRM has become an alternative to enrich customer experience and increase companies’ income…
Cloud computing Whitepaper
Cloud Computing has positioned itself as a key technology for the efficient use of the technological infrastructure and the reduction of IT costs…
The critical role of field service in improving the customer experience
Customer experience has become a cornerstone of business performance due to the high cost of customer churn; with field service being a critical component of this experience. Every interaction is an opportunity to shape a customer´s perception, so a top performing company must drive satisfaction in its field service to set a precedent for the entire customer journey. Customers are nothing like what they used to be decades ago. Starting in 1990, when we entered the age of information, there
ENERGUATE, completed its digital transformation with Smartflex
ENERGUATE, a subsidiary of IC Power and one of the largest electricity distribution companies in Central America, completed its digital transformation with Smartflex. ENERGUATE serves as the electricity service distributor for 88% of the municipalities in 91% of Guatemala’s departments, which accounts for over 1.7 million customers across the country. With a strong understanding of the need to improve its efficiency and productivity levels, ENERGUATE has successfully implemented the Smartflex solution, software that will upgrade its field operations and guarantee
Open launches Smartflex version 7.08.22 with new features to strengthen the telecommunication and utilities industries
Thriving to increase the efficiency of their clients and incorporate the latest standards of the industry, OPEN launches Release 22 of Smartflex version 7.08. This new release improves on the existing features as well as incorporating new ones. In this new version, OPEN introduces a Self-Service Portal that allows the service provider to address users’ requests 24/7. With this feature the user can access their billing, payment, and usage information, as well as submit complaints and claims. Users will also
Sempra International`s subsidiary in Chile, Chilquinta Energy, receives international award for its technological renovation with Smartflex
Chilquinta Chile, subsidiary of Sempra International, is the third largest electricity distributor in Chile. Sempra Energy companies develop energy infrastructure, operate utilities and provide related products and services to more than 32 million consumers worldwide. At the end of the year, The Colombian Software Federation, Fedesoft, with the support of the Ministry of Information and Technology, awarded Sempra International´s Chile subsidiary Chilquinta Energy, and Open International the prize for Best Industry Implementation for Project Clic!, which constituted in the roll
Smartflex Telecom
Get to know how a Customer Care Representative, a Field Service Representative and a Field Service technician interact with Smartflex.
Prepaid Energy: A growing commercial alternative that is here to stay
Prepaid services in the electric utility industry have experienced a boom in recent years, driven by both the evolving demands of consumers and the growing pressure on utilities to drive greater operational efficiency by simplifying processes and minimizing the financial burden of uncollectible debt. Over the last two decades, prepaid products and services have been on the rise as a commercial alternative across multiple industries. This paradigm shift shows no signs of slowing down and the electric utility industry is
Non-revenue water management, the challenge facing water and sewage companies
In an effort to increase earnings and achieve greater cost-efficiency, water and sewage companies must confront the critical task of reducing levels of non-revenue water, which can be caused by several factors, including leaks, meter inaccuracy or even theft. For this reason, it is imperative for companies to have technological tools that provide the right analytics capabilities that enable control and timely decision-making to support their loss mitigation efforts, revenue assurance and operational oversight In order to provide a standard
AES El Salvador begins to improve field operations with Smartflex
AES Corporation is one of the world’s largest energy companies, serving more than 10 million customers in 17 countries. One of its subsidiaries, AES El Salvador, distributes power to 1.3 million customers throughout its 4 affiliated companies: CAESS, CLESA, EEO, and DEUSEM. AES El Salvador, has recently started to roll-out its new Smartflex Field Service solution. With this solution, AES is managing a wide variety of field work orders such as installations, maintenance, and emergencies from a centralized dispatch center.
Gas Natural Fenosa implements Smartflex to launch its services in Peru
Gas Natural Fenosa partnered Open to support its operations. Gas Natural Fenosa, a global leader in gas and electricity integration, is a multinational group operating in more than 30 countries and serving over 23 million customers. As part of their strategic plan to begin operations in Peru, Gas Natural Fenosa acquired Smartflex, a cutting edge solution that will allow the company to begin commercial operations in the regions of Arequipa, Tacna, Ilo, and Moquegua. Carlos Andres Plata, responsible for the
Sempra International has completed its technological renovation in Chile with Smartflex
Chilquinta Energía S.A. successfully implemented their new customer care and field service solution: Smartflex, and is using Smartflex to manage all of its subsidiaries in its Valparaiso, Maule, and Biobio regions. Closing this year’s first trimester, Chilquinta Energía S.A., a daughter company of the Sempra International Group, successfully implemented their new customer care and field service solution: Smartflex. Chilquinta will now be able to seamlessly manage their customer care, sales, readings, billing, payment management, and collections from one integrated system.
Open introduces new multichannel customer self-service portal
Through this powerful new tool, customers will be able to check their account information, make payments, and submit requests 24/7. Users can say goodbye to long waits and lines to communicate with public service providers. Thanks to the new version of the Smartflex Self-Service Portal, they can access all of their billing and usage information and pay, anywhere, from their phone, laptop, or tablet. This component is natively integrated with Open’s CIS solution. It is the new channel of communication
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