Vodafone Global M2M Smart utilities solutions
Vodafone Global M2M 3 Vodafone Global M2M empowers organisations to transform their operations and business potential - giving freedom to explore new market opportunities, the information and insight to make business process and practice simpler and more cost efficient, and with access to real-time data, more control to better manage costs. Contents Introduction turning up the pressure 4 Smart metering intelligent consumption 6 Smarter homes a brighter future 8 Smart grids balancing the load 10 A smarter methodology 12 Vodafone Global M2M Leading the way 14
Vodafone Global M2M 5 Introduction turning up the pressure Across any device, located anywhere in the world, Machine to Machine (M2M) has the potential to provide your organisation with the data you need to reduce costs, enhance operations and develop new transaction-based business models. Realising this potential will be key to the generation of revenue and customer satisfaction in the future. Vodafone Global M2M is passionate about helping our customers to provide a secure and sustainable energy future for all of the countries in which they operate. The face of the energy and utility industry has changed radically. Former monopolies must now undergo a transformation into streamlined providers of consumer services in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Increasing scrutiny from investors, regulators and customers regarding social responsibility, sustainability and environmental matters have placed considerable pressure on providers to lower cost to serve and distribution costs, to reduce carbon emissions and to conserve valuable natural resources. There is further pressure on capital expenditure to modernise ageing networks, and old power plants, and remove major bottlenecks in both transmission and generation. On top of this, distributed renewable generation and electric vehicle charging are expected to make the supply and demand situation much more volatile. Every organisation in this highly competitive and regulated industry is now under a national and global microscope to take advantage of new sustainable technologies. The benefits of these technologies are considerable, including streamlining and simplifying of the organisation, increased efficiency and improved management of strategic resources. Vodafone Global M2M is already working with some of the world s leading energy and utility organisations to drive innovative M2M solutions. We are not only addressing these challenges but also leading the way to future applications that will successfully contribute to a significant reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions and help provide a secure and sustainable energy future.
Vodafone Global M2M 7 Smart metering intelligent consumption In the 25 years since smart meters were first deployed in numbers, the technology has progressed considerably. Smart metering is the cornerstone for future smart grids. Today smart metering is being used to facilitate a wide range of applications in the fields of remote meter reading, customer relationship management, demand-side management and value-added services. The first immediate benefit is the ability to provide business and residential customers with energy bills based on actual, rather than estimated, consumption. All improvements of the billing process contribute to improved cash flow, less bad debt, fewer complaints, and fewer inquiries over billing and payments. This in turn provides an improved experience for your customers and delivers competitive advantage for your business in an increasingly de-regulated landscape of energy providers. Smart metering is also an enabler for new pre-paid energy services that can be offered to customers who lack the funds for an up-front deposit or high pre-payments. Vodafone Global M2M has proven expertise in the delivery of automated meter management technology that can be used to collect live data and give your customers better control over their electric energy, gas usage or water consumption. We can provide a component SIM chip, which can be soldered into the meter during the production process. Ultracompact, robust and corrosion-resistant, it is fully compliant with the stringent specifications required in demanding environments such as extreme range of temperature and vibrations. During times when energy prices fluctuate rapidly, customers will transparently know what prices they are paying, precisely how much energy and utilities they are using, and where specifically it is being used. Remote connection and disconnection of customer sites is another attractive feature available with smart metering that shortens activity cycles and eliminates many field visits. Remote monitoring facilitates fraud detection, helping your business to minimise potential financial losses caused by energy theft. Smart meters are enabling energy and utilities companies to efficiently collect meter data and provide two-way communication and tailored offers for their residential, commercial and industrial customers. Smart Metering also provides a way to offer increasingly personalised services and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.
Vodafone Global M2M 9 Smarter homes a brighter future The energy infrastructure is becoming smarter day by day as utilities companies invest in remote monitoring systems, intelligent grid management and smart energy meters. Customers have come to expect an uninterrupted supply of energy to their homes, which are themselves filled with items that rely on this continuous supply. Usage information can be uploaded to a central hub in the home where it can be used to instantly meet comfort, cost or maintenance needs on an hour-by-hour basis. Smart M2M technology is already being applied to the appliances themselves, for example a smart chip within a fridge freezer or air conditioning unit that can power down the appliance when it is at the optimum temperature and power on again when required. Your customers will be able to interact with these intelligent appliances via their smart phones to operate them remotely, for example turning on or off central heating, lights or a washing machine. In turn, this stretches budgets further and means that problems can be isolated and resolved more quickly. As well as providing immediate and constant feedback on how building services are consumed, M2M can also place greater control over how the building operates. Smart sensors can be placed anywhere in the home without the need for permanent fixtures and can be easily moved to make readings more accurate. If sensors indicate there is a problem, they can alert the home owner as well as the utility provider, enabling your business to respond more effectively respond to your customers needs and schedule any service visits that may be required. Vodafone Global M2M can help you to use innovative new technology to strengthen and develop your customer relationships. We can show you how to use M2M to turn homes into smart buildings by allowing the consumption of services such as energy and sanitisation to be closely monitored and managed more effectively over their life cycle.
Vodafone Global M2M 11 Smart grids balancing the load Historically, energy supply has been a one-way process with the utility provider supplying energy across the grid with no ability to gain feedback or insight from this supply. Smart grids makes the grid itself more intelligent, so monitoring and measurement information can be gathered in order to contribute to improved efficiency and reliability in energy distribution. Benefits in most cases will be indiscernible to the general public but will make a significant difference to your business. These include fewer and reduced outages, reductions in network energy losses, more efficient energy markets and improved conditions for producers of renewable energy. Smart grids will lead to better use of alternative power supplies, drive energy conservation, and ultimately provide significant competitive advantage and differentiation to those suppliers that choose to embrace these new technologies. Smart grids allow your customers to selfgenerate and sell excess power back to the grid with minimal technical or regulatory barriers, providing a positive and cooperative relationship between your business and its customers. Smart grids have arguably the biggest potential to alter the way electrical power is consumed; linked to smart meters in homes they transparently indicate how much is being used and at what price, allowing utilities companies to price power supply more accurately based on demand and therefore run their business models more effectively. Smart sensors in the grid, industrial buildings and in consumer homes can predict when demand will be highest and automatically adjust price to encourage business users and consumers to switch off. To reduce peak period power demand of devices such as air conditioning units, electric water heaters, pool pumps and other powerdraining items, M2M automatically switches to zero power. Consumers have the option of keeping them on at premium charge, or of running them using electricity that was consumed at a lower price and stored in batteries. Vodafone Global M2M can help you to overcome the challenges of long distances, large numbers of sites and rugged terrain. We can help you use innovative M2M technologies to create a single integrated system that monitors and controls flows, ensures the network is safe and delivers to peak demand when necessary. Vodafone Global M2M can help you to deepen the relationship you have with your customers. You can create opportunities for value-added services that will increase loyalty, introduce new dynamic pricing models, and reward energy efficiency and create competitive advantage.
Vodafone Global M2M 13 A smarter methodology Our phased implementation approach is individually tailored to the needs of your business to ensure your M2M solution delivers the results you require. Phase 1 - planning All M2M utilities projects require careful planning and clearly defined goals. We will work with you to fully understand and define the strategic business drivers behind your M2M needs, what you are aiming to achieve and why. Our experienced team of Solutions Architects, Project Managers and Service Delivery Managers will ensure your solution is designed, tested and delivered to the highest possible standards. We then assess how technology can be best applied to help you achieve your strategic goals. We can help you build a business case with defined ROI and measurable KPIs, and of course a blueprint for successful deployment. The utilities industry has formed around a complex value chain that includes meter vendors, software developers, and IT and communication solution providers. Vodafone Global M2M has established strategic partnerships with the world s leading meter vendors, data management and systems integrators. Phase 2 testing Vodafone Global SIMs can be provisioned in an inactive or active state and shipped to a fabrication plant to test, allowing access to services but limited by duration or usage. This Quality Assurance phase enables any potential issues to be identified up-front prior to major rollout. In addition, devices can be tested to provide a benchmark of normal behaviour, so issues at a later date are easier to identify. Once the testing phase is complete, activations can be managed online via the Vodafone Global M2M Service Platform, which includes a comprehensive suite of management tools, including the ability to centrally activate, suspend and deactivate devices at the click of a button. A centrally hosted, secure self-service portal that delivers authentication and access control, and real-time usage and management of any global SIM on any mobile network. It has an easy to use web interface that allows authorised users to access the vital real-time management information you need to reduce the complexity and cost of your M2M solution. Vodafone can also activate the SIM for you, or can integrate it into your own application interface. Phase 3 rollout and integration The rollout phase and integration with new or existing IT systems is possibly the most critical phase. The day-to-day operation of a smart metering system is a long-term obligation lasting for ten years or more. It is vital for a successful implementation to work with a reliable partner with solid, proven expertise in delivering complex M2M solutions on a local, regional and global scale if that is what is required. Phase 4 maintenance and ongoing management Vodafone Global M2M Service Platform used to manage and maintain connections Your dedicated Service Delivery Manager will support you to plan service improvements and act as your single point of contact within Vodafone Helpdesk to helpdesk support our experienced helpdesk will be available 24/7 to support your own internal help desk teams.
Vodafone Global M2M 15 Vodafone Global M2M leading the way Vodafone has more than 20 years of proven experience in the M2M arena. We can bring together and manage all the elements of a global M2M deployment from consultancy through to business and residential user support. Vodafone is leading the way in the M2M arena with clients across globe. We are uniquely positioned to give you managed connectivity that is reliable, cost effective and universal. Vodafone Global M2M has the team in place, with the expertise required, to help you develop new service-based propositions and revenue streams and connect your business with its end users in a way that has not been possible before. We can supply the specialist M2M support you require to reduce costs, enhance operations and develop new transactionbased business models including:. One Global SIM which can be provisioned in an inactive or active state and shipped to a fabrication plant to test, allowing access to services but limited by duration or usage. One price regardless of location we offer attractive tariffs for international data roaming that allow you to effectively forecast and manage costs, without having to worry about roaming charges. One Vodafone Network Vodafone has the largest mobile telecommunications network in the world, giving us direct influence and control over design and functionality. Smart methodology a rigorous approach to quality assurance and testing to ensure the best possible solution for your business. Global M2M Service Platform which provides a central point of control for all your data connections including the ability to centrally activate, suspend and deactivate devices at the click of a button. Bespoke Service Level Agreement your M2M solution will be supported by a bespoke M2M Service Level Agreement which guarantees performance levels across the globe, and provides greater transparency and predictability of costs. Experienced, dedicated team a global team of over 100 Technical Architects, Solutions Consultants and Service Delivery Managers to support you every step of the way. Strategic partnerships We work in partnership with the world s leading meter vendors, and data management and systems integrators, participate in relevant industry bodies and contribute to standards developments. When you choose Vodafone as your M2M Service Provider, we will build the strong foundations required to ensure the long-term success of your M2M deployment. To learn more about how we can help you to costeffectively and quickly develop, deploy and maintain a successful global M2M solution please contact your Vodafone Account Manager.
Vodafone Global M2M With a standardised platform across the largest global 3G network, Vodafone Global M2M enables company systems to communicate cross borders and empowers organisations to transform their operations and business potential - giving freedom to explore new market opportunities, the information and insight to make business process and practice simpler and more cost efficient, and with access to real time data, more control to better manage costs. m2m.vodafone.com m2m_0008/10/16 Vodafone Group 2010. This document is issued by Vodafone in confidence and is not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of Vodafone. Vodafone and the Vodafone logos are trademarks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. The information contained in this publication is correct at time of going to print. Such information may be subject to change, and services may be modified supplemented or withdrawn by Vodafone without prior notice. All services are subject to terms and conditions, copies of which may be obtained on request.