New mobile phone app to boost water billing revenue

By STANDARD REPORTER

A local firm has unveiled a mobile phone application that will see water services providers increase revenue and boost service delivery.

 The service enables providers to read their metres using a mobile phone and can send data directly for a billing process to be initiated.

Rop Kiplagat, the Managing Director of Computing Development Strategies, the developer of the application, said the electronic device records data over time hence the affordability of the application.

The application uses smart phones which are less costly compared to data loggers. “The cost of ownership and rising costs of water production is forcing water services providers to get innovative in their service delivery,” said Kiplagat.

Reduce errors

The application offers reports of metres read and the ones not read. The Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company Ltd is already using the technology.

“This shift will allow the metre readers to send data online for billing as well as reduce errors and customer complaints,” said Japheth Mutai, Nakuru Water and Sanitation Company Chief Executive. Nanyuki Water and Sewerage Company has also piloted the solution that is expected to cut the billing cycle by over four days.

 GIZ Technical Advisor to Kericho Water Sewerage Company, Michael Wolf said a mobile-reading application could reduce the current challenges of estimated metre readings, lost data and late reporting of readings.

 “Mobiles are more user-friendly than data loggers. Their use could in future improve the monitoring of the metre readers,” said Mr Wolf.