|
30,000 of these Simputer-printed bills are given out every month in Gulbarga.
|
|
|
|
Bellary Computers MD Mr. T. Sridhar at PicoPeta's office: "Simputers have helped us achieve accountability, efficiency, transparency and quality."
|
|
|
Screenshot of the application: the Simputer's screen is large enough for the
entire application front-end to be just one page. Of course, the simple
front-end masks the rather complex logic running in the back-end.
|
|
|
Screenshot of customized keyboard for spot billing: consumer numbers have only numbers and a
few letters (A, E, H and P), so why have a full keyboard? A small improvement
that makes life a lot easier on the field.
|
|
When M/S Bellary Computers won a contract to automate the electricity billing
process in Bellary (Karnataka), they turned to the BEL-PicoPeta Simputer.
Because they found in the Simputer all the attributes that would help them meet
Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company's (GESCOM) brief - bring in efficiency,
transparency and quality to the billing process.
Bellary Computers' first step was to see how their pre-existing PC-based billing
software written in C) could be ported to the Simputer. The rest, as they say,
is history!
TECHNICAL PHASE
To their sheer delight, PicoPeta's technical team helped Bellary Computers port
their PC-based C program to the Simputer in a matter of a few hours. PicoPeta's
engineers even put together a specially-customized keyboard consisting of only
the letters and numbers that a meter reader needs to use. A few more hours spent
optimizing the code to ensure optimum running speeds on the Simputer, and an
electricity spot billing solution was ready to go.
USAGE PHASE
Armed with a small handheld package consisting of a Simputer and an impact
printer, tens of meter readers have been on the field in Bellary since April
2003. And the results have been astounding:
-
Meter readers leave every morning, with their Simputers reflecting the very
latest payment status for 50,000+ customers - as opposed to the old manual
system which would not account for bill payment in the last 2-3 days
On an average, one meter reader can now accurately bill 270 homes in one day,
as opposed to the 150 under the manual system - a tribute to the superior
usability and power of the Simputer
-
Consequently, the billing cycle has come down from 30 days to 15, which has
enabled them to collect money faster
-
The ultimate proof of the system's success is in the increased demand and
revenue - collections have gone up by 30-40% per month on an average, due to the
increased efficiency, accuracy, transparency and the tamper-proof nature of the
system
-
Billing info from the Simputers is fed into a server the same day, and the
electricity board has instant access to MIS
-
Vitally, the Simputer is a platform on which more functionality can be built -
for downloading data automatically from a meter, for bill payment and collection
OVER TO THE CUSTOMER
Mr. T. Sridhar, MD, Bellary Computers has this to say about the BEL-PicoPeta
Simputer:
"The Simputer is a platform, not a mere device. Its ease-of-use, power, memory and
relatively large screen give us the edge. And I am convinced that it will go
from strength-to-strength, given PicoPeta's outstanding engineers.
With the success of our Spot Billing program in Gulbarga, we look forward to
taking the Simputer into other areas - like bill payment with a credit-card
interface.
I would highly recommend the Simputer to electricity boards nationwide."
PARTNER WITH US
We could work together in developing a customized spot-billing solution if you are any of the following:
- Electricity Board of any state in India
- Electricity Meter Manufaturer
- Service Providers / Equipment Suppliers / Contractors to Electricity Boards
- Software Developers for Electrcity Boards
Please get in touch with us at the details provided here. You could read more about
Simputer usage in spot billing in our Products and Services section.
SHOWCASE PROJECTS IN OTHER BUSINESS DOMAINS
- Microfinance
- Office Administration
- Science & Technology