A whopping 96% of customers don't contact a business when an issue arises, and nearly 60% of customers are happy to switch to a new company if they believe it will treat them better. It costs as much as 7 times more to find a new customer than it does to retain an existing one, so it's important to keep your utility customers happy so they don't seek a new provider. Data historian software, also known as process historian software, helps you provide a satisfactory experience for your customers, whether you provide electricity to a large city or natural gas to a rural community. Utilize data historian software at your utility company to take advantage of these 3 impressive consumer benefits.
Performance Tracking
Track the performance of on-site and off-site utility equipment, such as electrical boxes and gas meters, with process historian software. This benefits customers because it lets your company quickly respond as soon as a technical glitch or other issue occurs.
Here are some things you might want to track with data historian software:
- The stability of power grid systems
- Synchrophasor performance
- The capacity of different machines
- Equipment temperatures
- Fan speeds in cooling units
- Cycles of heating and cooling systems
- Costs associated with on-site equipment use
You can track a variety of equipment types, regardless of their brands or models, in real time. If you need additional ideas for performance tracking, schedule a chat with a data historian representative to explore your options.
Trend Monitoring
Data historian software helps you establish utility trends, whether you track the amount of power customers use or monitor how equipment performs over time. By monitoring trends, you can predict when equipment is likely to glitch and prepare for potential issues. This makes it easier to prevent downtime that may frustrate customers.
You can also track personal utility trends for each of your customers so that they can budget accordingly for their bills. Consider sharing a 12-month report so customers can see how monthly costs fluctuate as a result of extreme weather or price changes. Encouraging customers to plan ahead for utility expenses may help your company minimize the number of disconnections it performs, freeing up employees to focus on other tasks.
Accountants may want to track payment trends for the entire customer database to predict when many utility users struggle to pay their monthly bills on time. A month or two before you anticipate a large number of delayed payments, you can send out an email or brochure that details how to apply for energy assistance through LIHEAP or local charitable organizations. If applicable, you may also want to provide information about donating used appliances in exchange for a utility bill credit. Making it easy for customers to remain current on their utility bills, even during difficult times, helps you establish a positive, ongoing business relationship.
Digital Recording
Many utility companies rely on texts, emails, and website updates to share information quickly with their customers. Data historian software captures important data via digital recording, which means that results are available right away - sometimes even immediately. Instead of making customers wait for their next utility bill to come in the mail, you can use software to share:
- Daily utility costs so customers know exactly how much they owe - and why they owe it - before their billing statements arrive
- Power outages or other issues that impact a significant portion of the area(s) you service
- Environmental issues that may affect the grid stability
If you've never used data historian software before, you might be wondering whether it's a good fit for your utility company. Contact a data historian software provider to learn more about how installation can benefit your customers.
Share