Wed, 12/07/2016 - 07:12

TREVOSE, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2016)—To further the creation of digital solutions that address pressing issues in water distribution and management, GE’s Water & Process Technologies has entered into cooperation agreements with two leading water analytics and water technology providers, WaterSmart Software and Smart Earth Technologies (SET). “Using data, remote control and analytics, we are working to transform the way water utilities operate, helping them run more efficiently while also improving the service and value they provide to consumers,” Ralph Exton, chief marketing officer, GE’s Water & Process Technologies, said in a statement from the company. “Working with WaterSmart and SET, we will bring together their deep domain expertise and analytics technologies in unique ways to address these needs and add new value streams for water utilities.” With these agreements, Water & Process Technologies will help improve water utility efficiencies and enhance consumer engagement for customers by developing and evolving applications on its existing InSight asset performance management (APM) platform, according to the statement. The joint applications being developed include digital consumer communication and engagement tools that deliver billing information, leak identification, remote valve control, resolution notifications and deep insights into water usage. This information will make it easier for consumers to understand their water consumption habits, save money and protect their property from costly water damage. For utilities, these customer self-service applications will reduce the cost to service consumer accounts by proactively addressing customer concerns, minimizing the need for on-site visits and improving payment performance, according to GE. “At WaterSmart, our proven customer engagement and analytics platform helps strengthen relationships between a utility and its customers by connecting them through proactive data insights and enabling the customer to take control of their water spend,” said Robin Gilthorpe, chief executive officer, WaterSmart. “We also stimulate customer engagement and satisfaction by enabling them to choose the time and method to receive key information from the utility. These capabilities will further scale Water & Process Technologies’ digital solutions to best serve its global water utility customers.” As it continues to build out its digital capabilities, Water & Process Technologies also is helping to shape the future of the water industry by creating a more connected and informed environment for municipalities and utilities. “Having an in-depth understanding of how, when and where water is used can provide invaluable insights for both utilities and consumers,” said David Duncan, chief executive officer, SET. “Working with Water & Process Technologies, we will be able to utilize digital capabilities and industry expertise to create an engaging and mutually beneficial solution for consumers and utilities to better manage and control water consumption.” The consumer application development initiative adds to Water & Process Technologies' suite of software proof of concepts currently under development, according to GE. Previously announced proof of concepts include a pipeline health solution with American Water and a storm and sewer overflows solution with MWH Global.