About this app
This app enables efficient reading of electric meters. The electric meters are tagged with an inexpensive NFC tag that serves to identify the meter later. This avoids the electric meter number from being entered incorrectly.
The meter reading must be entered twice, thus minimizing incorrect entries of current meter readings.
After entering the meter reading, the difference value for the previous period of consumption is displayed automatically. The meter reader can then correct any initial errors with the recorded meter reading directly onsite.
In unusual cases, the meter reading can be photographed. This minimizes any further questions about the reading from the back office team and avoids multiple trips to the same electric meter during the same reading period.
It's possible to assign groups of meters to selected employees, (i.e. the facility manager of a property complex). This ensures that the responsible person in charge of each property reads their respective meters.
By recording the meter readings directly onsite with a mobile phone, the tedious and error prone transferring of meter readings from paper to digital form is no longer required.
The meter readings stored in the ginstr cloud are very useful as a foundation for further processing (i.e. in accounting or for tenant settlements).
The app also works with barcodes and QR codes. However, we recommend NFC tags as they can be easily read in low light conditions without problems because radio is used to identify the electric meter instead of a camera.
This app continuously replicates all user data with ginstr cloud.
The data can then be analysed, processed, sorted, filtered, exported and shared with other departments, such as accounting or dispatching, in ginstr web - the web based platform for use with all ginstr apps.
Link to ginstr web: https://sso.ginstr.com/
Features:
▶ setup of properties (via an office PC)
▶ setup of employees (via an office PC)
▶ setup of meters including assignment of a unique NFC tag number (via an office PC while setting up the system for a property)
▶ reading the electric meter (done with a smartphone based on the previously created master data)
All above-mentioned data can also be entered into the system via CSV import.
Benefits:
▶ accurate meter identification by NFC tag, barcode or QR code
▶ immediate plausibility check during data detection onsite
▶ no more tedious and error prone transferring of the data from paper to digital form necessary
▶ the data is available in real-time
▶ no reading records can be lost on the way to work
▶ usage-dependent invoices can be prepared immediately after the reading
▶ the electric meter can be photographed in unusual cases or during any reading event
The following data is collected:
Properties:
▶ property name
▶ registers all addresses automatically from the GPS coordinates when entering ▶ data (if GPS reception is available)
▶ registers date and time of data entry automatically
▶ comments
▶ each property can be assigned to one or more meter readers
Meter readers:
▶ username for the app
▶ first name
▶ surname
▶ registers dates and time of data entry automatically
Electric meters:
▶ NFC tag number/QR code number/barcode number
▶ assignment to a property
▶ meter number
▶ comments (i.e. place of installation in building)
▶ registers dates and time of data entry automatically
Readings:
▶ property
▶ meter number
▶ new meter reading
▶ difference value of the meter reading from the previous period
▶ photo of the meter
▶ records the logins of users
▶ registers dates and time of data entry automatically
▶ NFC tag number
This app is offered to you at no cost; however, in order to use the app in conjunction with the ginstr cloud you need to purchase a ginstr subscription.
App Permissions
Allows read only access to phone state, including the phone number of the device, current cellular network information, the status of any ongoing calls, and a list of any PhoneAccounts registered on the device.
Allows access to the list of accounts in the Accounts Service.
Allows an app to access approximate location.
Allows an app to access precise location.
Allows an application to initiate a phone call without going through the Dialer user interface for the user to confirm the call.
Required to be able to access the camera device.
Allows an application to record audio.
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows applications to access information about networks.
Allows applications to access information about Wi-Fi networks.
Allows applications to change Wi-Fi connectivity state.
Allows using PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming.
Allows applications to open network sockets.
Allows applications to perform I/O operations over NFC.
Allows access to the vibrator.
Allows applications to connect to paired bluetooth devices.
Allows applications to discover and pair bluetooth devices.
Allows an application to call killBackgroundProcesses(String].
Allows an application to receive the ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED that is broadcast after the system finishes booting.
This constant was deprecated in API level 21. No longer enforced.
Allows an application to request deleting packages.
Allows an application to expand or collapse the status bar.
Allows an app to create windows using the type TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY, shown on top of all other apps.
Allows an application to collect component usage statistics
Declaring the permission implies intention to use the API and the user of the device can grant permission through the Settings application.
Allows an application to read from external storage.
