As the networking of energy industry processes advances, there is a growing need to connect the Internet-of-Things (IoT) world and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in terms of systems technology so that automated data transfer is possible. Digimondo, IoT software specialist, and items, full-service provider for the utilities industry, have therefore developed an "IoT-ERP Bridge". With this software - also known as middleware - it is possible to transfer remotely read sensor data and meter readings, for example for water and district heating meters, load profile imports for tenant electricity, readings for charging current or parameters for monitoring transformer units, to an ERP system and use them there. The benefits for users from the energy industry: greater security, shorter processing times, more flexibility and cost efficiency. The solution has been successfully in use at enercity AG in Hanover for around a year.
The idea of developing an IoT ERP bridge had been on items' mind for some time. The opportunity to stringently advance the implementation arose in the first wave of the Corona Pandemic 2020. "Our approach was to develop a lean solution that is easy to use, has low operating costs and offers maximum flexibility in the connection of ERP systems," explains Alexander Sommer (pictured), who is responsible for the Innovation & Digital Networks topic area at items. "That's why we decided on an API that can be addressed by any system." The IoT ERP Bridge developed at items is based on Microsoft Azure and is a cloud solution.
Items and Digimondo are working closely together on the development and further design and are also marketing the product together. In the future, the middleware will be firmly anchored in Digimondo's IoT platform niota and can be activated directly from there.
Successful pilot project in tenant electricity
Digimondo shareholder enercity was the first user right at the beginning of 2021 to digitise selected processes. In the tenant electricity projects of the energy service provider, which is based in Hanover and active throughout Germany, it was possible to decisively digitise and automate the transfer of measurement data via the IoT ERP Bridge right away. In a short time, the process and data quality were improved and the personnel costs optimised.
"We are currently introducing the system at two other utilities," reports Alexander Sommer. "The projects are usually completed within three to four weeks. Other municipal utilities and energy suppliers are expressing interest in the solution."
Simple integration into billing
"The remote readability of meters is a necessary precondition for some energy products and is increasingly required by the legislator, for example in the Metering Point Operation Act and in the Ordinance on Consumption Metering and Billing for the Supply of District Heating or District Cooling," explains Marcel Linnemann, Product Owner Digital Networks at items. "The IoT-ERP-Bridge offers the appropriate and easily implemented component for integration into classic billing processes."
"IoT-ERP-Bridge facilitates entry into new business areas"
Digimondo also sees great potential: "Data flows that are free of media discontinuities and automated are a prerequisite for the success of the energy transition," says Managing Director Christopher Rath (pictured). "With the IoT ERP Bridge, we provide utilities with a tool that makes it easier for them to enter new, data-based business fields and advances process efficiency."
items- enabler and platform for the digital city
items GmbH & Co. KG from Münster has been successfully operating as a full-service provider for the utilities and mobility sectors for over 20 years. As an industry specialist and innovation driver, items offers solutions consisting of IT infrastructure, consulting with a focus on cooperation platforms, IoT integration of smart city technologies and AI products. In addition to IT infrastructure incl. cloud services, SAP application and consulting solutions, items also offers a wide range of services in the area of process services - also based on highly automated robotics solutions and is also a service integrator of these areas. In its solution portfolio, items has, among other things, its own AI solutions, analysis and forecasting options for the challenges of smart cities in resource management in the area of water and for the optimisation of district heating networks. As an initiator of cooperation and networking, items is very successful in developing the basis for targeted operational cooperation between energy supply companies and is a driver for strategic exchange at city and regional level.
