In many buildings and industrial sites, utility measurement and billing still live in a gap between “we read the meter” and “we actually understand what happened.” Raw numbers—flow, energy, and temperature—are useful, but they don’t by themselves create trust, operational agility, or cost control. That’s the exact gap ConnectME Solutions and Dicode Technologies close together: accurate, non-invasive measurement at IoT depth, combined with fast, actionable controls — all without shutting a single pipe or disrupting operations.
In this blog we explain the approach end-to-end: how clamp-on measurement and UFLO BTU & water metering give precise, no-cut data; how Techknave Smart Valves turn measurement into action; and how the joint platform turns streams of sensor readings into transparent billing, operational accountability, and real business insight.
Why non-invasive measurement matters (no downtime, no leaks, no pressure drops)
Traditional meter installs often require cutting pipes, stopping the line, and temporarily disrupting service. That’s costly and sometimes simply not possible in continuous-operation facilities. ConnectME + Dicode flip the model:
Techknave Clamp-On ultrasonic flow sensors attach to the pipe exterior — no cutting, no splicing, no isolation valves, and no risk of introducing leaks or pressure changes. They work on the principle of transit-time or Doppler ultrasonic measurement, so you get accurate instantaneous flow without touching the fluid.
UFLO BTU & Water Meters provide thermal energy (BTU) and volumetric flow data crucial for HVAC billing and chilled/hot water networks. When installed in a non-invasive configuration or integrated using flow + temperature sensors, they deliver energy figures needed for building sub-metering.
Result: zero downtime for installation and commissioning. That means measurement projects are low-risk, fast to roll out, and can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure.
“At ConnectME Solutions, our goal has always been to make data meaningful — not just measurable. Together with Dicode Technologies, we’re transforming every utility reading into actionable insight that drives efficiency, transparency, and accountability.”– KOTHANDAPANI (KOTHS), IIOT SPECIALIST AT CONNECTME SOLUTIONS
From measurement to trust: accuracy, verification, and auditability
Measurement by itself is only good if stakeholders trust it. The combined solution addresses that:
Calibration & verification: devices are installed and validated with in-field verification (benchmarks against known flows, temperature cross-checks).
ConnectME’s deployment playbook includes a verification log so facility managers can prove readings were correct from day one.
Time-stamped raw data + metadata: every sample carries pipe ID, device serial, measurement confidence, and environmental metadata. That makes later audits straightforward.
Immutable recording & export: data streams are retained and exportable in standard formats (CSV, JSON) and can be fed into billing engines or third-party auditing tools.
The outcome: when a bill arrives, there’s evidence behind it—not just a number.
Turning data into action — Techknave Smart Valves close the loop
Measurement is step one. Acting on it is the leap to efficiency:
Smart Valves provide remote on/off and throttling control with millisecond response and secure command channels. Instead of sending a technician to a site, an operator can isolate a loop, throttle flow to balance loads, or shut off a faulty branch from the central console.
Faster decisions, fewer sprints: anomalies can be responded to instantly — no one needs to run across the facility to physically operate valves. That reduces human delay, error, and safety exposure.
Graceful intervention: because the measurement is clamp-on and non-disruptive, valve actions are limited to control only — not for meter installation. That avoids creating transient pressure faults when attempting to meter or act.
Together, measurement + valve control enable scenarios like:
Automated leak isolation (close valve upon sustained abnormal reverse flow)
Demand shaping (reduce supply to low-priority loops during peak)
Emergency shutdowns triggered by temperature or combined sensor thresholds
How the integrated platform looks
A simple reference flow:
1. Edge measurement layer: Techknave Clamp-On + UFLO meters sample flow, temperature, energy at prescribed intervals (e.g., 1s–1min raw, averaged to 15min for billing).
2. Local gateway (Dicode/ConnectME device): aggregates sensors, performs local diagnostics, and provides encrypted uplink (MQTT/HTTPS) to the cloud.
3. Cloud analytics & billing engine: transforms readings into consumption, BTU calculations, and allocation logic; generates transparent bills with evidence attachments.
4. Control plane: command channel to Techknave Smart Valves for remote actuation; role-based UI for operations teams.
5. Audit & reports: exportable logs, KPI dashboards, SLA alerts.
This architecture preserves safety, provides secure remote operations, and maintains a clean chain of evidence for billing disputes.
Practical use cases — where this combo shines
Multi-tenanted buildings: allocate heating/cooling BTU and water charges fairly, with audit trails per tenant.
Industrial processes: measure line flows without shutdowns; remotely isolate a defective line while maintaining production elsewhere.
District cooling / central plants: meter branch usage without cutting the main distribution pipe; use smart valves to balance plant load.
Billing & recovery: automatic invoice generation with embedded measurement files to reduce disputes and accelerate collections.
KPIs you can expect to improve
Billing disputes — clear evidence reduces argument windows.
Time-to-isolation — from minutes/hours to seconds via remote valve control.
Unbilled consumption — detect and close unmetered usage.
Operational cost — fewer site visits, faster incident response.
SLA compliance — automatic alerts and actions for thresholds.
Security, compliance & governance
Encrypted device management and firmware signing prevent tampering.
Role-based access for view vs control (avoid accidental valve actuation).
Retention policies for measurement records aligned to regulatory requirements (useful for municipal audits).
Change logs for any remote valve action — who, when, why — which is essential for accountability.
Measuring utilities accurately is necessary — but not sufficient. The ConnectME Solutions × Dicode Technologies approach is targeted, practical, and end-to-end: non-invasive, verifiable measurement (Techknave Clamp-On + UFLO BTU/Water metering) combined with remote actuation (Techknave Smart Valves) and a secure analytics/billing layer. The result is measurable savings, transparent billing, and operational speed — all without shutting a line or creating avoidable risk.
With non-invasive metering and smart control, we’re proving that accuracy and transparency don’t need downtime — just the right connection between innovation and intent.
Measure Smart. Manage Smarter.
