With the smart meter rollout in full swing across Australia, Energy looks at a key partnership enabling the adoption of these digital devices.
Intellihub has been driving widespread deployment, overseeing more than 2.5 million advanced meters and holding contracts with network operators and more than 20 major retailers across Australia and New Zealand.
Central to this work has been Intellihub’s partnership with Droppoint, a first-of-its-kind inventory and managed logistics solution.
To help its field crews navigate their extensive work schedule and meet specific smart meter order requirements, Intellihub engaged and distributed inventory to field service providers (FSPs) across Australia to get the job done.
Droppoint has played an important role in the organisation of this inventory, ensuring stock across the network is always positioned in the best location to improve the efficiency of installations.
Each inventory location has been configured to FSP specifications, including dedicated areas for returns, refurbishment, and disposal. Two-factor authentication has ensured only authorised personnel can access materials.
Droppoint’s proprietary materials orchestration software (MOS) has provided the platform for Intellihub to manage its inventory, providing real-time insights into inventory consumption and lifecycle and enabling data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
This partnership has unlocked a range of productivity benefits, creating an additional 2–3 jobs per technician per week while improving scanning compliance by at least 10 per cent.
Moreover, a 30 per cent reduction in depot holdings has boosted the agility of FSPs.
“The Droppoint solution allows technician inventory collection near their home location or job site, increasing their jobs per week and supporting greater ease of processing,” Intellihub general manager – supply chain and procurement Stuart Sproull said.
The Australian Energy Market Commission made a ruling in November 2024 requiring total smart meter deployment across the National Electricity Market by 2030.
With the accelerated rollout beginning in December 2025, Droppoint will be a key partner in supporting in-field inventory and logistics requirements throughout this transition.
Head here to learn more about Droppoint.
