1. Manual Read App

Manual Read App

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Manual Read App icon

The NextCentury Manual Read app lets Readers collect manual meter reads quickly, with fewer errors. Reads are stored securely in the NextCentury Cloud, where users can view up to 6 months of read history.

Once a manual read property is set up in the NextCentury Web Portal, users can be assigned to it as Readers. Readers can also keep track of due dates, grace periods, number of units, notes, meter locations, and more.

This article covers using the app to view and record reads. To set up a manual read property, see Set up a manual read property.

Before you start

Download the Manual Read app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS). You can also search the store for "Manual Reads".

Google Play Store and Apple App Store logos on either side of the Manual Read App icon, green NextCentury waves on a light gray rounded square.

Open the app and sign in with your NextCentury username and password.

The Manual Read App sign-in screen on a phone: the Next Century logo and the words Manual Read App, above a box with the Username or Email and Password fields, a blue LOGIN button and a Forgot Password? link. The app version (v2.4.9 in this example) and a Terms and Conditions link are below the box.

Each Reader should have their own sign-in. A Billing Company or property admin can add more Readers in the NextCentury Web Portal.

The app works on iOS and Android devices. Older devices may have performance or compatibility issues.

Record reads

After you sign in, your assigned properties are listed. The color of each property's due date shows its status.

The Manual Read App property list after signing in. Each property shows its name and address on the left, and on the right the number of meters above the due date and a calendar icon. The due date's color shows its status: in this example Mar 20 is red, Mar 26 yellow, Apr 1 and Apr 3 green, and Apr 16 gray. Search, help and account icons are at the top right.

Color legend for the property due dates, next to the property list. Reads Overdue (red): properties marked red have passed the grace period and are overdue. Grace Period (yellow): properties marked yellow have passed the read due date, but are still within the grace period set by the billing company. Ready to Read (green): properties marked green are approaching the due date and are ready to be read. Reads Finished (gray): properties marked gray have synced their reads for the most recent due date. Lines join each due date in the list to its status: Mar 20 to Reads Overdue, Mar 26 to Grace Period, Apr 1 and Apr 3 to Ready to Read, and Apr 16 to Reads Finished.

Open the color legend at full size

Select a property to start collecting reads there. To find a property, use the search bar at the top.

Two Manual Read App screens joined by a line. Left, the property list; the line runs from El Dorado Hills Apartments (in this example). Right, that property open: its name at the top with a back arrow, a sort icon (up and down arrows) and a menu (three dots), then its units, Unit 101 to Unit 203 in this example, each with its last read and a water icon, and a small route number in the corner. Below the list are a Submit button and the text When you are finished, tap Submit to finish this session, and the meter count is at the bottom left.

The Manual Read App property list with the search bar open at the top. El Dorado is typed in the search field, and the list shows only the matching property, El Dorado Hills Apartments in this example. An X at the right end of the field clears the search.

Sort the units by unit name or by route order.

Two Manual Read App screens of a property's units, with the sort menu open below the sort icon (up and down arrows) next to the property name. Left, Unit Name is selected: the units are in name order, and the unit names are outlined in red. Right, Route is selected: the units are in route order, and the route numbers in the top-right corner of each row are outlined in red. Each option has up and down arrows.

Route order is the order reads should be recorded in. It's set for the property in the NextCentury Web Portal. If no route order is set, one is created automatically from the order of the first reads you record. To configure it, see Set up a manual read property.

Select a unit. To find one, use the search bar while viewing the property.

The Manual Read App with a property open (El Dorado Hills Apartments in this example) and the search bar open at the top. 10 is typed in the search field, and the matching units are listed: Unit 101, then Unit 102.

Enter the read for the meter. Select the camera icon to add a photo of the meter, or take a new one.

Three Manual Read App screens. First, a property's unit list; a line runs from Unit 101 to the next screen. Second, the unit's read window over the list: 1 - Unit 101 at the top, with the last read (1,995 as of 1 hour ago) and the utility type (Cold Water). The new read, 2104 in this example, is typed in the read field, with a camera icon at its right end. Below are Can't get a read?, Comments and Details, and along the bottom Back, Close and Next. Third, a red arrow points from the camera icon to a photo of the meter, which now shows in its place.

Select Next to go to the next meter in the list.

Two Manual Read App screens joined by a line from the Next button. Left, the read window for 1 - Unit 101, with the read 2104 and a meter photo entered; Next is at the bottom right. Right, the read window for the next meter, 1 - Unit 102 (All Water in this example), with an empty Enter meter read field and a camera icon.

Units with more than one meter

Some units have more than one utility type. Make sure you enter each read for the correct utility meter.

The Manual Read App with a property open, listing units that have more than one meter. Each of these units has two rows, outlined together in red: Unit 101, Unit 102, Unit 103 and Unit 201 in this example. One row of each pair has a blue water icon and the other a red one.

Comments and meter details

To view comments, select Comments. To add one, select the Add comment field, type your comment, and select + to post it.

Three Manual Read App screens. First, a unit's read window (1 - Unit 102 in this example) with Comments outlined in red, between Can't get a read? and Details. Second, the Meter Comments screen with no comments yet (Looks like there's no comments yet. Add the first comment below!). A comment is typed in the field at the bottom, Meter is inside utility room in carport. Lock code is 9876 in this example, with the keyboard open. Third, the posted comment at the top of Meter Comments, with the poster's email address and just now, and an empty Add comment field at the bottom.

To view more about the meter and unit, select Details: the utility type, description, meter details, and previous read. Tap the down arrow on the Previous Read line for more about the most recent read.

Three Manual Read App screens. First, a unit's read window (1 - Unit 102 in this example) with Details outlined in red, at the right. Second, the unit's details: the unit name in a blue header, then the utility type (All Water), the description (No Description), the meter (Generic (x1 Gallons)) and Previous Read with a down arrow at the right. Third, Previous Read opened (Mar 10 Read in this example): the read, 1,985, and who entered it, then the pulse count (1,985) times the multiplier (x 1), giving 1,985 gallons.

Reading with other Readers

Several Readers can collect reads at the same property, at the same time or at different times. If you're reading at the same time, agree on your routes to save time. Every Reader has to submit their reads before the property can be marked complete.

Submit reads

Check that every meter is complete. A utility icon turns green once its read is recorded, and the number of completed meters shows in the lower-left corner.

The Manual Read App with a property open (El Dorado Hills Apartments in this example) and two reads recorded. Each recorded read shows as white numbers in a green box: 2,104 for Unit 101 and 244.52 for the second Unit 101 row, which also has a photo icon. A red arrow points to the meter count at the bottom left, 2 of 20.

The Manual Read App with a property open and every read recorded: each unit's read is in a green box, and the meter count at the bottom left, outlined in red, reads 20 of 20. The blue Submit button is below the last unit.

Select Submit Reads at the bottom of the screen or in the upper-right menu, then select Yes to confirm. You need an internet connection for this step.

Two Manual Read App screens. Left, a property with all 20 of 20 reads recorded; the menu button (three dots) at the upper right is circled in red, and a bracket joins it and the Submit button at the bottom of the list to the next screen. Right, the Submit? window: Only submit if you are done reading this property, with No and Yes buttons.

Wait for the progress bar to finish. When the reads are uploaded, the property moves to the bottom of the list with the next cycle's due date.

Three Manual Read App property lists. First, right after submitting, the property (El Dorado Hills Apartments in this example) shows 20 of 20 and SUBMITTED in green, with a blue progress bar along the bottom of its row. Second, a red arrow points to the same property, now marked UPLOADED. Third, the property has moved to the bottom of the list with its next due date, May 1 in this example.

Reference

Utility types

Each utility type has its own icon.

Cold Water
Hot Water
All Water
Commercial Water
Electric
Gas
Runtime
Thermal

Can't get a read?

If you can't record a read, select Can't get a read? and choose the reason.

Two Manual Read App screens. Left, a unit's read window (1 - Unit 102 in this example) with Can't get a read? outlined in red, at the left. Right, the list of reasons that opens from the bottom of the screen: Other, Access Obstructed, Tenant Refused Access, Unable To Access, Equipment Issue, Cannot Find Equipment, Missing Equipment and Unit Is Closed, with Cancel below.

Reason When to use it
Access Obstructed Something is blocking access to the meter.
Tenant Refused Access The current resident won't let you into the unit.
Unable to Access There's no way to reach the meter.
Equipment Issue The meter or other equipment is damaged or faulty.
Cannot Find Equipment The equipment isn't where it should be and can't be found.
Missing Equipment The equipment has been removed or is missing.
Unit is Closed The business or unit is closed and the meter can't be reached.
Other None of the other reasons applies.

Troubleshooting

I didn't get an activation email

When you're assigned to a property, an activation email is sent to you with a link to create your NextCentury sign-in. If it didn't arrive, contact your Billing Company or Contractor to check which email address they used.

A property I'm assigned to isn't listed

Properties are listed only for Readers whose email addresses are assigned to them. A property may also disappear if it was transferred away from your Contractor's or Billing Company's portfolio.

Contact your Contractor or Billing Company for help. To assign Readers to a property, see Set up a manual read property.

A property stays in "Uploaded" status

The property stays in Uploaded status while more reads or images still need to be uploaded, or while a Reader has a session open. Tap the property to see the status of the reads and which Readers have an open session. The property's reads are complete only once all reads are uploaded and all sessions are closed.

Open sessions are counted by device, not by user, so one person can have sessions open on several devices. To close a session, submit from that device, even if it has no reads to upload.

Two Manual Read App screens. Left, the property list, with a property (El Dorado Hills Apartments in this example) marked 11 of 20 and UPLOADED in green. Right, that property's upload status: under Reads, 0 Uploading, 11 Uploaded and 0 Failed; under Images, 0 Uploading, 0 Uploaded and 0 Failed; and under Waiting on Readers, a Reader's email address with Started 14 minutes ago.

Due to updated regulations and product improvements, Next Meters reserves the right to change the product specifications without notice.