SOGEXI keeps the lights on with AirVantage

Based in France, Sogexi is the European leader in the outdoor street lighting sector.

“We selected Sierra Wireless for their excellent level of expertise and their capacity to provide turn-key M2M solutions, such as the AirVantage Services Platform, whatever the trade requirement,” explained Marc Villez, CEO of Sogexi. “We have total confidence in the application we developed together. It is perfectly adapted to our objective: allowing our customers to have access to efficient and simple public lighting management.”

Challenges

Sogexi wanted to offer its customers, both French and other European municipalities, a more efficient means of managing their public lighting and optimizing their energy consumption. In order to do so, Sogexi began investigating the possibility of implementing a global remote management solution for its street lighting systems.

Solution

Sogexi partnered with Sierra Wireless to develop a hardware and software solution utilizing the advanced remote management capabilities provided by the AirVantage™ Services Platform. While Sogexi relied on its Tegis box and communications modules to detect and deliver fault messages, landline connectivity at lighting points limited simultaneous communication and caused delays in power reduction orders that had to be sent to each box manually and in turn.

The AirVantage Services Platform enabled Sogexi to move from expensive, limited landline connectivity to more cost effective and reliable 3G cellular communications. Operating data could be collected in real-time and viewed through a simple Web interface.  Breakdown detection and response became quicker through automated actions, including event filing and remote programming of Tegis boxes. Communication between the server and the box is now made using an IP network, thus making all the boxes globally accessible, for a reduced cost. Energy efficiency is optimized by remote and automatic switch off and switch down of street lighting systems according to the sunrise and sunset, and the smart metering functionalities allow municipalities to have real-time vision of their energy consumption.

Sogexi’s remote management solution using the AirVantage Services Platform provides the following benefits:

• Increased customer satisfaction with rate of operation close to 100% for the entire set of lighting units
• Enhanced reactions with faster breakdown detection and analysis viewed online and in real-time
• Reduced cost of maintenance operations by eliminating on-site lighting checks and improving power reduction process
• Eliminated training required with easy-to-use interface and workflow
• Cut energy costs and optimize energy efficiency