Smart water metering has grown to a $6.8 billion global market, solidifying its position as a key driver of digital transformation for utilities. According to a new report, utilities are embracing advanced metering technologies to boost operational efficiency, recover revenue, and engage more actively with customers.
Metering systems - including advanced meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems - accounted for over 20% of utilities’ digital spending in 2024. These tools offer operators real-time visibility into underground networks and can help reduce the capacity stressors resulting from often shrinking utility workforces.
Beyond hardware, digital platforms and analytics are emerging as critical differentiators for meter infrastructure vendors. AI and machine learning is being used to detect leaks, forecast asset performance, and predict equipment failures. These tools shift utility operations from reactive to proactive and offer higher profit margins for technology providers.
The report offers an in-depth analysis of metering trends, business models, and vendor strategies. It’s based on over a decade of Bluefield Research's proprietary data and is available for purchase on the firm’s website.
