BEACON Data Integration Introduction
Integrating BEACON with your utility Customer Information System (CIS), billing platform, meter management application, work order system, and data analytics tools helps ensure consistency across operations. As customers move in and out, and as meters and reading technology get installed, replaced, or reassigned, it’s essential that these changes are accurately reflected in BEACON.
BEACON supports multiple integration methods that let you import and export data using whichever methods best suit your needs. You’ll find self-service resources here in the Integration section of BEACON Help, while our Software Services Team is available to assist with your integration needs.
This page of BEACON Help presents a high-level overview of these processes and includes links that let you explore in-depth the details of each integration process.
Whichever route you choose, we recommend that billing clerks, meter shop personnel, field service representatives (FSRs), and customer service representatives (CSRs) familiarize themselves with the data exchange process. Gaining a high-level understanding of this process helps team members use BEACON more efficiently. This understanding supports accurate billing, smoother resolution of customer issues, and clearer communication across teams.
Choose Your Path: Guided Integration or Self-Service
BEACON integration supports two primary approaches, described below.
Guided Integration: Work with the Software Services Team
For utilities of any size looking for hands-on help with the pitfalls and complexities of system integration our Software Services Team offers personalized guidance and implementation services.
How to Engage the Software Services Team
Contact your BEACON account manager to schedule a Discovery Call.
We’ll work with you to:
- Understand your business goals.
- Recommend the right integration path.
- Help structure your API calls and interpret response data.
- Configure automated scheduled exports tailored to your systems.
Self-Service Integration
Designed for technically adept utilities and IT teams that prefer a do-it-yourself approach, our integration documentation provides everything needed to configure Data Exchange files and bring them into BEACON either manually or programmatically using our APIs.
Don’t be deterred by the volume of documentation presented on the following pages. At a high-level, the key concepts are straightforward. Once understood, you should be able to quickly diagnose and troubleshoot common issues.
Read the Docs:
- Data Exchange – Get familiar with key concepts and the Data Exchange Specifications.
- BEACON Web Services API – Everything you need to know about our import API and our Export Data Services API
Use Your Tools:
- Upload and download data manually.
- Use our RESTful APIs for automated workflows.
Importing Data into BEACON
Utilities can import account, location, meter, and endpoint data into BEACON using Data Exchange files—structured spreadsheets that conform to our Data Exchange Specification. These files capture data collected from the field and from internal systems like your CIS and billing systems.
Supported import methods include:
- Manual File Upload – Upload Data Exchange spreadsheets via the BEACON user interface.
- Programmatic Upload (API) – Use the BEACON Import API to automate file uploads. A dry-run option allows you to preview changes and identify issues before proceeding with the import.
- Manual provisioning via the BEACON user interface – this method is best reserved for one-off or small-scale updates, such as updating a single account, endpoint, or meter. These manual workflows are being phased out and are included here for reference purposes.
For larger or recurring updates, we strongly recommend using Data Exchange file-based uploads or programmatic methods via our APIs to ensure consistency, efficiency, and auditability across your integration process.
Exporting Data from BEACON
Utilities can export data from BEACON for use in billing, analysis, and other external systems using these methods:
Manual Exports
- Download billing reads from the Monitor page or AAG page Billing Reads module.
- Download interval reads from the Monitor page.
- Download metering technology, sensor, gateway, and data from the Assets page.
Recommended for ad hoc or small Best for ad hoc or small-batch needs.
- API-Based Exports (EDS v1 & v2)
- Retrieve billing reads, interval usage, and exception reports via BEACON Export APIs
- Suitable for smaller volumes or periodic polling.
Not recommended for high-volume exports.
Scheduled Exports (Recommended for Larger Utilities)
Our Software Services Team can configure automated CSV exports delivered securely to an FTP site.
Ideal for recurring billing reads or automated CIS ingestion.
Why Engage the Software Services Team?
Whether you’re a small utility seeking a scalable solution, or a large organization managing millions of data points, our Software Services Team provides:
- Integration design and implementation.
- API coaching and response interpretation.
- Secure, scalable scheduled export setups.
- Ongoing technical partnership and optimization.
Integration Assistance
Please contact your account manager to schedule a Discovery Call with the Badger Meter Software Services Team. Badger Meter offers a variety of premium integration solutions, as well as professional assistance in how to structure API calls and interpret the data in the responses. The Software Services team will work with you to understand your goals and can make recommendations to help ensure your integration solution matches your business objectives.
