/
Sigma Training Sessions

Sigma Training Sessions

 

Training Voucher or Training Credits?

We offer a number of predefined and bespoke training packages to help you get the most out of Sigma software. Whether you are new to the system and want to start with the basics, or a super user who wants to put into practice a new system feature, we can design a course for your specific needs.  

Training is carried out using your database or a training environment.

Training courses are delivered by our expert Customer Success Team and can be purchased in two ways:

  1.  Onsite Training Voucher for 1 days onsite training for up to 2 people.   (Additional trainees can attend for an additional cost, see your Account Manager for more details)

    1. Training can be at your own office or at our onsite facility in Milton Keynes

    2. A typical training day runs from 9am to 4pm, allowing for a one hour lunch

  2.  Online Training Credit for online training (via Microsoft Teams or Zoom).  Ideally, this training is for up to 2 people, but more can be accommodated.  Please note that timings will increase if there are more trainees

    1. Training Credits are purchased as 2 x half day online sessions (3 hours - AM or PM)

If you have purchased a Training Voucher, this can be converted to Training Credits and vice versa.

  • To change from a Training Voucher to a Training Credit, please contact the Customer Success Trainer  kblake@teamenergy.com

  • To change from a Training Credit to a Training Voucher, please contact your Account Manager as there will be an additional charge

The following is a list of our predefined Modules, please speak to your Account Manager or Customer Success Trainer for more information about which sessions will provide the best training for your use of the system.  If you don't see what you need, please contact us to discuss bespoke training.

If you are booking training, please provide the Customer Success Trainer with the Module Numbers (see below) you require - kblake@teamenergy.com or call 01908 690018, extension 209 with the Module Numbers.  Please call to discuss if you want further information. We can then provide a bespoke training package for you, based on your requirements and training preferences.

Training Sessions

The below Modules are either Full or Half Sessions. A Session is 3 hours - trained over a morning or afternoon. Training is booked in Sessions, not Modules.

If you have purchased a Training Voucher or Training Credit, you are entitled to one of the options below:

  • 2 Full Sessions

  • 4 Half Sessions (taken as 2 Full Sessions) or

  • 1 Full Session and 2 Half Sessions (taken as a Full Session)

Express

Half Session - 1.5 hours

The Express User interface supports engagement with wider business stakeholders on the delivery of your Energy Management strategy through simple, yet powerful data dashboards that enable you to monitor, engage and share energy information across your entire estate.

Express

  • Navigate the Home Page

  • Understand the functions in Express:

    • Energy Analysis

    • Run Analysis Templates

    • Run Analysis Reports

    • View/Acknowledge Alarms

    • View Dashboards

    • Enter Meter Readings

    • View Invoices

 

Core System Setup and Configuration

Full Session - 3 hours

Covers the basics of navigation and core setup in terms of estate structure and hierarchy and how key assets can be changed or added over time.

Getting Started

  • Log in to Sigma

  • Understand the structure

  • Search and navigate the database, including exploring the dropdown Menus

  • Use Filters for searching

  • View/acknowledge and delete Notifications

  • Set personal preferences such as default login page

  • Creating/Editing on Mass

    • Create Sites, Meters etc on mass

    • Edit Sites on mass

    • Edit Meters on mass

Configuring Sigma

  • Create Companies, Groups, Sites and Meters

  • Import/Export details of the Items in (ie Sites, Meters etc)

  • Add additional Tree View Icons and apply them

  • View/navigate Dashboards (collection of reports)

  • Set a default Dashboard

  • View the Audit Log

Administration

  • Change a Password

  • View/amend Users (including resetting Passwords)

  • Add new Users

  • Create Access Groups (to define the access for Users who do not need full access)

  • Edit/delete Access Groups and view current Users attached to the Group

 

Reporting

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers Sigma’s reporting framework which includes running Reports using the Report Wizard, using and saving Templates (saved configuration) and scheduling Reports for distribution to relevant stakeholders.

It is recommended to take Session 03 and 04 together as some areas are similar

Running Reports

  • View the Reports available in the Report Wizard

  • Run Reports and view as PDF, Excel etc

Report Templates (saved configuration)

  • Create Templates (a Template can be used to re-run the Report using the same criteria)

  • Run Reports from Templates and view as PDF, Excel etc

  • View/edit/delete Templates

Scheduling Reports

  • Create Report Schedules to run periodically

  • View/edit/delete/run Report Schedules

Exporting Data

  • Export Metering Data by Supplier

  • Export Metering Data by creating Export Templates

  • View/edit/delete/run Export Templates

 

Energy Analysis

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers Sigma’s extensive analytics framework which supports a highly interactive User experience to interrogate interval energy data in near real-time. Outputs can be configured so you can view your data exactly how you want, including different chart types, data intervals, overlays and against Targets or Budgets.  Includes running Analysis, using and saving Templates (saved configuration) and scheduling Analysis for distribution to relevant stakeholders.

It is recommended to take Session 03 and 04 together as some areas are similar

Running Analysis

  • View the Analysis Reports

  • Run on screen Analysis (download option available)

  • Run Rollup Reporting (aggregates totals)

  • Create Performance Contracts (for Analysis)

Analysis Templates (saved configuration)

  • Create Templates (a Template can be used to re-run the Analysis using the same criteria)

  • Run on-screen Analysis from Templates (download option available)

  • View/edit/delete Templates

Scheduling Analysis

  • Create Analysis Schedules to run periodically

  • View/edit/delete/run Analysis Schedules

Dynamic Reporting

  • Create Dynamic Reports (a collection of Analysis Templates)

  • View/export Analysis Dynamic Reports

  • Edit/copy/delete Dynamic Report Templates

  • Schedule Dynamic Reports to run periodically

Analysing Invoices

  • Analyse Invoices

  • Analyse Bill Data vs Meter Data

Analysing Contracts

  • Run Analysis on Contracts

  • Run Cost Analysis on Contracts

  • Run Reports on Blended Rates

 

Calculated, Reporting and Weather Meters

Half Session - 1.5 hours   

Covers the advanced metering options available, namely:

  • Virtual or calculated meters - which offer a full range of mathematical and logical possibilities from a programable formula.

  • Weather meters - automatically access up-to-date geographically based weather station information in Sigma’s Weather Meters tool, so it is ready for energy analysis purposes

Calculated Meters

  • Create Calculated Meters

  • Understand how to use Calculated Meters

Reporting Meters

  • Create Reporting Meters

  • Understand how to use Reporting Meters

 Weather Meters

  • Create Weather Meters

  • Understand how to use Weather Meters

 

Alarms

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers Sigma’s highly configurable alerting framework that helps you take quick action to address anomalies in your energy estate which provide real-time data monitoring to check for exceptions within your data.

Creating Alarms

  • Understand the / Alarm Types

  • Create Alarms

  • Create Quickset Alarms (creating Alarms in bulk)

 Alarm Setup Criteria

  • Create Forwarding Rules (what email address(es) notifications will be sent and/or particular Paths and/or time of day)

  • Create Distribution Lists (groups of emails)

  • Create Corrective Action Groups and Actions (groups of Users that Alarms can be assigned to)

  • Create Prevention Rules (Rules that prevent an Alarm being raised)

  • Create Profiles and Groups (criteria for Profile Alarm tolerances)

Managing Alarms

  • View Alarm Notifications

  • Investigate/acknowledge Alarms

  • Amend/copy/disable/delete Alarms

 

Data Exchange and Quality Management

Full Session - 3 hours

Covers Sigma’s tools that help you to:

  • Collect vast amounts of energy data automatically, sufficiently flexible to aggregate energy    data, from multiple locations, systems, and formats

  • Manage data quality to ensure your data streams are complete and ready for reporting

  • Export data so you can get your data out the system to support your business processes

Collecting Data

  • View/add Low Frequency Meter Data (daily, monthly, yearly etc)

  • Import Metering Data on mass manually (HH and NHH data)

Scheduling Data

  • View the Data Import list

  • Set up automatic Imports

  • Edit/delete automatic Imports

Managing Data

  • View/add/delete individual Meter Readings/Values

Quality Checking Data

  • Check the quality of the imported data

  • Fill missing data with system generated estimates

Walking Routes

  • Create Walking Groups (For Express Meter Readings)

 

Utility Contracts / Validation set up

Full Session - 3 hours

Covers the creation and management of Utility Contracts which provide the information required by the system to convert metering data into cost data as well as providing the foundation for complete invoice validation to check invoices conform to your contractual agreements. Also covering Blended Rates that can be used in reporting on metering data. Lastly, the Portfolios and Validation Groups used for billing (which can use the contracted rates).

Creating Contracts

  • View/create Contracts

  • View/add to Local Contract Tables (used in the Contract)

  • Create Contract Groups (combines Contracts)

Managing Contracts

  • Edit/copy/delete Contracts

  • Update an individual Contract History (when costs change)

  • Export/import the Contract History in bulk (export, update and then import)

  • View the Contract status (Contracts that are having costs recalculated)

  • Edit/copy/delete Contract Groups

Managing Blended Rates

  • View/add/edit/delete/export Blended Rates

Creating Portfolios

  • Create a Portfolio (links to the Validator Group)

  • View/edit/delete Portfolios

Creating Validator Groups

  • Create a Validator Group (contains the validators and is added to the Portfolio)

  • Configure individual Validator parameters (tolerances etc)

 

Bill Management and Bill Validation

Full Session - 3 hours

Covers the setup of the estate to support the loading of utility invoices, both manual entry and electronic billing files.

Also covers the setup and configuration of invoice validation rules.

Setting up for Bill Validation

  • Check the Contracts are valid

  • Understand the available Validation

  • View Portfolios

Accounts

  • Create Accounts individually or in bulk

  • Check Meters are associated with a Contract

    • Add Contracts to Meters individually and in bulk

  • View/edit/delete Accounts

Invoices

  • Add EDI Files and work through the Batch

  • Add manual Invoices

  • Understand failed Validation

  • View the Invoice History

  • View/edit/delete and other Actions for Invoices

  • Import Invoices in bulk

 

Query Management

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers the management of invoicing issues when they are identified and the query management system which provides full visibility of the revenue recovery opportunities with appropriate reporting and performance indicators such as revenue realised, outstanding saving potential and outstanding issues by age.

Queries

  • Create Queries on Sites, Meters, Accounts and Individual Invoices

  • Update/delete Queries individually and in bulk

  • Report on Queries

 

Dashboards

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Dashboards enable the User to view Widgets displaying key information. Dashboards can be for personal use, or shared with all Users. Pre-configured dashboards can be accessed to provide top level and quick insight into the performance of your energy estate within Sigma or Express.

Dashboards

  • Set Dashboard preferences

  • View Dashboards

  • Configure new Dashboards

  • Edit/copy/delete Dashboards

 

Accruals

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers the framework available for supporting the financial accrual of Invoices to provide assurance that all your utility liabilities are accounted for, even if the relevant supplier Invoices have not been received.

  • Check Account Start and End Dates

  • Understand the different Accrual Methods

  • Manage Accrual Runs

  • Understand the available actions for Accruals

  • View/Amend/Delete Accrual Invoices

  • Create Manual Accruals

  • Create Accrual Reports

  • Create Accounts Payable Files for Accruals, including creating Test Runs

 

Accounts Payable Exports (if applicable)

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Accounts Payable Exports covers Sigma’s Accounts Payable Interface which provides the capability to transfer detailed utility invoice information and accruals to accounting systems for finance teams to process timely payments without the need for manual intervention.

Note – this feature is separately licensed and configured for your instance.

Creating Accounts Payable Files

  • Create Accounts Payable Files for Invoices, including creating Test Runs

Managing Accounts Payable Files

  • View previous Account Payable Runs

  • Review Accounts Payable Files

  • Export/delete Account Payable Runs

  • Re-generate an Accounts Payable File

  • Check the Invoice export Date

 

Budgeting and Forecasting

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers Sigma’s suite of Budgeting tools which allow Forecasts and Budgets to be readily created for consumption, cost and emissions to facilitate their ongoing tracking down to a daily granularity for each Meter. Further Analysis enables you to quantify savings, help control usage and highlight areas for improvement.

Creating Budgets

  • Add Budget Types (categories)

  • View/Create Budgets

  • Create Budgets on Mass (Quickset Budgets)

Managing Budgets

  • Edit/delete Budget Types

  • Edit/copy/delete Budgets

  • Import Budgets (using a Budget Template)

Analysing Budgets

  • Run Budget Analysis*

  • Create/use Budget Analysis Templates*

  • Schedule a Budgeting Template*

*Assumption: User has completed sections 03 - Reporting and/or 04 - Energy Analysis and understands how to run Reports and create Templates and Schedules

 

Project Tracking

Full Session - 3 hours

Covers the Sigma’s advanced project tracking tools which help you identify opportunities and realise project savings in the context of cost, consumption and emissions. Manage projects efficiently, forecast costs and savings, and measure the success of your energy policies.

Understanding Policies

  • View a list of Policies (A Policy can contain numerous Projects)

  • View a Summary Dashboard for each Policy

  • View a list of Projects/Opportunities

Analysing Opportunities

  • Analyse a Policy Analyse the Projects Performance

  • Analyse Opportunities

 

Advanced Setup

Half Session - 1.5 hours

Covers setting up additional features in Sigma and how to use them.

Filters

  • Create Filters for searching

  • Use Filters in searching

Custom Fields

  • Create Custom Fields (‘markers’ against Sites etc)

  • Use Custom Fields in Analysis

Tags

  • Create Tags and Auto Tag Rules

  • View/Amend/Delete Tags within the System and individual Tags on Items

Fields and Dropdowns

  • Add/Edit Fields and Dropdowns, such as Meter Models, Suppliers, Shifts etc

  • Use Fields and Dropdowns

Floor Area

  • Add Floor Area

  • View/Use Floor Area in Analysis