{"id":1610,"date":"2022-05-09T19:07:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-09T19:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grnconsultancy.nl\/?page_id=1610"},"modified":"2022-05-11T18:51:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T18:51:59","slug":"intelligent-automation-as-an-energetic-accelerator","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/grnconsultancy.nl\/en\/insights\/artikelen\/intelligent-automation-as-an-energetic-accelerator\/","title":{"rendered":"INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION AS AN ENERGETIC ACCELERATOR"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Intelligent Automation As An Energetic Accelerator<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Roel\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Roel Hoeks<\/span>, Co-Founder\n& Managing Partner\nat Roborana NL and\nEsperantoXL<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Chris\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Chris Vinke<\/span>, Founder & CEO\nat GRN Consultancy BV<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over the last twelve months, the\u00a0<\/span>Energy and Utilities (EUC) industry as\u00a0<\/span>a whole has been characterized by\u00a0<\/span>two opposing narratives, juxtaposed against\u00a0<\/span>one another:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The first narrative is that we have to be moving\u00a0towards more sustainable energy sources\u00a0<\/span>because of widespread climate change and\u00a0<\/span>The first narrative is that we have to be moving\u00a0<\/span>towards more sustainable energy sources\u00a0<\/span>because of widespread climate change and\u00a0<\/span>vast technological advancement which is\u00a0<\/span>making it possible. The Paris Agreement\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>target in terms of acceptable global warming is\u00a0<\/span>around 1.5\u20132\u00b0C, a figure we are far away from\u00a0<\/span>at present. On the other side of the coin, the\u00a0<\/span>economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0<\/span>has reset the baseline for the industry\u00a0<\/span>and a new normal has been established.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The transition to renewable energy is no\u00a0longer the gamut of energy companies alone.\u00a0<\/span>Consumers of all kinds are looking to become\u00a0<\/span>independent of state-owned grids, so they\u00a0<\/span>can derive their energy sustainably, as well as\u00a0<\/span>considering alternative decentralized technologies\u00a0<\/span>that purport to minimize CO2 emissions directly.\u00a0<\/span>And beyond that, more and more companies\u00a0<\/span>across the globe are taking charge of their own\u00a0<\/span>energy transition and accelerating it wherever\u00a0<\/span>possible. These organizations are tired of waiting\u00a0<\/span>and are now taking things into their own hands.\u00a0<\/span>This trend will have a significant effect on the\u00a0<\/span>entire energy market and the role that each part of\u00a0<\/span>the value chain plays.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Energy & Utilities of the Future<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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There has been widespread social pressure from\u00a0a wide range of stakeholders who are starting to\u00a0<\/span>heed the call of climate scientists and push for\u00a0<\/span>change. This has only intensified over the past\u00a0<\/span>year thanks to a renewed focus on the tents of\u00a0<\/span>the Paris Climate Accord. Businesses of all types\u00a0<\/span>are starting to spend a lot of time and resources\u00a0<\/span>reporting to shareholders on their sustainability\u00a0<\/span>and CO2 emissions because it is such a hot\u00a0<\/span>button topic.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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On the extreme end of this, a number of\u00a0global entities have announced plans to fully\u00a0<\/span>decarbonize over the next three decades\u2014\u00a0<\/span>which is bold,\u00a0 specially in the aftermath of this\u00a0<\/span>pandemic. In fact, as intermittent renewables\u00a0<\/span>recorded record-high saturation levels and\u00a0<\/span>the peak oil demand came into the zeitgeist,\u00a0<\/span>COVID-19 helped to crystallize just how urgent\u00a0<\/span>this transition needs to be and what it all\u00a0<\/span>entails. The broader energy industry is likely to\u00a0<\/span>start converging in the coming year, as many\u00a0<\/span>players seek to reposition themselves carefully\u00a0<\/span>in the wave towards mass electrification.\u00a0<\/span>Energy providers who were traditionally\u00a0<\/span>dependent on oil production are likely to start\u00a0<\/span>investing elsewhere across the value chain to\u00a0<\/span>diversify their operations. Automakers are going\u00a0<\/span>to continue shifting towards electric vehicles\u00a0<\/span>(EVs) in all their forms, which will naturally seed\u00a0<\/span>the demand and creation of more advanced grid\u00a0<\/span>infrastructure and battery storage development.\u00a0<\/span>With the infrastructure in place, it\u2019s not out of\u00a0<\/span>the realm of possibility to suggest that they\u00a0<\/span>might even seek to become renewable and\u00a0<\/span>electric service providers themselves.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Technology companies may also make this\u00a0shift, enabling vehicles, homes, and businesses\u00a0<\/span>to serve as distributed energy resources (DER)\u00a0<\/span>in addition to merely consuming energy. The\u00a0<\/span>convergence of the electric, transportation, and\u00a0<\/span>building sectors is likely to result in companies\u00a0<\/span>with varying levels of regulatory, technological,\u00a0<\/span>and capital constraints and opportunities\u00a0<\/span>partnering (or competing) with power and utility\u00a0<\/span>industry companies.\u00a0<\/span>All of these players are looking to establish a\u00a0<\/span>strategic foothold in a new energy landscape\u00a0<\/span>characterized by the five trends in the image\u00a0<\/span>below.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Trends in Energy & Utilities Global\nChallenges<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The EUC sector faces a number of challenges\u00a0to the traditional business model \u2013 which will\u00a0<\/span>force it to go through a full transformation over<\/span>the next few years. The global changes can be\u00a0<\/span>summarized in three main points:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. A great energy disruption<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mainly due to the big data revolution combined\u00a0with accelerated digital transformation that\u00a0<\/span>we are seeing all around the world. There are\u00a0<\/span>tremendous insights to be gleaned from working\u00a0<\/span>with big data and when you layer these data\u00a0<\/span>sources on top of one another, you can derive\u00a0<\/span>incredible value that drives strategic decision\u00a0<\/span>making. But even if you ignore that part, the\u00a0<\/span>pure digitalization play along the P&U value\u00a0<\/span>chain and exponentially improving technology\u00a0<\/span>is going to greatly improve efficiency across\u00a0<\/span>the board.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. A cleaner energy mix<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Under scrutiny from the European Union, the\u00a0energy mix being produced by each member\u00a0<\/span>country will have to transform from grey energy\u00a0<\/span>(e.g., coal) to green energy (e.g., wind, hydro\u00a0<\/span>and solar). The regulatory pressure combined\u00a0<\/span>with social pressure should be enough to shift\u00a0<\/span>perceptions within these governments and\u00a0<\/span>start to catalyze radical shifts in policy and\u00a0<\/span>execution.\u00a0<\/span>Then on a community-based level, the last piece\u00a0<\/span>of this puzzle is the rise of mass-market electric\u00a0<\/span>vehicles. Initially, electric vehicles gained\u00a0<\/span>momentum on the back of state subsidies and\u00a0<\/span>a small contingent of eco-friendly consumers.\u00a0<\/span>But as the cost of storing energy continues to\u00a0<\/span>come down, the economic incentives are\u00a0<\/span>going to outweigh the environmental ones,\u00a0<\/span>shifting behavior, and buying patterns as it\u00a0<\/span>does so.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. A complex business model<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Arises because this low-carbon energy is\u00a0not a straight swap for the old types. To\u00a0<\/span>create a low-carbon energy business that is\u00a0<\/span>sustainable, it comes with the development\u00a0<\/span>of some new products and services that\u00a0<\/span>make the whole thing work. As a result, in an\u00a0<\/span>attempt to encourage this holistic approach,\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s likely that regulations will decrease over\u00a0<\/span>time, lowering the barriers to entry and\u00a0<\/span>increasing competition. From a price point\u00a0<\/span>of view, the market will be characterized as\u00a0<\/span>highly volatile.\u00a0<\/span>As the world grasps for clean, safe, cheap,\u00a0<\/span>and reliable energy, the increased demand\u00a0<\/span>may fuel a backlash against traditional,\u00a0<\/span>centralized power sources. Reliance on\u00a0<\/span>renewable energy sources will continue to\u00a0<\/span>grow, and the sector will evolve from one\u00a0<\/span>that is highly regulated to one that is open\u00a0<\/span>for innovation because customers are going\u00a0<\/span>to transform from passive consumers to\u00a0<\/span>demanding prosumers.\u00a0<\/span>They will demand intelligent automation\u00a0<\/span>and augmented utilities that can meet the\u00a0<\/span>rigorous demands of the future.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Local Challenges<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If we look a bit closer to home, the transition from conventional energy production to more <\/span>sustainable sources is going to cause large <\/span>variations in energy prices which will make <\/span>it difficult for energy companies to cope. <\/span>As the market conditions shift under their feet, <\/span>they will be forced to adapt or die. <\/span>In addition, we will see a number of new players <\/span>enter the market to disrupt and deliver on the <\/span>use cases of the future. A good example of this <\/span>is electric transport, one of the key drivers of <\/span>this entire movement. Sectors will converge in <\/span>a way like we\u2019ve never seen before. Initiatives <\/span>like Campus@sea, where all those challenges <\/span>are met with enthusiasm and ways to innovate <\/span>https:\/\/www.campusatsea.nl\/<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Based on discussions with our customers, we\u2019ve identified the following relevant themes\/<\/span>trends in the market:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • Increased e-Mobility<\/span><\/li>
  • Rollout of Smart & Micro Grids<\/span><\/li>
  • Corporate Power Purchase Agreements\u00a0<\/span>(PPAs)
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  • Expansion of renewable energy and storage<\/span><\/li>
  • Re-evaluation of conventional energy<\/span><\/li>
  • Decommissioning of offshore assets in NL<\/span><\/li>
  • Cost reduction and investments<\/span><\/li>
  • Investment in hydrogen<\/span><\/li>
  • Digital customer engagement<\/span><\/li>
  • Chemicals: Reducing CO2 and tran-sitioning\u00a0<\/span>to green chemistry<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    This is not an exclusive list, but it should give\u00a0you a sense as to where we are headed.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Local ChallengesDigital Transformation in Utilities\nIntelligent Automation<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    One of the most exciting technologies to come from\u00a0the last few years has been the rise of intelligent\u00a0<\/span>automation. By taking tasks and offloading them\u00a0<\/span>to smart algorithms, companies of all kinds are\u00a0<\/span>lowering their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO),\u00a0<\/span>improving their Return On Investment (ROI),\u00a0<\/span>and drastically simplifying how they run. As an\u00a0<\/span>example, the increasing demand for reduction of\u00a0<\/span>packaging, optimization of logistics, and pressure\u00a0<\/span>on food supply chains, combined with the current\u00a0<\/span>epidemic turning the tide to reduce costs and keep\u00a0<\/span>operational margins make intelligent automation a\u00a0<\/span>top priority (Forrester, 2020).\u00a0<\/span>Automation has enabled a vast expansion of\u00a0<\/span>remote work and it greatly improved processing\u00a0<\/span>requirements. 23% of survey respondents said\u00a0<\/span>they have prioritized automation that improves\u00a0<\/span>their organizational resilience (UiPath, 2021).\u00a0<\/span>Utilities are no exception. The energy providers\u00a0<\/span>that are going to thrive in this new world are\u00a0<\/span>going to be the ones that can leverage the power\u00a0<\/span>of intelligent automation to supercharge their\u00a0<\/span>operations in every facet. The more that can be\u00a0<\/span>done in this way, the better.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    This is not something that can be ignored.\u00a0Whether you like it or not, the stakeholders\u00a0<\/span>who don\u2019t upskill themselves and therefore\u00a0<\/span>lack knowledge of these new options are\u00a0<\/span>going to find themselves being left out of\u00a0<\/span>these important initiatives.\u00a0<\/span>Reskilling plans and revised role definitions\u00a0<\/span>that are based on how the human workforce\u00a0<\/span>will interact with machines should be baked\u00a0<\/span>into intelligent automation adoption plans.\u00a0<\/span>This change management is as important as\u00a0<\/span>the technology itself.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Workers should reimagine how they work from\u00a0first principles. While substituting intelligent\u00a0<\/span>machines for human workers may reduce\u00a0<\/span>costs in some cases, you leave a lot of value\u00a0<\/span>on the table if you stop there. Mere automation\u00a0<\/span>does not necessarily translate into value and\u00a0<\/span>new meaning. You have to go above and\u00a0<\/span>beyond to imagine how this technology can\u00a0<\/span>augment your operations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    To capture the significant productivity gains\u00a0that are there for the taking, these technologies\u00a0<\/span>need to work harmoniously together in order\u00a0<\/span>to deliver new work outcomes. Business\u00a0<\/span>leaders must push outside the boundaries\u00a0<\/span>of old process maps, looking beyond the\u00a0<\/span>limitations of currently used technology, and\u00a0<\/span>using automation to fundamentally transform\u00a0<\/span>the way that work gets done (Deloitte, 2020).\u00a0<\/span>This is especially true for utilities who have\u00a0<\/span>done things the same way for so long now.\u00a0<\/span>Fresh thinking is required, taking into\u00a0<\/span>account what technology we now have at\u00a0<\/span>our disposal.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    RPA: Remember that RPA is still a crucial part of Intelligent Automation<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Robotic process automation (RPA), process\u00a0analysis, process modelling, process\u00a0<\/span>improvement, and even business process\u00a0<\/span>management tools (BPM) have earned their\u00a0<\/span>rightful place as a key component of any\u00a0<\/span>automation execution roadmap. However,\u00a0<\/span>the automation of mundane tasks alone\u00a0<\/span>will not be enough (HFS, 2019). Again, you\u00a0<\/span>must go deeper than that.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    As we sit here in 2022, it seems selfevident\u00a0that using RPA as a kickstart for your\u00a0<\/span>automation journey is a good way to go\u00a0<\/span>(McKinsey, 2020). However, it\u2019s just a step\u00a0<\/span>along the journey. You must go further to\u00a0<\/span>get the outcome that you desire, pulling\u00a0<\/span>together semi and structured data in an\u00a0<\/span>efficient manner. RPA bots are essential\u00a0<\/span>for taking over transactional activities of\u00a0<\/span>various types. For example, offloading\u00a0<\/span>data entry or copying data across systems\u00a0<\/span>allows your employees to free up time and\u00a0<\/span>resources to focus on more strategic tasks.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    RPA provides the transition from servicesthrough-labor to services-through-software.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s clear that RPA represents a significant\u00a0<\/span>lever that you can pull to significantly improve\u00a0<\/span>efficiency, robustness, and product quality\u00a0<\/span>alike.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s especially valuable when dealing with\u00a0<\/span>repetitive processes, high transaction volumes,\u00a0<\/span>and cost critical processes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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