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Enterprise Content Management in the Utilities Industry

Ovum Plc
March 4, 2011
31 Pages - SKU: OV6196636

Abstract Table of Contents Search inside this report Related Reports

Introduction

The utilities industry is currently undergoing unprecedented market pressures and transformational change. Utilities are increasingly turning to technology to help manage this. There is a clear need for utilities to better manage data, documents, unstructured information, and knowledge of the workforce to become more competitive, agile, and efficient.

Features and benefits

Evidence of the aging workforce and infrastructure, operational inefficiencies, fuel price volatility, market liberalization, and smart metering.
Recommendations for utilities on how to extract full value from their ECM investments to counter these problems.

Highlights

While the majority of utilities already use ECM technologies, Ovum believes that the use of the technology is narrow. Conversely, Ovum believes that ECM vendors could do more to understand potential applications of ECM across the entire utilities value chain.

Your key questions answered

Help utilties better how ECM technologies can help across the utiltiy value chain
Help ECM vendors to better understand the utility marketplace and how their products can help utilities manage current market pressures.

SUMMARY: Catalyst; Ovum view; Recommendations/key messages
USE OF ECM BY UTILITIES IS RELATIVELY WIDESPREAD: Document management and email archiving are set for further growth
THE AGING WORKFORCE THREATENS UTILITIES WITH “BRAIN DRAIN”: [Missing title]; The impact of an older workforce has many consequences for utilities; An aging workforce creates opportunities for ECM, but end-user buy-in is critical
CONSTRAINED CAPITAL MARKETS RESTRICT THE UPGRADE OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE: Across the world, utility assets are aging; Infrastructure investment has slowed, but not ceased; With delayed or canceled infrastructure investment and increasing demand, utilities must do much more with less; The extension of nuclear power station life spans presents an opportunity for ECM
PROFITS ARE AFFECTED BY OPERATIONAL INEFFICIENCIES: Operational efficiencies occur all along the utility value chain; To improve operational efficiency, utilities must become smarter and sharper
SMART METERING WILL CAUSE THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO THE UTILITY LANDSCAPE IN A CENTURY: Smart metering is an incredibly disruptive technology; ECM can help utilities prepare for and manage smart meters
MARKET LIBERALIZATION INCREASES THE IMPORTANCE OF CUSTOMER RETENTION: Competition is increasing, but at a slow rate; Increased competition means a greater focus on client retention; ECM technologies can help utilities to manage complex customer relationships
FUEL PRICE VOLATILITY FOCUSES UTILITIES ON RISK MANAGEMENT: Fuel price volatility has affected the wholesale price of power over the past 2 years; Continued fuel price volatility forces utilities to improve their hedging strategies; ECM systems can help utilities manage the information that helps manage risk
APPENDIX: Further reading; Definitions; Author; Ovum Consulting; Disclaimer

Enterprise Content Management in the Utilities Industry

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