Smart Grid: Survival Tactics for Utility Companies

03/14/12 • 54 min

Technology Revolution: The Future of Now

Utilities. We only think about them when we flip a switch and the power doesn’t come on – right? But utilities are businesses that must play to win in a competitive global arena with infrastructure, government, supply, economic and customer challenges. Ovum’s Stuart Ravens warns, “Business and technology pressures are combining to create a virtuous – or vicious – cycle disrupting the utility business model. Utilities are struggling.” Can they survive? The Smart Grid Library’s Christine Hertzog helps utilities succeed in the Smart Grid ecosystem. Roque Marinho at COBB EMC is a fan. “The Smart Grid is the next frontier for all utilities. They have to do it now or later.” But James McClelland, SAP Utilities and Energy Industry, notes, “The Smart Grid movement is real, but will only achieve its goals if utilities improve their relationship with end customers to properly market and reward energy efficiency.” Join us for Game-Changing Innovation: Can Smart Grid Keep the Lights On for Utilities?

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Game-Changing Innovation: One Bit at a Time

“Good. Better. Best. Never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.” This classic children’s nursery rhyme should be a grown-up mantra for every company today. Either do it better - operate more efficiently and continually innovate to meet market demands - or succumb to rising costs and proactive competitors. But how? SAP’s Peter Russo advises, “Many standard processes can be covered quickly, efficiently and at a much lower cost thanks to pre-configuration and new implementation techniques and tools. Not only does this bring a rapid ROI, but it frees up resources for where solution differentiation will have a stronger impact.” T-Systems’ Dr. Uwe Heckert sees an ICT service industry trend toward “simplification, standardization and flexibility,” but adds, “Quality improvements and implementation speed increases in existing landscapes are still an issue.” Pour a cup of Joe, Earl or OJ and join us for food for thought on Game-Changing Innovation: One Bit at a Time.

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Love Thy Customer: What have you done for them lately?

“Demanding, vocal, impatient, and always right.” If this describes your customers, are you tempted to just give up and find new ones? Don’t do it, cautions Becky Carroll, author of The Hidden Power of Your Customers. “The popularity of social media and ubiquitous mobile phones have created the perfect storm for customer service - and companies need to get it right or suffer the very public consequences.” How to win this challenge? According to Forrester’s Megan Burns, “Enjoyable experiences are the first step to creating emotional connections with customers.” And for Vision 33’s Carl B. Lewis, it comes down to one key factor: “Like it or not, good business is still personal.” For a reality check on how to keep ‘em coming back for more, tune in as these experts are joined by Teradata’s Alan Chow, Freshbooks’ Saul Colt, and Virtual Graffiti’s Hillel Sackstein for case studies from the customer’s perspective. Pour a cup and join us for Love Thy Customer: What have you done for them lately?