Top trends and priorities focus on optimizing investments and securing operations

We met with 174 energy and utilities executives to understand their top priorities and how they are preparing for and adapting to key trends shaping their organizations. This year, executives are prioritizing:

  • Responding to new energy market demands by optimizing investments and operations
  • Securing the business through IT/OT cybersecurity
  • Accelerating modernization and AI innovations to drive business excellence
IT consultant looking at code on a screen

Clients are rethinking data quality, as they realize its impact on AI.

48%
say improving data quality is the top data strategy improvement initiative over the next 3 years
50%
cite AI as the top innovation priority over the next 3 years
72%
are exploring GenAI, while traditional AI implementations are up

Climate, digital and value chain impacts shape the business

 

  • Climate change grows in importance
    87% cite climate change as a high-impact macro trend shaping their organization (+5pp year-over-year) 
  • Technology & digital acceleration impact rises
    68% cite technology and digital acceleration as having high impact on their business (+9pp year-over-year)
  • Impact of value chain reconfiguration remains significant 
    >80% of clients cite the impact on their business and the need to evolve 

 

two utilities workers looking at a tablet

What digital leaders do to accelerate results

Organizations generating expected results from their digitization strategies—the digital leaders—share common attributes that enable them to accelerate outcomes compared others. For example, in energy and utilities, digital leaders:

Gear icon

Are less challenged by
legacy systems

-11pp

vs. industry average

privacy icon

Extend data protection
strategy to ecosystem

+21pp

vs. industry average

computer icon

Have highly agile
business models

+12pp

vs. industry average

pp = percentage points

Recommendations for improving data and operations to drive innovation

1

Adapt to the new energy market with enhanced data strategies, automation and cloud solutions.

2

Improve cultural and organizational alignment in both IT and the business to be able to respond quickly. 

3

Rethink and improve data quality to drive actionable insights and energy transition efforts. 

4

Focus on practical, industry-led applications for AI to improve business outcomes.

5

Secure the business with cybersecurity to enable safe, secure use of new technologies and AI.

data strategy advisors working at monitors

 

 

At CGI, we help energy and utilities organizations advance their digital transformation
and optimize operations to navigate the energy transition. Learn more about:

 

Energy transition   Strategic alignment   Advanced analytics    Artificial intelligence  Cybersecurity