Oracle Utilities, Navigant Research Unveil Dual Innovation Blueprint Study for Utilities

Historically, utilities have focused on core business objectives around safety, security, reliability and shareholder returns. However, massive disruption is currently occurring within the industry, with the advancement of distributed energy resources, IoT, big data and increasing customer expectations. These factors and more are signaling fundamental changes to business as usual. The new paper explains that simply knowing that disruption is coming is not enough. A blueprint for a new innovation path is required, one that needs to be agile and pragmatic. 

The research takes a close look at a Dual Innovation Blueprint, a practice whereby a utility pursues two tracks simultaneously: one focuses on increasing the efficiency and resiliency of the core business, while the second centers around increasing agility to enable the iteration of new business models. 

While many industries have been faced with similar challenges, the approach detailed in the Navigant Research paper is a platform for innovation specific to the utilities industry, one that encompasses not only technology, but also the people and processes within the utility's organization. According to the report, utilities looking to address innovation challenges should:

• Adopt a set of processes that will optimize the success of innovation projects by evaluating accountability by project type, balancing finance with risk, and constantly monitoring progress.
• Understand which technologies will enable innovation by digitizing then automating, deploying cloud analytics and iterating on new services.
• Create a culture in which innovation can flourish by securing executive sponsorship, embracing new organizational perspectives and empowering employees.

"Changing business culture to incorporate innovation is one of the hardest things to do. Innovation teams must influence the business, but this can be very difficult to achieve. Increased communication around innovation is critical," said Ian Cameron, Head of Innovation, UK Power Networks.

"Utilities are increasingly facing the challenge of how to maintain reliability while simultaneously operating in an agile manner conducive to innovation," said Rodger Smith, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Utilities. "We believe the framework for dual innovation described in this paper provides an actionable model for utilities to respond to disruption."

The executives interviewed for this research represent 16 utilities on three continents, serving 42 million customers, with 162,000 employees, selling electricity, water and gas.

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About Navigant Research
Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Energy Technologies, Utility Transformations, Transportation Efficiencies, and Buildings Innovations sectors. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

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