Digital Technologies Propel Utilities to Transform Workforce

Utilities are bracing for a digital revolution, though according to a recent report most executives in the sector agree that their businesses are not prepared for it.

In the Digital Transformation and the Workforce Survey commissioned by EY Power & Utilities, nearly 90% of executives report having too few digitally savvy workers is frustrating their ability to adopt digital technologies. Not only is the problem of an insufficient workforce staring them in the face, by most of the respondents surveyed are lacking a plan on how to proceed. With near-universal agreement (94%) on the need for direct investment in technology and the workforce, utilities are soon to be left scrambling for solutions. The transformation of the power industry will be based on technology, but it will be driven by people.

The Survey

TRUE Global Intelligence, the in-house research practice of FleishmanHillard, conducted the survey of 159 power and utilities executives between 12 January and 8 February 2021. Those survey represent a cross section of sub-sectors, with 125 respondents representing stakes in electric, 59 in gas, 28 in water and 94 in renewables.

The survey sought to gauge what executives see as drivers of transformation in their industries in the near future, and how well they feel they are poised to meet the coming challenges. Key takeaways of the report are that executives see new technology, advances in renewable energy sources, and the response to decarbonization and related consumption behaviors as the top three expected positive drivers for the sector over the next three years. Respondents recognized that in order to navigate these changes they need both the right digital technology and a skilled workforce that can operate in new environments, many of which are just starting to emerge.

Traversing a Shifting Landscape

Power and utility leaders acknowledge that what may have led to their organizations’ success in the past will not necessarily solve the problems they face tomorrow. The utility industry is evolving rapidly, and the technological landscape and the workforce skills required to support it are evolving with it.

Moving Technology Forward

As utilities rely more on digital technologies, the scope and volume of data at their disposal has increased dramatically. With proper leverage this data can provide more accurate energy forecasts, drive new marketing campaigns, and more quickly resolve customer outages.

Synthesizing this new dimensionality of information requires critical data analytics that many utilities lack. Investments in cutting edge technology will not yield their true potential without also investing in requisite interpretative skills.

Modern Skills for Modern Problems

The results of the survey highlight the necessity of an evolving workforce with new competencies in emerging technologies. Unfortunately, 89% of executives report having too few workers with the right skills as a challenge to digital technology adoption.

Further complicating the problem of workforce development is the face that executives are not necessarily aware of where gaps in workforce skillsets exist, with one-third (33%) reporting they cannot measure the gap between the skills they have and what they need. Beyond staff development issues, two-thirds (66%) of respondents report having difficulty retaining those with in-demand skills.

Building a Better Workforce

Many utilities already realize the importance of investing in their human capital, but awareness is not the end of the battle. Developing a plan to reskill a modern workforce is a problem of planning as well as communication. The survey suggests there is a critical disconnect between different levels of executives, with 49% of senior executives believing they have a robust plan to reskill over the next three years compared to 64% of the executives one layer below.

These differences imply a divergence on what constitutes a robust plan and whether needs for such a plan are being met. Clearly, similar obscurity exists on the ability to measure how well these needs are being measured. This divergence is evidence of a prerequisite realignment for large-scale workforce development and digital transformation.

The Search for Solutions

Disruptive forces such as digitization and shifts to new energy sources are becoming increasingly more prevalent, and the need to adapt to such changes will not wait for a new workforce to be trained to accommodate it. Transformative technology solutions must be identified, addressed and funded in order to meet the demand of a changing market. The path forward involves a series of investments, not only in software solutions but also in technical expertise.

Utilities are increasingly relying on external resources in order to keep abreast of the latest in emerging solutions. As new technologies are implemented and processes are integrated in order to meet consumer needs, focusing on more accessible tools can make a true transformation possible.

Lucasys Is Here to Help

In a world of rapidly developing business requirements, the Lucasys suite of software was designed to provide assessable solutions. Balancing intuitive interfaces with robust toolsets provide users of any skill level the ability to engage with their data in ways that were not before thought possible. Our knowledgeable team of consultants has the experience to organize and standardize tax accounting systems to adapt for the latest regulatory rulings, and our software solutions make it simple to address the latest tax, accounting, and compliance challenges facing the utility industry. To learn more about how Lucasys can help, visit https://www.lucasys.com/tax-depreciation-solutions.