Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, says the energy and utilities sector is on the verge of a technological revolution that will see consumers increasingly engaged in their day-day energy needs, which alongside broader disruption, spells profound change for the industry.

According to the Digital Vision for Energy and Utilities opinion paper launched today, utility providers are facing a ‘race to transform’ with those companies able to understand and respond to the rapidly evolving market in the best position to win.

A combination of factors including the drive to make it easier to switch energy providers, increased local energy generation and the proliferation of intelligent home devices are disrupting the utilities market, providing new opportunities in the process and creating a nation of professional consumers or ‘prosumers’.

The paper predicts that in the near future, UK householders will be able track the best utility tariffs in real time, switching energy providers within a day, and possibly within a few seconds, with data analytics able to predict consumption and deliver more responsive services, to some extent offsetting rising bills.

As a result, companies able to totally transform and deliver the right products and services to support and serve this evolving market will be rewarded with consumer loyalty and growth. 

Neil Snelling of Atos argues that companies will need to evolve to meet the emerging challenges: “The convergence of new technologies, regulatory intervention and new entrants will make it easier for consumers to swap and save: in 2017, around nine million consumers changed their energy supplier; we’re looking at a layer of choice and simplicity which could soon see that number double.”

Adrian Gregory, CEO, Atos UK & Ireland said: “We are seeing unprecedented disruption in the UK utilities industry. The water market is opening up, renewable energies are entering the mainstream, and gaps in the retail electricity and gas markets are being filled by innovative niche players. At the same time, regulatory frameworks are evolving. This industry has always been quick to see the potential of new technology and today’s forward-thinking utilities companies can again steal a march. Through digitally enabled transformation, we will see a move from utilities as commodities to high-value service providers at the heart of people’s homes and lives.”

Paul Hingley, Data Services Business Manager, Siemens, Great Britain & Ireland, said: “Use of IoT and analytics is developing very fast and we are seeing new innovations every day with smaller companies driving a lot of the ingenuity and product innovation.”

The Digital Vision for Energy and Utilities includes articles from some of the UK’s leading voices in the sector as well as subject matter experts from across Atos.