In the modern world, data is a valuable asset for any business including the utility sector. However, utility companies face unique challenges when it comes to managing and storing large amounts of data. Likewise, the utility industry is rapidly changing. In order to succeed and stay competitive, companies must keep up with the newest technologies and strategies.
One of the most significant advances for utilities is data management. It is an increasingly important part of a utility company’s operations. And that’s why outsourcing data management to a business process outsourcing (BPO) company is becoming an increasingly popular choice for many utility businesses. Because by offshoring their data management needs, companies can obtain the right data management system. And with the right data management system can bring many benefits for utility companies, such as improved accuracy, access to state-of-the-art technology, increased efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer service.
This blog post will explore the reasons why utility companies should consider outsourcing their data management requirements in order to remain competitive in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. Especially with the right outsourcing company, offshoring your data management can be a great way to streamline your processes and maximise efficiency. However, before directly proceeding to why your utility company should outsource data management, we will also tackle necessary details about the utility sector.
Recap on the Utilities Industry
The Utilities sector/industry is an industrial category consisting of establishment that provides basic everyday amenities or is engaged in the provision of the following utility services:
- Electric power
- Water supply
- Steam supply
- Natural gas
- Sewage removal
The global utility industry is large and complex, with many different types of companies operating in various markets around the world. The industry is also constantly evolving as new technologies and regulations are coming.
What is Utility Data Management?
Utility data management is a process used by utility companies to effectively manage the vast amounts of data they collect. This type of management involves organising, analysing and storing utility-related data in an efficient manner. By keeping track of their associated data, utilities are able to ensure accuracy and reliability when delivering services.
The need for effective utility data management stems from the ever-increasing amount of collected information that must be properly maintained. Utilities must have a system in place to organise this information so it can be easily accessed when needed. Additionally, having a centralised database makes it easier to analyse and compare various sets of data across different departments within the company. Allowing utilities to quickly identify trends or issues that may arise with their services.
What Does Outsourcing Data Management in the Utility Industry Mean?
Outsourcing data management in the utility industry is a process whereby a company outsources the management and analysis of its utility data to a BPO service provider. This can include both the physical infrastructure that stores and handles the data, as well as the staff who are responsible for analysing it. The main advantage of this approach is that it can help reduce costs associated with managing utility data while freeing up internal resources to focus on other areas of the business.
Why Utilities Industry is Suited to Outsourcing
Fortunately for utility businesses, this is a sector that’s particularly well suited to Outsourcing because of the following reasons:
- You can perform much of the work in the utility industry using cloud-based software, which is available via any browser, so the team’s physical location is optional.
- The infrastructure and expertise required to perform your business processes and specialised roles in IT, customer service, etc., already exists offshore, meaning that set-up expenses are minimal, the quality of the work is high, and there’s widespread cultural acceptance of the practice among consumers generally.
- You can do a lot of workloads anytime, not just during business hours. In fact, having access to staff outside of traditional office hours is a must for specific teams. And a good BPO provider will give you access to staff who can work any hours you want to.
What are the most frequently offshored roles in the utility industry?
If you’re considering offshoring roles within the utility industry, see here the most frequently outsourced positions:
- Customer Service Representative
- Data Manager/ Data Management Specialist
- Sales Representative
- Business Development Consultant
- Account Executive
- Billing Specialist
- Engineer (Electric, Mechanical, Civil, Computer)
- Collections Specialist
- Project Manager
- Technical Support Specialist
The Most Common BPO Services for Utilities and Energy Companies
BPO offers expert solutions for utilities and energy companies, making it easy for you to give customers the best service possible.
- Answering Services
- Appointment Reminders
- Billing and Collections
- Data Management
- Appliance Repair Scheduling
- Budget Plan Enrolment
- Electric/Natural Gas/Green Power Sales
- Email Management
- Emergency Hotlines & Dispatching Services
- Complaint Resolution
- Customer Surveys
- Field Workforce Communication and Support
- Outage and Emergency Reporting
- Peak Time Billing/Savings Updates
- Planned Power Outage
- IVR
- Late Payment Notification
- Meter Reading
- Virtual Assistance
- Power Restoration Confirmation
- Start/Stop Service
- Switchboard
The Challenges That Utility Companies Face Concerning Data Management
Utility companies are under constant pressure to improve operational efficiency and customer service while at the same time reducing costs. In order to do this, they need reliable data that can be quickly accessed and analysed. However, managing this data can be a challenge due to its volume, variety, and velocity.
With digital transformation becoming a reality for utilities hoping to stay viable over the long haul, utility business owners must address various challenges to become the data-driven corporations they need to be. These challenges include:
Data pervasiveness
Data is everywhere. Utilities are swamping with data on consumers, grid operations, and more, including everything from social media to weather.
Rising data volumes
Massive volumes of data are pouring in from across the corporation and from outside sources in a variety of formats, including audio, images, and videos.
The need to develop strategies for collecting and analysing large amounts of data
This is in order to anticipate changing customer needs and identify areas where improvements can be made.
User demands for data
Utility staff are potential analytics users who need secure, trustworthy data for analysis and decision support, with self-service access to both easy-to-use analytics and data.
Establishing and maintaining secure data storage systems
Utility companies must comply with government regulations regarding data use and ensure that customer data is kept safe from cyberattacks.
Key Benefits of Outsourcing Data Management in the Utility Industry
There are many benefits to outsourcing utility data management, including cost savings, improved data quality, and increased efficiency. Utility companies are under pressure to do more with less, and Outsourcing can help them meet these challenges. Here are some specific benefits of outsourcing utility data management:
Cost Savings
Outsourcing can be cost-effective for utilities struggling to do more with less. By hiring a third-party provider, utilities can avoid the costs associated with hiring and training in-house staff. In addition, Outsourcing can help utilities avoid the costs of investing in new software and hardware.
Improved Data Quality
One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing utility data management is improved data quality. In addition, outsourcing can help utilities improve their data collection and analysis processes when they do it properly. This, in turn, can lead to better decision-making and improved operational performance.
Increased Efficiency
Outsourcing utility data management can also lead to increased efficiency within the utility itself. By streamlining data management processes and automating tasks, Outsourcing can help utilities free up time and resources that can spend better on other priorities.
Flexibility
Utility companies often have fluctuating data storage and management demands due to seasonal usage patterns. Outsourcing data management can provide the flexibility needed to meet these demands.
Enhanced Security
When an external team manages data, it can be more secure than if it is internally stored. Outsourced teams often have better resources and expertise regarding data security.
Access to Expertise
When utilities outsource their data management, they gain access to a team of experts with specialised knowledge and skills. This can be particularly helpful for small or rural utilities needing more in-house expertise to manage their data effectively.
Leverage Cutting-Edge Technology
Technological advancements have created opportunities for utility companies to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. Outsourcing allows them to tap into cutting-edge technology that would be cost-prohibitive for utilities to develop on their own. They also can leverage powerful data analytics tools that can help utilities optimise their operations. For example, they can use these tools to identify inefficiencies and potential problems to address them before they cause disruptions. They can also use these analytics to evaluate customer usage patterns and develop new pricing models that could lead to significant savings.
Overall, outsourcing utility data management can offer many benefits to utilities. It can lead to improved data quality, increased efficiency, and access to expertise when done correctly.
Reasons Why Your Utility Company Should Outsource Data Management
Gain advanced automated processes
BPO companies offer automated processes and a single, unified data management framework – from data collection and aggregation to data validation and cleansing. In addition, BPO utility analytics software renders the most sophisticated, complete data management capabilities, including:
- Data preparation: Prepare data for analytics and reporting in a self-service environment without coding or assistance from IT.
- Data quality and integration: Track data lineage, consolidate data from internal and external sources, and lower inconsistencies and errors with embedded data quality tools.
- Data governance: Spend less time handling data with a consistent set of processes and policies that ensure your data’s conformity with established regulatory standards and procedures.
- Personal data protection: Satisfy your clients’ needs for personal data security. Fully understand and monitor the state of your data. Work toward compliance with GDPR and other privacy regulations.
- Data federation and stewardship: Eradicate the complexities of data integration with a virtual data environment that simplifies security and administration while delivering a complete data picture in a business-friendly format.
- Meter Data Management System (MDMS): BPO MDMS renders a complete and scalable end-to-end metre operations platform for water, gas, and electric utilities with the following features:
- Automated data management: Simplify data capture and management, merging data files for all your metres in a single system, whether scalar or logarithmic.
- Robust validation, estimation, and editing (VEE): Use various prebuilt VEEs and utilisation calculations to ease the application of complex billing situations, and ensure that they do not result in any future exceptions.
- Service order management: Automate field, network, and call centre support activities to support metre-to-cash processes such as start-stop-transfer service, remote disconnect, metre pings, and more.
- Information lifecycle management: Reduce storage costs by using automation when archiving.
- Scalability: Scale and flex to encompass various sources of data and volume no matter where you are in your smart-metre journey.
- Rich customer information system (CIS) integration: Utilities CIS and a rich third-party CIS architecture can improve billing consistency and support metre-to-cash operations.
To engage customers
Outsourcing firms use data and analytics from devices such as smart metres to provide more targeted services and give consumers greater control over their energy and water usage.
To lower costs and increase operational efficiency
Offshoring data management reduces costs and enhances plants’ flexibility, availability, flexibility, and efficiency through digital technologies such as IoT, digital twins, and data analytics.
Have an updated distribution and transmission
BPO upgrades infrastructure and flourishes the capability to rapidly integrate distributed energy resources from green-energy sources using trusted data.
Have a well-managed regulatory compliance
BPO firms comply with regulations to prevent unlawful access to data, store data securely, and ensure that improper usage of your data will not happen.
Conclusion
In retrospect, data management is a crucial part of any utility company’s operations. It requires a team of dedicated data experts that can analyse and interpret the data and implement the necessary changes. Outsourcing this responsibility to an experienced third-party provider can save a utility company time and money while still providing quality results.
Furthermore, by outsourcing data management services, a utility company can improve its competitiveness, efficiency, and market performance by leveraging new and cutting-edge technologies. Therefore, every utility company should consider outsourcing their data management needs. Outsourcing ensures that they follow the best practices, maintain data integrity, and meet compliance requirements.
Your utility company will save time, money, and resources by outsourcing data management with The Lead Enquiry. Our first-rate BPO provider partners offer the most efficient and accurate way of collecting, storing, and managing your data. Its system is secure, reliable, and user-friendly, which can reduce manual labour costs while allowing you to access information quickly when needed. They also provide ongoing analysis of customer trends to help you optimise operations for maximum efficiency. Contact us today.
