Powering the future: Unveiling the tech-forward secrets of utility companies

When you think about utility companies, you probably don’t associate them with the forefront of technology — but they have been innovating and sustaining reliably for years. In fact, technology companies are increasingly interconnected with the utilities and energy industries because both sectors recognize there’s some serious potential to address emerging challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

This week on Catalyst, Bryan Kearney, an energy industry leader-turned tech advisor and consultant, joins Clinton to discuss the best approach for tech companies that want to partner with utility and energy companies. Check out the highlights below, then dive into the full episode to learn more about how these companies run, what kinds of opportunities and challenges vendors face in engaging this industry, and some strategic advice for building successful partnerships.

Juggling internal and external resources

Utilities prefer using internal resources for their core operations and look to external resources for specialized projects or short-term needs. High-skilled talent is often brought in as contractors for specific projects.

Technology implementation isn’t their sweet spot

When utilities go for the big stuff — like major system implementations, upgrades, and projects that go beyond their usual operational scope — they look for external vendors to guide them through it.

They’re down with hybrid work

They like an approach that involves combining full-time employees with technology partners and then leveraging crowd platforms for on-demand workforce needs because it allows for flexibility in finding specific skill sets for projects without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time staff.

Change management is definitely needed

Most utilities have been around for what seems like forever, so introducing new systems can impact employees who have been accustomed to older systems for an extended period. Partnering with them means creating a smooth transition strategy that includes cultural change, process mapping, and outreach to peers who have undergone similar experiences.

So is an understanding of operational priorities

Operational priorities in the utility sector are some biggies, including safety, reliability, performance, efficiency, and image. Outage response times and restoration efficiency are metrics for measuring reliability in providing a constant flow of energy. So keep all of these in mind throughout your partnership.

Talent acquisition is a key opportunity

It has always been challenging to attract young talent to the utility sector. That means these companies need to not only adapt to changing consumer expectations, but also changing talent expectations. That means integrating new technologies that will make the sector more attractive to younger generations.

As always, don’t forget to subscribe to Catalyst wherever you get your podcasts! We drop a new episode every Tuesday, and each one is jam-packed with catalysts for digital experiences that move millions.