Utilities worldwide are moving from behind the scenes to take charge and lead the energy transition; all while maintaining their focus on being safe, reliable, affordable—and clean.

In early 2021, we compared the financial performance of leaders in technology adoption versus laggards. Just 6% of utilities identified as leaders in technology adoption—compared to other industries that range between 10-18%.¹

In other research studies for utilities, we found:

Accenture’s Future-ready research indicates that operating model maturity is advancing among global organizations. Our research and experience reveal four levels of operations maturity: stable, efficient, predictive and future-ready. Each level is grounded in and enabled by progressively more sophisticated technology, talent, processes and data insights.

On average, organizations we found to be future-ready show:

Consider how we measure future readiness and why it matters. Being future-ready reflects an organization’s ability to scale eight characteristics of operating model maturity.

Cross-industry view of capabilities currently in wide use or use at scale.

Future-ready organizations are best positioned to achieve their growth and cost objectives, delivering value for their customers, employees, shareholders and communities.

01 Know the ultimate goal

Organizations tend to approach operations improvements too incrementally. Instead think big and start with the end goal in mind.

02 Know the key steps

There are many steps between levels of maturity, but some can’t be skipped. Accenture recognizes three as crucial: automate at scale; augment human talent with technology; and commit to data-driven decision making.

03 Know how to leapfrog maturity levels

Being future-ready requires a flexible operating model: an optimized combination of multidisciplinary teams and technologies that work across a broad ecosystem of partners.

The journey to becoming future-ready by applying intelligent operations isn’t straightforward. Nor is it the same for everyone.

As utilities reinvent their businesses to lead the energy transition—driving value for their stakeholders on the path to net zero while enabling others to do the same—Accenture sees intelligent operations as the fast-track to becoming a future-ready utility.

Now is the time to make your move to intelligent operations. Here's how:

¹ "Make the leap, take the lead: Tech strategies for innovation and growth,” Accenture, 2021.

² "The charge for change: Powering distribution businesses for the energy transition,” Accenture, 2021.

³ Accenture Utilities BPS Study, 2021.

⁴ "Fast-track to future-ready performance,” Accenture, 2021.