Digital Transformation of Eneco Energy
Joulz is a subsidiary of Eneco Energy, a Dutch energy provider, which offer services of design, engineering, construction, maintenance and emergency services. Joulz manages the gas and electricity distribution grids for two million residences in the Netherlands. They intended to develop and maintain its distribution grid while reducing the number of client connection disruption minutes. That is why they have chosen to go through a digital transformation.
Eneco Group wanted to decrease the cost of service while maintaining operational efficiency since Dutch Energy Regulator sets price limitations on expenses per connection. Eneco Group restructured and simplified its organization into process-streams to attain this goal and used digital tools.
As part of its mission to develop, build, and maintain grids and connections at the lowest feasible costs, Eneco Group employed QPR Suite to achieve operational excellence. The objective of Eneco Group was to maintain and grow the distribution grid while reducing the number of minutes of downtime per customer connection. For this, Joulz devised a two-pronged method for implementing a control system. The first was the implementation of an ERP system to automate operational procedures. The deployment of a business support management system to drive and monitor process excellence was the second step.
To support the process streams, Joulz chose SAP as its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution. From order through delivery and payment, SAP processes all installation, maintenance, and support operations effortlessly. Although ERP systems improve productivity, it was necessary to exercise caution when aligning automated operations with Joulz’ administrative and field operating tasks. To guarantee that the SAP system was properly implemented, test-drives against defined business processes were required. Once the system was up and running, it was critical that the process’s performance be constantly monitored in order to allow for operator intervention as necessary.
Going digital not only increased efficiency and reduced costs, but it also had strategic implications. Energy retailers may enter new growth sectors by using their scale, existing brands, and big customer bases. As a result of giving consumers its smart-energy solution, Eneco has boosted revenues and reduced attrition rates. Customers receive information on their energy usage, boiler performance, weather, and energy-saving ideas in exchange for a monthly membership fee.
The economic benefits of digitization led in a structural reduction of 75K euros per year on software and maintenance, as well as a total savings of 15 million euros.
