How a major energy company modernized its data platform for faster, more dynamic operation
Feedback from one of Belgium's leading electricity producers, an expert in wind power and hydroelectricity.
Context
The integration of the cloud in the energy sector represents a major step forward in meeting strategic needs. Now, production requirements planning is more accurate than ever, thanks to real-time data and advanced analysis, enabling optimal resource allocation.
Real-time control of network balance has become a reality thanks to highly responsive cloud systems, guaranteeing increased stability and instant response to fluctuations in demand.
In addition, optimizing energy infrastructure management costs is a particularly important objective, and finds answers in machine learning.
Challenges
- Modernizing traditional business intelligence and migrating to the cloud
- Optimization of internal processes for faster implementation of use cases
- Establishing strong data and cloud governance
- TCO reduction
Method
Analysis of existing architecture
- Implementation of the "Advanced Analytics in the Cloud" methodology
- A pragmatic, business-use case-oriented approach that defines target architecture, target organization (human resources and skills, roles), processes and governance.
- Modern, agile AWS cloud architecture proposal
Explore and Design study
- Meeting with stakeholders (cloud architects, enterprise architects, CISOs, business lines).
Individual interviews and workshops - Collection of 400 use cases
- Suggested insights for defining target situations
- Budget assessment, program costs and roadmap
- Release of BluePrint, the comprehensive study outlining the data strategy to be implemented over the next few years.
Data migration to AWS, a modern, agile platform
- Collaboration with Snowflake
- Choosing Data Vault-based modeling to improve operational efficiency
- Pilot phase: demonstration of the value of the organizational and technical approach; adjustments
- Realization of a pilot use case on pricing optimization by deploying an architecture on the Cloud with AWS and Snowflake
- Acceleration phase: deployment of use cases using mixed teams
Benefits
The transition to the cloud has boosted competitiveness and agility by transforming the data platform, enabling all data use cases to be exploited, paving the way for continuous innovation.
At the same time, this transition has significantly reduced maintenance costs and accelerated time-to-market.
The improvement in data quality, resilience and operational agility is one of the major benefits of the project, reinforcing the ability to face challenges in real time. As a result, business teams have gained in performance and responsiveness, making better-informed and faster decisions.
Finally, the return on investment is undeniable, with a TCO ROI of over 50% over 5 years, thanks to the reduced workload for technical teams and the decommissioning of on-premise infrastructures.