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Issues, Trends and New Information Technology Infrastructure for Utility Companies
The utilities industry is facing the same challenge that any industry requiring large scale infrastructure does - the challenge of meeting demand consistently, at affordable prices, while ensuring that infrastructure is able to meet needs.
There are a huge number of challenges to the industry, but Asian IT services firms are standing ready to help with new ideas and systems. We look at both the challenges facing the utilities industry, and the new solutions being developed by information technology consulting firms.
Aging infrastructure is obviously a huge issue in many industries that only gets bigger as time goes on. Some equipment may have had external upgrades or facelifts, but in most cases, it is over 70 years old. The huge population growth seen in the world currently is further driving the necessity to upgrade services - even if a utilities home country's birth rate is not extraordinary, the trend towards immigration means that the entire world is affected. A competitive business environment and the pressures of the global financial situation weigh increasingly on companies' minds also.
However, information technology infrastructure and consulting firms are coming to the rescue, with new ideas helping ease the strain on piping, cabling and meters, as well as help consumers become more involved in their own utility use. The technology advances that are available to different companies don't necessarily depend on their existing infrastructure, according to Asian communications solutions firms, but more on whether they are investor owned, government or council owned, or run by a co-operative.
For communications utilities, IP-based communications are increasingly becoming the platform for system operations in the next generation. VOIP, IP telephony and Scada must be supported in a timely way by an effective communications utility network. The IP/MPLS architecture is the one which is being increasingly adopted. This platform will allow future information technology consulting firms to leverage microwave wireless or fiber optics technology.
Asian network operations firms are also advising companies to move to shared services platforms, helping to reduce costs as well as get rid of some distractions associated with support services for extra departments. This allows improved resource sharing and much more competitive pricing, addressing the issue of gaining market share.
Integrated service providers are also an increasingly popular solutions for companies who know that something needs to be done, but don't necessarily have the ready cash to purchase complex technology pieces. Information technology consultants are advising that Integration partners can be of huge benefit in some cases.
While market pressures and individual company structures make the following idea somewhat more distant in terms of time, the notion of bundled services supported by Asian network operations, data storage solutions and expert administration of these has perhaps the greatest potential.
If all utilities were bundled, from cable TV, to internet, to phone line and even gas, electricity and water, then back-office functions could also be integrated. Billing systems could also be consolidated. However, IT consultants expect that only a greater consumer awareness of this possibility and push towards the eventuality in the marketplace will drive adoption of the concept.
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