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Delivering results becomes simplified for power production companies when field services adopt cloud computing capabilities.
FREMONT, CA: The utility industry is on the brink of modernization. The phase of transformation is at its peak as companies in the sector look to optimize production and delivery with the help of the technology-backed solution. Field services now present the best opportunities for utilities to enable rapid development in power production, reliability, maintenance, and controls. When the capabilities of cloud computing are added to field service, utility firms are in the best possible positions to undertake targeted development. By instilling superior features and equipping firms with the most advanced of tools, cloud-based field services are helping enhance profitability and customer satisfaction to no end. Some of the challenges that the power production units and plants currently face include legacy infrastructure issues, altered consumption patterns, growing demands, and compliance management. Cloud computing can help utility firms in numerous ways, some of which are mentioned below.
• Optimized IT Infrastructure
Power production and distribution facilities are massive and complicated. As the industry transforms into digital models, the requirement of IT infrastructure is also growing complex by the day. Companies have to deploy a lot of resources in upgrading legacy infrastructure to accommodate IT capabilities. From acquiring hardware to recruiting the appropriate skill-sets, firms have to do it all. Cloud can help utilities get lean by reducing dependence on on-premise IT. The overhead costs of proprietary infrastructure can be eliminated to a considerable extent. The cloud-based field services provide all the tools and expertise that the firms need in a flexible and scalable manner.
• From Capital to Operational
Field services which are deployed from the clouds have the added advantage of helping the utility firms make a transformation from capital expenditure to operational expenditure. Capital expenditure involves a lot of investment in developing fixed assets and thus, is heavy. On the other hand, operational expenditure is an ongoing cost that does not burn a hole in a company’s pocket. Power production companies can ease spending by opting for as-a-service products offered by several providers. These solutions are customizable so that companies can add capabilities and scale up any time they find the necessity to do so. From storage to processing to data analytics, everything becomes much more convenient on a cloud-based platform.
• The Speed Factor
As data analytics gains importance, utility firms are also looking for opportunities to imbibe them. Through data analytics, companies can study trends and make intelligent business decisions. However, the process of analytics can prove to be very intensive and thus slow when carried out through legacy systems. When the field services that enable data analytics are from cloud platforms, there are fewer lags. Vast amounts of information can be processed rapidly to help arrive at recommendations that drive up operational efficiencies at production plants and improvise distribution patterns.
• Accessibility and Affordability
The potential of software solutions and field services are substantial. However, the limitations of accessibility cast a shadow on them. With the cloud, the field services grow much more potent as collaborations, communications, and information exchange become seamless. Every system and employee can gain access to centralized solutions and data when they are stored in the cloud. Coordinating various parallel workflows in the dynamic energy production units becomes significantly simpler with the real-time abilities that cloud technologies bring.
• Resolving Reliability
Utility companies are expected to provide reliable services. However, it is not always possible to prevent breakdowns and outages. Field services are deploying advanced technological tools to detect and fix issues in real-time with minimum efforts. Such an approach minimizes wastage and disruptions. Cloud computing enables the field services to handle crucial situations better by improving the reaction time. By providing constant monitoring, maintenance practices also change from reactive to proactive.
Thus, innovative field services, when combined with cloud technology, make for the best solutions in the utility sector.
