New Research: European Utilities are not Ready for Big Data

BONN, Germany, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Change of mindset required to leverage the power of big data.
• Data analytic tools top investment priority.
• Survey of over 250 executives from utility companies in Western Europe.

Nearly half of utilities do not maximise the value of the data they collect, reveals a new survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the business research arm of The Economist Group, on  behalf of ICT provider T-Systems. Over 40 percent are either in the early stages or have yet to begin drafting strategies for big data. The survey, which investigates utilities' readiness to manage big data and the implications of this across their organisations, was conducted of over 250 executives from utility companies in Western Europe and in-depth interviews with senior executives and industry experts.

In the near future utilities will posses vast quantities of structured and unstructured data. This includes data from applications on mobile devices, internet portals or social media channels. Through using data analytics utilities could optimise business processes and tap into new business models. However, it is not only a question of data analysis. Much more important is intelligent interpretation of the mass data and turning this into a competitive advantage. Here data specialists are called for. Utilities are worried about lack qualified resources and reveal plans to invest in developing adequate skills. but the major investment in the next few years will be data analytics tools and software. According to the study, the winners will be the utilities which are swift in transforming to the new world of big data.

Improving customer loyalty
Unlocking the power of big data utilities will become better at capturing customer usage patterns and network utilisation. This can help utilities enhance their energy procurement. Analysis of big data can also help forecast new tariff plans as well as different contract models, or even help to identify discontented customers as well as need for new products to improve customer loyalty.

The survey "Power from Big Data - are Europe's utilities ready for the age of data?" can be downloaded on: http://www.t-systems.com/studybigdataenergy

About Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies with 133 million mobile customers, 32 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of March 31, 2013). The Group provides products and services for the fixed network, mobile communications, the Internet and IPTV for consumers, and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in around 50 countries and has 230,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 58.2 billion in the 2012 financial year - more than half of it outside Germany (as of December 31, 2012).

About T-Systems

Drawing on a global infrastructure of data centers and networks, T-Systems operates information and communication technology (ICT) systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions. T-Systems provides integrated solutions for the networked future of business and society. The company's some 52,700 employees combine industry expertise and ICT innovations to add significant value to customers' core business all over the world.

T-Systems generated revenue of around EUR 10 billion in the 2012 financial year.

Deutsche Telekom AG

Corporate Communications

Tel.: +49-228-181-4949
E-Mail: media@telekom.de

Further information for the media at: http://www.telekom.com/media