About the client

The client is a leading power and utilities company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to millions of residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the region.

As a key player in supporting the nation鈥檚 economic growth and development, the client continuously invests in modernising its organisation鈥檚 infrastructure and optimising operational efficiency to meet the growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy.

Project overview

The client embarked on a large-scale restructuring initiative, partnering with a leading consulting firm in the Middle East to streamline and unify their business operations across multiple regions in Saudi Arabia. A critical aspect of this transformation was the Data Unification project for huge amounts of master, transaction and historical data, which aimed to standardise and harmonise master data from diverse regional systems into a single, consistent structure.

Recognising the complexity and scale of the 麻豆原创 data transformation required, the consulting firm sought the expertise of EPI-USE Labs. EPI-USE Labs used their PRISM transformation solution, which combines specialist services and proprietary software, including the Data Sync Manager Landscape Transformation (LT) Suite, supported by EPI-USE Labs鈥� global delivery model. This approach helped the consulting firm to complete the 麻豆原创 data transformation efficiently and effectively. This company also contributed significantly by providing 麻豆原创 functional expertise and business knowledge, ensuring the project was a success.

Key highlights

• Over 4 million classes and characteristics updated
• Over 15 million equipment, orders, notifications and maintenance plans reassigned
• Over 150 million records updated in custom tables
• Data unification of huge amounts of 麻豆原创 master, transaction and historical data
• Complex data harmonisation of millions of data fields
• Automation of complex data mappings at scale
• Consistent, compliant, accurate data with automated validation reports

This joint exercise with EPI-USE Labs has enhanced our rapport and confidence with the client. We were able to deliver operational efficiency and lower the cost due to centralised data management.
  鈥� Project Director, leading consulting firm in the Middle East

The challenge: Fragmented operational data

Following the implementation of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), the client鈥檚 operational data over the years was fragmented across different regional divisions, each with unique data definitions, structures and naming conventions. The client decided to implement a common unification policy to their equipment and assets across the region. The lack of standardisation made it difficult for them to gain a unified view of their operations, impacting reporting, decision-making, and operational efficiency.

The master, transaction and historical Data Unification project required:

• High-volume data transformations: Millions of data fields needed to be mapped and transformed accurately.
• Complex data harmonisation: Aligning data definitions across all regions while maintaining data integrity.
• Risk mitigation: Manual data transformation was not only time-consuming but also posed a high risk of errors.

To address these challenges, they needed a solution that would automate the transformation process, reduce risks, and enhance efficiency.

Specialist data transformation at scale

EPI-USE Labs was engaged by the consulting firm in the Middle East as a specialist data transformation partner, bringing in the EPI-USE Labs鈥� PRISM solution along with specialist software and consultants to handle the data transformation needs, as one team working with the client.

Components of the solution

• Data identification to preview and validate data in scope.
• Automation at scale: The PRISM solution automated complex data mappings and executed transformations with precision. This significantly reduced the need for manual intervention, accelerating the project timeline.
• Advanced transformation capabilities: The engine not only automated standard transformations but also handled complex scenarios, ensuring seamless data unification across the client鈥檚 regions.
• Data consistency and accuracy: Applying predefined mapping rules provided by the consulting firm and the client ensured that the final transformed data output was both consistent and reliable.
• Effective validation reports: EPI-USE Labs assisted the consulting firm in developing automated validation reports to ensure accuracy and integrity throughout the transformation process.

Collaboration with EPI-USE Labs was critical for such a project for the largest utility client in the Middle East. We received constant support from the EPI-USE Labs data expert team and, together, achieved this success.
  鈥� Project Manager, leading consulting firm in the Middle East

EPI-USE Labs expedited our journey in the data unification project. Their software played a critical role where millions of records were transformed without error and with speed.
  鈥� Functional Lead, leading consulting firm in the Middle East

Collaboration and global delivery model

EPI-USE Labs assembled a skilled team from across the globe, including experts from the UK and Europe, to support the project. The team worked closely with the consulting firm鈥檚 project managers and technical and functional leads through daily interactions, fostering strong collaboration and effective problem-solving.

This global techno-functional delivery model enabled the consulting firm and EPI-USE Labs to provide a precise and reliable software-powered solution, ensuring that not only the data transformation requirements were met, but also that the broader functional needs of the client鈥檚 project were addressed.

Solution stages

1. Input stage

• Data sources: Multiple regional databases with fragmented master data.
• Initial state: Inconsistent structures, varying naming conventions, and siloed data.

2. Transformation stage

• EPI-USE Labs鈥� role: Utilisation of the PRISM solution to automate data transformations; execution of complex data mappings, applying predefined rules; integration of both functional and technical expertise to address evolving project needs; significant volume of data to be referenced.
• Technical approach: Automation versus manual effort, with huge efficiency gains; handling of data inconsistencies and real-time adjustments.

3. Output stage

• Unified master data: Harmonised data model supporting the client鈥檚 restructured business processes.
• Business impact: Enhanced reporting, improved operational efficiency, and reduced risk.

The outcome: A hugely successful project

The successful completion of EPI-USE Labs鈥� scope of the project contributed to the broader objectives of the client鈥檚 data unification initiative. The results included:

• Enhanced efficiency: PRISM transformed millions of data fields quickly and accurately, saving the consulting firm and the client both time and resources.
• Reduced risk: By automating the process, EPI-USE Labs minimised the potential for human error and ensured data consistency across the board in the data transformation.
• Operational continuity: The unified master data model enabled the client to streamline reporting and business processes, laying a strong foundation for continued operational optimisation.
• Compliance: The unified master, transaction, and historical data improved compliance by enabling better regulatory oversight and mitigating risks.

Strategic partnership and future opportunities

This project not only met the technical needs, but also strengthened the partnership between the leading consulting firm in the Middle East and EPI-USE Labs, by aligning closely with their project objectives and demonstrating the effectiveness of EPI-USE Labs鈥� PRISM approach. This project demonstrated that 鈥� together with partners 鈥� EPI-USE Labs can effectively tackle big 麻豆原创 System Landscape Optimisation (SLO)/Data Migration and Landscape Transformation (DMLT) and migration/transformation projects in challenging environments.

About EPI-USE Labs

As a global software solutions and managed services company, EPI-USE Labs helps you to maximise the performance, management and security of your 麻豆原创庐 and 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors庐 systems. Our clients tell us every day how we have transformed their business operations.

Contact us to find out how we can help you solve your business challenges

epiuselabs.com | sales@labs.epiuse.com

EPI-USE Labs is a member of Group Elephant.

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This is proving abundantly clear in the African utilities sector, where non-payment, consumption-based fraud, illegal connections and other factors are costing billions in lost revenue.

Power utility Eskom recently revealed that . This has led to a R51-billion debt by municipalities, adding to Eskom’s significant R400-billion debt burden and hampering the utility’s plans to build additional capacity or its transition to renewable energy.

In East Africa, Kenya Power has investigated cases of fraud in its post-paid billing system, .

This issue is prevalent in the utilities sector of other regions too. A 2017 study estimated that . This places enormous pressure on utilities and hampers efforts to improve service delivery to customers, adopt new, more sustainable forms of energy, and scale into new markets.

Revenue assurance mitigates fraud, reduces losses

In the utilities sector, several factors contribute to lost revenue, including faulty metering, inaccurate billing, ineffective revenue collection, consumption-based fraud, leaks, and issues with incorrect customer accounts and contracts.

As the sector shifts to meet the utility needs of a growing population – Africa’s population is expected to – and pressure grows to move to more sustainable, less carbon-intensive forms of energy, maintaining high levels of revenue collection will be critical.

A vital component of optimal revenue collection is the practice of revenue assurance.

Revenue assurance is a way of increasing an organisation’s income by identifying areas where revenue is lost, and minimising such losses by fixing the cause of lost revenue.

found that it takes an organisation twelve months to detect a typical fraud case, with the average annual loss across industries amounting to $1.8-million. In fact, an estimated 5% of revenue is lost to fraud every year.

In response, organisations need to leverage the power of technology to improve fraud detection, risk mitigation and fraud prevention capabilities.

Using a revenue assurance tool is one way for utilities to detect anomalies earlier. This can help them reduce financial loss, improve the accuracy of detection at a lower cost, and improve their ability to predict and prevent future occurrences of revenue leakage.

Leveraging tech to improve revenue collection

A growing number of utilities are using tools such as 麻豆原创 Business Integrity Screening in combination with 麻豆原创 partner solutions to improve revenue assurance and plug any gaps in operations that may lead to revenue loss.

By leveraging powerful analytics and big data capabilities, revenue assurance tools help utilities identify potential cases of fraud and proactively inform technical teams to investigate.

For example, if a customer’s energy consumption stays exactly the same month after month despite seasonal changes, there is a likelihood that some form of fraud is being committed. Energy use usually increases and decreases in different seasons, with most customers using less power in summer when it’s warm compared to winter when heaters are used and electrical hot water heaters work harder to stay warm.

By tracking energy consumption patterns over long periods of time and matching that data to seasonal consumption models, utilities can leverage their revenue assurance tool to ensure they always collect the optimal revenue from every customer.

By using predictive models and integrating the revenue assurance functionality to their enterprise resource planning core, utilities can develop a better understanding of known customer usage patterns. Over time, utilities can apply this knowledge to develop detection methods and strategies that can highlight unknown patterns that may indicate fraud or revenue leakage.

African utilities are at a pivotal moment as booming population growth and rapid economic development pushes them into building greater capacity while also transitioning to a clean energy future. However, without optimal revenue collection, utilities will lack the financial agility to survive and thrive during this disruptive time.

With the clever application of technology, however, utilities can mitigate the risk of fraud and ensure they have the financial stability to take a leading role in our continent’s development and just energy transition.

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With 770 million people currently living without access to energy, Bboxx was founded in 2010 to end energy poverty. Bboxx manufactures, distributes and finances decentralised solar powered systems in developing countries. Through affordable, reliable and clean energy provision, the company is positively impacting the lives of over 2 million people with its products and services. Bboxx is delivering its products and services to underserved customers in rural areas through its innovative technology Bboxx Pulse庐 which is Bboxx鈥檚 own state-of-the-art comprehensive management platform. Bboxx Pulse庐 enables the growth of next generation, global distributed utility businesses and enables them to manage scale as customers, employees and products are dispersed across remote locations.

This requires a strong accounting and supply chain backend, so Bboxx was looking for a cloud-based platform that would provide scalable market leading software and embedded best practice to help expand its footprint into new markets. Bboxx selected聽聽鈥� Supply chain and Finance with聽, an exclusive program for hypergrowth companies. Phase 1 of the project went live in Asia in May 2021. This is just the beginning, Phase 2 is due to go live in the UK, France and Rwanda in September 2021, and Phase 3 in DRC, Kenya, Togo and Nigeria in December 2021. During Phase 3聽聽will integrate with Bboxx Pulse庐. The 麻豆原创 Business ByDesign implementation is being handled by business transformation and Grow by 麻豆原创 partner聽.

Using 麻豆原创 ERP, finance and supply chain solutions, Bboxx will gain significant efficiencies through widespread automation of processes and using best practice principles embedded in 麻豆原创. Having a single cloud base instance for finance and supply chain will help Bboxx achieve a globally consistent process and still allow for local reporting needs.

Anthony Osijo, Group CFO at Bboxx, said: 鈥淏boxx is currently operating in 10 countries, and we have bold ambitions to hit 23 countries within five years. We are positively impacting 1.8 million lives directly with the provision of clean, reliable, and affordable energy. We want to accelerate access to power in developing countries and continue to transform lives and unlocking potential through access to energy. Because of the scale of these targets, it鈥檚 vital to have a strategic global partner like 麻豆原创 that is flexible and innovative enough to want to work with us on that journey.鈥�

Romain Gauthier, Regional Vice President 鈥� New Customers EMEA North at 麻豆原创, said: 鈥溌槎乖� was the right partner to support Bboxx鈥檚 bold mission to end energy poverty across the globe by providing a highly flexible and scalable single cloud infrastructure. Grow by 麻豆原创 program has been specifically designed to support fast growth scaleups and startups and will provide Bboxx with advanced supply chain, finance and accounting, and customer service across three major continents, whilst also ensuring that it retains its competitive cost base. When it comes to helping businesses expand their footprint and grow into new markets, 麻豆原创 is a true strategic partner.鈥�

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Given our commitment, we are thrilled that for the second consecutive year, 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors was chosen as one of Gartner Peer Insights and was the only company to receive .

is a free peer review and ratings platform designed for enterprise software and services decision-makers. With more than 315,000 verified customer reviews across 330 defined markets, it allows customers to share information with each other in order to increase their confidence and success when purchasing new solutions. Peer reviews are driven solely by the specific experiences relative to the reviewers, including their satisfaction with a product, as well as overall experience, support for the product or service, and overall implementation effort. The Customers鈥� Choice distinction is based on the number of reviews and overall user ratings.

With more than 6,850 customers representing all industries and spread out across the globe, we are grateful for those who share their experiences, best practices, and feedback.

Here are a few from customers:

• “System is intuitive and user friendly. Being a cloud solution, it is accessible from anywhere, and the mobile app capability encourages people to use it wherever they are.鈥�
  鈥�
• 鈥淎 time-saver tool to view, track, and assess all HR-related processes.鈥�
  鈥�
• “The various team members assigned to our account are supportive and reliable. I feel valued as a customer.鈥�
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• “Matured [麻豆原创 Successfactors] Employee Central module. HCI integrations are great along with integration center.”
  鈥�
• “Great features and excellent support.鈥�
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To learn more about this distinction, visit the Gartner Peer Insights page. View the .

Marc Havercroft is chief customer officer for 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors.

Disclaimer: Gartner Peer Insights Customers鈥� Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.

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The celebration, which marked the official go live of the 麻豆原创 system, heralded a new era of efficiency and accountability in the EEU’s billing and reporting capability. It is another step in the ongoing commitment of the Ethiopian government to improve the overall economics and service of the electricity supply industry. The sector has been reviewing its operations across the board to identify opportunities to improve in areas such billing and collections, private investment in generation, capacity building and tariff management.

The EEU operates in a highly complex environment and serves customers in cities across all eleven regional states. It faced challenges in delivering services efficiently while also maintaining full visibility and accountability across all its systems. 麻豆原创 ERP and 麻豆原创 CRM were selected by EEU to streamline processes and provide real time visibility. The new system also enables EEU to quickly identify any issues and resolve them promptly, to ensure top class customer support.

“麻豆原创 is committed to helping companies run better,” said Pedro Guerreiro, Managing Director for 麻豆原创 Central Africa. In his address at the opening event, he spoke about the need for partnership and working together across private and public sector. “By smartly leveraging technology, EEU is taking steps to become an intelligent enterprise, able to thrive in the digital age and able to offer its valued customers an enhanced customer experience. We look forward to our ongoing partnership to ensure EEU remains not only the pride of Ethiopia, but a role model for other organizations contributing to economic growth in Ethiopia and the Continent”.

This article first appeared on .

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