{"id":7263,"date":"2025-01-30T18:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T18:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itvt.de\/en\/?p=7263"},"modified":"2026-07-08T03:37:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T03:37:18","slug":"digitalization-new-software-for-new-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/digitalization-new-software-for-new-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"Digitalization: New software for new processes"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\n“The energy market is changing at a rapid pace. However, many energy suppliers are not yet prepared for future requirements, such as the implementation of new business models, with their historically evolved, inflexible and insufficiently integrated IT landscapes. A new end-to-end solution based on Microsoft Dynamics should help to manage the change.”<\/span><\/span>\n\nThe energy supply in Germany is facing extensive changes. This is triggered by three drivers:<\/span><\/span>\n
    \n \t
  • Cost and efficiency pressure due to increasing competition<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n \t
  • Structural and process change due to the energy transition<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n \t
  • Increasing pressure for innovation and rationalization due to digitalization.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOf these three catalysts, which correspond with each other in many ways, digitalization in particular is exerting powerful disruptive forces, as a look at other sectors – for example, retail, the hotel and taxi industries – shows.<\/span><\/span>\n\nEnergy suppliers often still find it <\/span><\/span>\ndifficult to follow the new trends. To date, <\/span><\/span>\ndigitalization in this area has been understood <\/span><\/span>\nprimarily as the provision of a <\/span><\/span>\nsupporting IT tool <\/span><\/span>\nthat is integrated into a business process <\/span><\/span>\nthat <\/span><\/span>\nis primarily implemented by clerks. These <\/span><\/span>\nare usually repetitive tasks such as <\/span><\/span>\ndata collection, information research <\/span><\/span>\nand evaluation. This means that valuable <\/span><\/span>\nhuman resources are tied up in tasks <\/span><\/span>\nthat contribute little to added value <\/span><\/span>\n. Deeper <\/span><\/span>\nadded value could <\/span><\/span>\nbe achieved, for example, by <\/span><\/span>\ndeploying clerks selectively where <\/span><\/span>\ncustomers require customized solutions due to complex needs <\/span><\/span>\n.<\/span><\/span>\n
    Simple coding rules are not enough<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nWhy can’t a high degree of automation, <\/span><\/span>\nas <\/span><\/span>\nis often found in the manufacturing industry, <\/span><\/span>\nsimply be transferred to the energy industry? <\/span><\/span>\nIndustrial processes are characterized by <\/span><\/span>\na very high degree of standardization <\/span><\/span>\nand can easily be <\/span><\/span>\ncoded in rule-based systems. The core of <\/span><\/span>\nservice processes, on the other hand, is the <\/span><\/span>\ninteraction between a provider and <\/span><\/span>\na customer. This interaction is characterized by <\/span><\/span>\na wide range of potential states and options <\/span><\/span>\n, so simple rules <\/span><\/span>\nfor coding are not sufficient. Rather, the <\/span><\/span>\ninteraction is divided into numerous <\/span><\/span>\ndifferent business processes <\/span><\/span>\n. In practice, this is made even more difficult <\/span><\/span>\nby the fact that all of these business processes are <\/span><\/span>\ncurrently mapped in separate software systems <\/span><\/span>\n, for example for ERP, <\/span><\/span>\nbilling, CRM, EDM, calculation and market communication. <\/span><\/span>\nUsually, each component has <\/span><\/span>\nits own data model, although <\/span><\/span>\nthe same business objects are relevant for several <\/span><\/span>\nof these applications.<\/span><\/span>\n\nThe relationships between the information <\/span><\/span>\nare so complex that <\/span><\/span>\ndata integration and <\/span><\/span>\nevaluation via static connectors <\/span><\/span>\nare usually not promising and can <\/span>hardly be implemented <\/span><\/span>\nwith the integration solutions known to date <\/span>. Due to this incomplete <\/span>integration, it is difficult or even impossible to bundle all the data <\/span>relevant <\/span>to complex business and decision-making processes <\/span>in one data instance <\/span>. However, such bundling is <\/span>one of the prerequisites for <\/span>automating business processes. <\/span>Working with such IT solutions is <\/span>therefore inefficient because they <\/span>are not up to future challenges.<\/span><\/span>\n
    Indispensable: integration of business processes<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nAnyone who wants to be and remain successful in the energy market 4.0 cannot <\/span><\/span>\navoid a stronger <\/span><\/span>\nintegration of business processes <\/span><\/span>\n. This insight is <\/span><\/span>\nthe basis for the IT Vision Technology (ITVT) GmbH project <\/span>to develop <\/span><\/span>\na new <\/span><\/span>\ncloud-based information technology platform that connects the various <\/span>separate databases within <\/span>the utility company’s IT architecture using a flexible <\/span>data model. With it, <\/span>users in the company can declaratively <\/span>model higher-level processes that can <\/span>flexibly <\/span>access all affected data sources. With these declaratively created processes, <\/span>the value creation process of an energy service provider <\/span>can be <\/span>mapped, partially automated <\/span>and even a limited self-learning functionality <\/span>can be implemented. <\/span>With the new ITVT energy market solution <\/span>\u00bbStadtwerk365\u00ab it is possible <\/span>to configure rule-based systems that can also <\/span>automate <\/span>complex processes that affect several <\/span>data-related pillars of the IT architecture . <\/span>These include, for example, <\/span>consumption billing and invoicing <\/span>for various energy sources, <\/span>automated pre-screening of customers <\/span>and new customers before calculating offers, <\/span>credit checks, address validations, <\/span>network logistics and financial <\/span>transaction processes.<\/span><\/span>\n
    Maximum automation of processes sought<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nA typical use case is that <\/span>an automated preliminary check <\/span>of the customer takes place <\/span><\/span>\nwhen a new customer query is made via the web portal. These <\/span>processes are controlled at the CRM level <\/span>and end systems such as price portals are addressed <\/span>via web service interfaces <\/span>. If the query <\/span>passes through the system, an object is automatically created at the <\/span>ERP system level. <\/span>This object is the basis for an <\/span>automatic offer calculation before <\/span>a clerk even <\/span>becomes active. Many cases – especially those in which the energy supplier <\/span>cannot or does not want to enter into <\/span>a business relationship <\/span>– therefore do not even reach <\/span>the clerk level.<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe stated goal is <\/span>to achieve <\/span><\/span>\nan automation rate of 99.9% for standard cases of contract initiation . <\/span>An employee’s intervention should only <\/span>be necessary in 0.1% of cases. In vertical terms, <\/span>it can be assumed that a clerk <\/span>will only check and release the automatically pre-processed processes at the end of the process chain.<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\nStadtwerk365 is a cloud-based software platform. <\/span><\/span>\nSoftware-as-a-service solutions <\/span><\/span>\nare on trend because they <\/span><\/span>\nare inexpensive and easy to use. This means that <\/span><\/span>\nusers do not have to <\/span><\/span>\nworry about tasks such as system operation, maintenance and administration. <\/span><\/span>\nCustomers can host the application either <\/span><\/span>\nin the Microsoft cloud, in their own <\/span><\/span>\ndata center or in <\/span><\/span>\nthe ITVT Group’s high-security center. Thanks to <\/span><\/span>\nthe all-in-one approach, energy suppliers <\/span><\/span>\nno longer need a range of IT solutions, <\/span><\/span>\nbut only a single one.<\/span><\/span>\n
    Relief from routines<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nThe new end-to-end solution <\/span><\/span>\nalso offers energy suppliers the advantage of <\/span>relieving <\/span><\/span>\ntheir employees of routine processes that add little value <\/span>and allowing them to use them for critical and complex cases <\/span>. This makes it possible <\/span>to pass on price advantages to customers on the one hand, and <\/span>to grow <\/span>in new customer business on the other , without <\/span>having to expand the sales team.<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA special feature of the new <\/span><\/span>\nsolution is that it enables the mapping and <\/span><\/span>\nsupport of new business models <\/span><\/span>\nthat <\/span><\/span>\nwill become central to the energy market 4.0. <\/span>Virtual assistants, <\/span>chatbots and artificial intelligence, for example <\/span><\/span>\n, are used to support complex processes <\/span>. With the cloud approach, Stadtwerk365 also offers itself <\/span>as a lean solution <\/span>for future small providers in the energy market <\/span>. The new <\/span>software is primarily aimed at three target groups:<\/span><\/span>\n
      \n \t
    • Energy suppliers who <\/span><\/span>\ncome from other industries and <\/span><\/span>\nare new to the energy market. Initially, <\/span><\/span>\nsuch companies often <\/span><\/span>\nworked with external providers so that they did <\/span>not have to build up their own vertical integration <\/span><\/span>\nfor tasks such as <\/span><\/span>\nmarket communication and billing <\/span>. Successful <\/span>new providers are now realizing that <\/span>they need their own know-how and tools <\/span>in order to be able to operate on the market with higher <\/span>quality and the necessary <\/span>differentiating features <\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • Municipal utilities and energy suppliers who recognize the need <\/span>to consolidate and renew <\/span>their systems <\/span><\/span>\nin the wake <\/span><\/span>\nof digitalization and increasing competition.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n \t
    • Large, nationwide energy suppliers that are building up <\/span>target group-specific product lines under a separate brand <\/span><\/span>\nalongside their existing business <\/span>. To do this, they need an <\/span>IT solution that <\/span>will enable them to bring their offerings to market quickly.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      Benefit from established Microsoft Dynamics standards<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nITVT offers more than 15 years of energy market experience, <\/span><\/span>\nprimarily in the area of \u200b\u200bCRM solutions <\/span><\/span>\nand cloud-based for many years. <\/span><\/span>\nA good part of the way <\/span><\/span>\nto the new energy market solution has already been covered. <\/span><\/span>\nThe process coverage – initially <\/span><\/span>\nonly for sales – was <\/span><\/span>\nexpanded in close cooperation with customers to cover <\/span><\/span>\nfunctions such as billing and financial accounting <\/span><\/span>\nin an end-to-end solution. <\/span><\/span>\nThe Microsoft Dynamics standard <\/span><\/span>\nalready provides a lot of functionality <\/span><\/span>\nthat is linked to ITVT developments <\/span><\/span>\n. This means that users can work on a <\/span><\/span>\nwidely used platform that <\/span><\/span>\nthey often already have in-house and thus <\/span>benefit <\/span><\/span>\nfrom future Microsoft innovations .<\/span><\/span>\n\nAuthor: Jochen Klipfel & Marc Sch\u00fctt <\/span><\/span>\nSource: Article in ew \u2013 Magazine for the Energy Industry IV\/17, p. 26-27<\/span><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      “The energy market is changing at a rapid pace. However, many energy suppliers are not yet prepared for future requirements, such as the implementation of new business models, with their historically evolved, inflexible and insufficiently integrated IT landscapes. A new end-to-end solution based on Microsoft Dynamics should help to manage the change.” The energy supply<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9601,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":{"dl_description":"","dl_pinterest_image":"","dl_hashtags":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7263"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9814,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7263\/revisions\/9814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.itvt.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}