The UK energy industry is under immense pressure to meet evolving demands for reliability, efficiency, and sustainability especially in an era of rising consumer costs.
As the sector navigates the transition to greener energy and increasingly digitised operations, workload automation has become essential for managing complex, data-intensive processes.
This transition is not without its challenges. We take a look at four of the most pressing workload automation challenges facing the UK energy industry and how the right software and support can make all the difference for suppliers and consumers.
1. Increasing Complexity of UK Energy Industry’s Systems
Smart Meters
Utility companies are now working with data from disparate systems. Smart meters for one have caused many data issues. Their introduction as crucial components in automating energy monitoring and management has faced significant delays and technical issues. This has created a data collection and collation nightmare resulting in inefficient automated energy management.
The Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources
Increasingly the monitoring and coordinating of data from other sources like wind and solar combined with traditional energy generation is a daunting task. Traditional workload automation tools often struggle to adapt to this growing complexity, leading to inefficiencies and increased operational risks.
By automating the flow of data across these sources, Ortom8 best utilises Control-M’s capabilities. For example, even with inconsistent smart meter readings or malfunctioning devices, critical energy data is collected, validated, and processed efficiently.
This reduces the risk of billing inaccuracies and customer mistrust, ensuring a more reliable foundation for automated energy management. With Ortom8’s support, IT teams can identify and address data discrepancies before they impact broader operations.
To further enhance reliability, Ortom8 provides extended support services for Control-M, offering 24/7 expert support to ensure that complex workloads continue running smoothly, even when unexpected issues arise.
2. The Demands of Data Volume and Real-Time Processing
The UK energy industry deals with massive volumes of data that needs real-time processing to maintain supply and demand balance.
Failing to automate data management efficiently often causes delays, system failures, and increased costs to consumers. Additionally, legacy systems can lack the scalability required to handle modern data loads.
As an example excess green energy stored in batteries is often overlooked due to legacy computer systems that make it difficult to determine if they have sufficient charge when needed to supply extra power. Outdated automation algorithms struggle to integrate fast-response assets like batteries, leading to inefficiencies in grid balancing.
Lack of Real-Time Processing Leads to Wasted Green Energy – But What’s the Answer?
This lack of real-time visibility can be addressed with the right tools.
Ortom8 can help by collecting real-time data and scheduling workload automation capabilities to help energy companies process large volumes of data seamlessly.
This allows operators to monitor battery charge levels, demand forecasts, and the status of grid assets in real time, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.
With extended support and continuous monitoring, Ortom8 ensures that critical systems remain well-maintained and optimised, giving companies confidence in their ability to manage energy distribution effectively.
3. A Shortfall of In-House IT Expertise
Many energy companies struggle to maintain in-house expertise in workload automation. As the industry evolves, it becomes increasingly difficult to recruit and retain talent with the necessary skills to manage complex automation environments.
As many as 40% of energy businesses acknowledge they’re lacking the expertise of IT professionals such as data scientists. This is hindering their ability to deeply analyse data and trends that help predict future energy demand and enhance the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Bridging This Skills Gap is Possible
Ortom8 serves as an extension of your IT team, providing expert support and guidance to enhance their ability to analyse, automate, and optimise workflows – without the need for deep technical expertise.
By maximising the value of your workload automation investments, Ortom8 helps reduce workload pressures and improve overall system efficiency. And through additional tools like its Assurance Dashboard, offering clearer insights and greater control by providing intuitive data access.
4. Security and Compliance Risks
As the energy sector becomes increasingly digitised, it also becomes more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Ensuring that automated workloads comply with regulatory standards while maintaining data security is a major challenge. The integration of cybersecurity measures within automation processes is critical to safeguarding operations.
Ortom8’s Control-M support includes robust security protocols and compliance monitoring, helping organisations meet stringent regulatory requirements without compromising efficiency. The platform’s 24/7 support ensures that any potential threats are addressed proactively, minimising risks.
Conclusion
The UK energy industry continues to navigate considerable workload automation challenges as it adjusts to new demands and evolving technologies.
Ortom8 offers continuous coverage, real-time data management, improved security, and expert guidance, helping energy companies address these challenges and enhance their operations.
By streamlining workflows and reducing operational issues, this not only improves efficiency but also leads to happier employees, who can focus on more impactful tasks, and more satisfied customers, who benefit from reliable and seamless energy services.
Visit ortom8.com to learn more about how we can transform your workload automation strategy and keep your energy systems running efficiently and securely.
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