This year, leading experts from the energy industry once again gathered at the SAP for Energy & Utilities Conference—this time in Toulouse in the south of France. Throughout the three conference days featuring keynotes and case studies, AI was an omnipresent topic.
AI works when the foundation is right
The energy and utilities sector is investing heavily in AI. Business leaders worldwide are embracing artificial intelligence to increase efficiency, unlock new business models, and prepare for the energy transition. A successful proof of concept is often the first milestone—but it marks only the beginning. The real challenge lies in scaling pilot projects across the entire organization.
In this context, the time and effort required for a full implementation is frequently underestimated. Around six months are needed to build a robust data foundation. A further 12 months pass before initial results manifest in the form of a measurable return on investment. Large-scale rollout can take another three years. The reasons for this are manifold:
Unrealistic expectations: Many people use AI in their daily lives for simple tasks and expect similarly seamless effects in complex enterprise environments.
