The Market for Grid Operators is highly dynamic — new legal requirements, regulatory adjustments and technical developments constantly present them with new challenges. In particular, the implementation of legal requirements ties up considerable resources, while at the same time the number of registrations for production and consumption plants is steadily increasing.

The result: a massively increasing workload combined with a shortage of skilled workers. Grid operators are increasingly forced to handle complex processes with limited personnel capacities. This requires efficient, digital solutions to overcome this balancing act.

1. Cloud-based Process Automation as a Relief for Grid Operators

Studies and practical reports show that digitization is not a nice-to-have, but a must in order to overcome the growing challenges. Grid operators such as BEW Bergische Energie und Wasser GmbH report that they have been able to reduce the time required for each process from 45 minutes to 15 minutes by digitizing their house connection and EEG registration processes.

Cloud-based platforms are the tracks on which grid operators travel at full speed into the future: They keep processes up-to-date, legally compliant and scalable at all times. In an environment where ever new regulatory requirements are no longer exceptions, but the new rule — a modern cloud solution allows new regulations to be implemented immediately without local system intervention and in compliance with legal deadlines.  

Fragmented systems are largely replaced by a single solution, the cloud platform, which means that legal requirements do not have to be extensively adapted over lengthy IT projects. As a result, fewer personnel resources are required in internal IT or with external implementation partners. Up to 50% of administrative and IT costs can be saved.

In concrete terms, this means: Applications and registrations are recorded via configurable digital order processes and forms, which are always adapted to current legal requirements.

2. Platform with Cloud Architecture: At the Heart of Digital Transformation in Grid Operations

The Energy Revolution is not a sprint, but a marathon — and grid operators are the decisive runners who set the pace. Those who rely on cloud-based platforms are able to completely automate grid connection processes, enable dynamic grid controls based on current data and plan grid expansion measures precisely.
They offer numerous advantages for balancing regulatory responsibility and operational efficiency:

• Cost savings: Compared to traditional agency services, grid operators save significantly on costs and time with industry-specific cloud software that offers suitable templates. As in the iPhone app store, Blueprints for recurring processes can be connected quickly and without manual effort; for example, a legally compliant grid portal is set up and ready to go within a few days when activated with one click.

• Increasing efficiency: The entire process chain — from registration to testing to commissioning — is accelerated and automated, as less human intervention is required. In addition, automatic data checks take place in the background, which minimize errors, such as typing errors when entering addresses or payment details of customers.

• scalability: Cloud-based platforms grow with demand and adapt flexibly to new regulatory and technical requirements. As a result, growing inquiries for production and consumption systems, for example, pose no challenge, as the system can always keep pace thanks to digital processes and automation.

• Interfaces to third-party systems: Data can be exchanged automatically and error-free between systems (ERP, GIS, DMS & Co.). In this way, all customer data, contracts, systems and processes are stored and managed in a uniform platform. Which in turn contributes to increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Transparency and seamless integration of external partners: By Integrating Third-Party Systems and Partners, all stakeholders are always informed about the current status and legal requirements and deadlines are met automatically. This ensures that no information is lost even during complex processes. Continuous data flows not only enable digital transformation, but also greater transparency and customer satisfaction — without manual interfaces or media breaks.

• Digital accessibility: Digital accessibility is not only complied with, but continuously optimized. This means that every end customer, regardless of individual restrictions, can use digital processes in the grid portal barrier-free — an aspect that is becoming increasingly the focus of regulatory reviews.

• Digital self-service: Customers and Installers can use self-service functions 24/7, which means that additions, queries and status queries are carried out directly in the system. This speeds up processes and reduces sources of error.

• Everything in one place: Instead of operating numerous individual solutions for customer, partner and installer portals or for individual grid connection processes in parallel, a central gri platform enables cross-company collaboration — with all data and documents in one place. This goes far beyond the possibilities of a classic CRM. Instead of operating numerous individual solutions, a platform such as epilot combines all of this in one system.

• AI-powered processes: A future-oriented platform uses AI, for example, to pre-qualify applications, check documents or automate email communication so that routine tasks can be performed by AI and more complex processes can be handled by specialist staff.

3. Requirements for safety standards

There is also another important factor to consider: Where people work, mistakes happen. This is normal and cannot be avoided. However, higher demands may well be placed on a modern and future-proof software landscape. Especially when it comes to a cloud solution. It should meet the highest standards in terms of data security and data protection and be hosted by well-known cloud infrastructure providers in Europe. Ideally, it also has special seals of approval, such as Trusted Cloud or Certifications such as ISO certificates. After all, customer data has zero error tolerance — and rightly so.

What is needed is a solution that provides standardized, GDPR-compliant and cloud-based processes, for a more predictable budget, without long implementation cycles and project phases. A cloud architecture has exactly these advantages and enables automated processes for applications, approvals and customer communication as well as rapid digital implementation of regulatory changes without additional manual effort. It integrates all relevant data, enables forecasts and ensures smooth cooperation between internal and external stakeholders. Automated process flows, supported by AI, take on preparatory work and create space for actual core tasks.

Conclusion: Regulatory compliance and efficiency — cloud-based, modular, future-proof

A conventional system landscape with isolated solutions and manual effort cannot meet the challenges mentioned above for grid operation. Now is the right time to take the next step in grid digitization — with a platform that grows with you, thinks and helps shape.

Platform solutions with modern cloud architecture like epilot offer a decisive paradigm shift. Instead of rigid IT structures, it enables an agile, modular and expandable system landscape that automatically adapts to legal and technological changes. Through preconfigured, legally compliant use cases, adaptable to the individual requirements of the respective grid operator and its stakeholders. This makes complex regulatory requirements routine — without additional project load for IT or long implementation phases that result in high investments. Regardless of whether it's a grid connection, registration of generation and consumption plants or redispatch — with the right blueprints, grid operators can set up their use cases end-to-end within days instead of months.

The added value is clearly measurable: Time savings of up to 30 minutes per process, cost savings and significantly increased transparency and traceability in all processes.

With the right digital platform, such as epilot:

• Regulatory requirements are no longer a burden, but an automatically integrated component from initial registration to commissioning,

• Seamless collaboration and increased data quality via customer, installer and partner portal is ensured without unnecessary media breaks,

• Process efficiency through workflows and preconfigured use cases increases,

• Internal resources are saved through automatic data exchange with third-party systems,

• Customer satisfaction and loyalty are strengthened through efficient digital customer experiences.

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of a holistic software solution for grid operators? Then book a non-binding demo appointment.