Innovation in ASEAN's Utilities: Enriching Service Reliability, Data-Driven Practices, and Employee Empowerment

Rapid urbanisation sweeping across Southeast Asia heralds a transformational shift in the region's landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As urban centres expand at an unprecedented pace, the demand for utilities, energy, water, and telecommunications is soaring to new heights.?

Encompassing electricity generation to distribution networks, ASEAN's utilities sector shoulders the crucial responsibility of providing reliable and efficient power to meet the growing demands of urban centres. In addition, the region also recognises the pressing need to transition towards clean energy sources to mitigate environmental impact and create a sustainable future.

Embracing renewable resources and low-carbon technologies, ASEAN aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, minimise carbon emissions, and pave the way for an environmentally conscious energy landscape. This commitment to clean energy not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also presents opportunities for innovation and economic growth within the region.

Parallel to meeting energy needs, the provision of clean and accessible water emerges as a paramount concern that demands concerted effort and investment in water management systems.

As urbanisation intensifies, ensuring a sustainable water supply becomes imperative. By implementing efficient water management practices, ASEAN aims to meet the increasing water demands, address water scarcity challenges, and promote responsible water usage. This commitment to sustainable water management fosters resilience, enhances environmental stewardship, and supports the overall well-being of urban communities.

Moreover, the region's telecommunications sector plays a pivotal role in fueling innovation and enabling digital transformation in the urban landscape. As the demand for connectivity continues to surge, ASEAN endeavours to develop robust telecommunications infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of businesses and individuals. By investing in advanced technologies and expanding network capabilities, ASEAN aims to bridge the digital divide, spur economic growth, and foster a digitally inclusive society. The telecommunications sector serves as a catalyst for innovation, empowering industries and individuals to embrace emerging technologies and seize new opportunities in the digital era.

This May, we had the opportunity to engage with and glean insights from the outstanding finalists of the 2023 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards. This year signifies the seventh edition of these esteemed awards, which have established themselves as a standard of excellence in acknowledging and honouring innovation across ASEAN.

The finalists of the 2023 AIBP ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards showcased Utilities across ASEAN including Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) Sarawak Energy PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation PETRONAS Gas Bhd Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited MERALCO PT PLN (Persero) Tenaga Nasional Berhad VIETNAM POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP True Digital Group Together, these exceptional finalists represent a diverse group of? who are driving innovation and shaping the future of ASEAN Utilities

• Improving Service Reliability: Digital innovation plays a pivotal role in enhancing service reliability and customer satisfaction. By leveraging advanced technologies such as Internet of Things and AI/ML , utilities can optimise their operations and proactively identify and address potential issues.Systems equipped with real-time monitoring and predictive analytics enables prompt detection of faults or anomalies, allowing for efficient maintenance and reducing downtime. Additionally, digital platforms and mobile applications empower customers to monitor their energy usage, receive real-time updates, and access personalised recommendations for energy conservation.
• Fostering Innovation through Data: The utilities sector within ASEAN recognizes the pivotal role of data-driven approaches in fostering innovation and gaining a competitive edge. By harnessing the power of data, utilities in ASEAN are transforming their operations, embracing innovative practices, and ensuring sustainable and accessible water and power supply for the growing urban population. Through data analytics, utilities can optimize resource allocation, predict demand patterns, and improve infrastructure planning, resulting in improved efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and resilience in delivering essential services.

“It's actually giving access to the data, making it simple and easy to use, but also getting the insights into how that data is being used, by which business units, what's the most, most popular. And then building recommendations. The way I think of it is just like Netflix, you watch a number of shows on Netflix, you get recommendations, “hey, you've watched this, you should watch this”, very similar approach.” - Elliott Jones, Snowflake

• Elevating Employee Experiences: Prioritising employee experiences has become increasingly vital as utilities continue to innovate and adopt new technologies such as VR training. By leveraging immersive technologies, organisations can enhance professional development, improve productivity, boost retention rates, ensure safety, and foster a positive organisational culture.?

“I think it is very important to upskill. When technology and industries evolve, new skills are needed to keep up with the changing demands of the workforce. And then also upskilling can also lead to increased job satisfaction as people feel they are more capable and competent in their roles. They also feel that the organisation appreciates their efforts and is willing to invest in them.” - Donna Wong, Director, Asia, Talend

These pillars of improvement—service reliability and customer satisfaction, data-driven innovation—are driving the utilities sector in ASEAN towards a future of efficiency, sustainability, and growth. By embracing digital innovation and prioritising innovation, utilities in the region are poised to meet the evolving needs of the urban landscape and contribute to the overall development and prosperity of ASEAN.

Join us in our upcoming in-person conferences & exhibitions (C&E), where esteemed utilities leaders will take centre stage:

• Alexander Antukh, Chief Information Security Officer, Aboitiz Power
• Dr. Francisco Castillo, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Maynilad Water Services, inc.
• Patrick Aquino, Director IV, Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB), Department of Energy (DOE)
• Rocky Bacani, First Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Officer, MERALCO
• Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, Chief Strategy and Ventures Officer, Tenaga Nasional Berhad
• Chua Jiun Yih, Chief Information Security Officer, Sarawak Energy Berhad
• Luan Quoc Hung, Deputy General Director, Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC)

Find out more about our 2023 AIBP Conference and Exhibition?

• 40th Edition, AIBP C&E Malaysia, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, 4 - 5 July 2023
• 41st Edition, AIBP C&E Philippines, Marriott Manila, 11 - 12 July 2023
• 42nd Edition, AIBP C&E Vietnam, The Reverie Saigon, 1 - 2 August 2023

Alternatively, do feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you wish to join us, or if there are topics in digitalisation you would like to hear more of!