BOSTON - Digitalization is at the heart of transforming electric utilities and how they can empower customers, according to Horst Kayser, Siemens chief strategy officer.
“The predominant trend we currently are facing is the digital transformation,” he told a Boston meeting with media and analysts.
In response to a question from The Energy Times about the role of software in the gathering energy revolution, Kayser said, “Many of the customer benefits that our customers need come from software embedded intelligence.”
The New York Times reported this weekend that GE is mounting an all-out campaign to become one of the 10 largest software companies to lead the way to a greener, more resilient and efficient power grid.
“We are number 12 today,” Kayser said. As at GE, he said, “Yes, a similar transition is taking control.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: New utility business models and the digital grid will be taken up at the Empowering Customers and Cities conference in Chicago Nov 1-2. Siemens is a sponsor.