Geographic Information Systems Core to Utilities' Enterprise IT Strategies, According to New IDC MarketScape
Leading GIS vendors expand offerings to address a broad range of
utility business needs
In a new IDC MarketScape report, IDC
Energy Insights found that with the advances in data management,
Web, mobile, and integration technologies, utilities are renewing their
interest in geographic information systems (GIS) software as a means to
leverage geographic information for business execution rather than just
asset design. The new report, IDC
MarketScape: GIS Software for EMEA Utilities 2015 Vendor Assessment
(Doc #EIRS01X), provides utility companies with insight into the current
capabilities and future strategies of GIS software vendors and focuses
on the solutions that support a complete range of utility business
processes and functions. Vendors evaluated in this report include:
Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Esri, GE, Intergraph, and Schneider Electric.
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#IDCEnergyInsights releases #IDCMarketScape: #GIS Software for #EMEA
#Utilities 2015 Vendor Assessment
The utility industry is not new to GIS. These applications have been
used for decades to store geo-referenced asset attributes and
engineering data as it applies to the networks for electricity, gas,
water, and district heating distribution, and wastewater collection, as
well as to provide a land-based display, mapping, or schematic view.
However, new GIS platforms enable utilities to use geospatial
information and analytics to support a wide variety of business
processes, thereby increasing operational efficiency. In addition, they
provide users across the organization — from network engineers and field
workers to customer support representatives — with access to a richer
set of data, information, insight, and tools to improve their work.
Key findings from the report include:
-
Vendors increasingly provide advanced functionality for publishing,
sharing, and collaborating on map-based information across the
organization, leveraging cloud and Web services and mobile apps to
effectively break down the traditional silos on access to geospatial
data.
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Top vendors in this space provide comprehensively verticalized GIS
solutions, addressing the full spectrum of a utility network's
management needs and full business process support.
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Data management technology is increasingly open, providing flexibility
on the storage of spatial information and data interoperability.
-
GIS solutions are becoming easier to integrate as vendors use open
architectures and support industry standards to meet user and partner
requirements.
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GIS-enabled asset design and modelling systems are focusing on
providing utilities with a complete building information modelling
(BIM) solution leveraging intelligent 2D and 3D asset models.
-
The use of 3D for asset design, modeling, visualization, and analysis
is becoming an essential feature of modern GIS.
"GIS solutions are now becoming core to the utilities' enterprise IT
strategies as companies leverage geographic information for business
execution rather than just asset management," said Jean-François
Segalotto, Senior Research Analyst, IDC Energy Insights. "Vendors
are supporting this shift and have grown their GIS offerings to address
a broad range of utility business needs, from distribution and mobile
workforce management to enterprise resource planning. With full asset
management and business process support at the core, key ingredients of
modern utility GIS feature open data management technology, packaged
integration with enterprise systems and business applications, and
advanced analytics and visualization functionality leveraging cloud and
Web services and mobile apps."
IDC
MarketScape criteria selection, weightings, and vendor scores
represent well-researched IDC judgment about the market and specific
vendors. IDC analysts tailor the range of standard characteristics by
which vendors are measured through structured discussions, surveys, and
interviews with market leaders, participants and end users. Market
weightings are based on user interviews, buyer surveys and the input of
a review board of IDC experts in each market. IDC analysts base
individual vendor scores, and ultimately vendor positions within the IDC
MarketScape, on detailed surveys and interviews with the vendors,
publicly available information, and end-user experiences in an effort to
provide an accurate and consistent assessment of each vendor's
characteristics, behavior and capability.
For additional information about this report or to arrange a one-on-one
briefing with Jean-Francois Segalotto, please contact Sarah Murray at
781-378-2674 or sarah@attunecommunications.com.
Reports are available to qualified members of the media. For information
on purchasing reports, contact insights@idc.com;
reporters should email sarah@attunecommunications.com.
About IDC MarketScape
The IDC
MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview
of the competitive fitness of IT, telecommunications, or
industry-specific suppliers in a given market. The research methodology
utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and
quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of
each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a
clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities
and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT,
telecommunications, or industry-specific vendors can be meaningfully
compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a
transparent foundation to allow companies to independently compare the
strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.
About IDC Energy Insights
IDC Energy Insights assists energy
businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in
making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate,
timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services.
Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our
global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues
facing the utility and oil and gas industries. International Data
Corporation (IDC)
is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory
services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a
subsidiary of IDG,
the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For
more information, please visit www.idc.com/energy,
email info@idc-ei.com, or call
508-935-4400. Visit the IDC Energy Insights Community at http://idc-community.com/energy.
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