Business Situation

APS analysts and traders currently have a window of opportunity during which they offer profitable competitive energy trading services to customers. They wanted to open this window wider. Up until now, they relied on a manual system to collect and collate information from various databases and the internet that is processed using proprietary algorithms to support trading activities. They would like an automated solution that assists with the analysis of meter data in a more time-efficient manner.

Solution

The Avanade Trading Space Solution accelerates and expands the ability to obtain and manage data that energy traders and analysts need to perform contracting and trading activities. The solution leverages a combination of products from Microsoft including Office 2003, SharePoint Portal Server, Web Services, SQL Server, and possibly Data Analyzer and Smart Tags. Voice input allowing traders to relate pieces of information and dictate documents is be promoted. The solution builds on the customer’s use of multiple screens of information.

There are three applications that Avanade built to reduce the manual processing required to prepare data for further analysis:  

• Meter Health Monitor—monitors and diagnoses meter connection problems
• ISO Reporting
• Meter Data Utility—queries meter demand history

Results 

• Data is now automatically processed and ready for further analysis; reduction in manual processes
• Data is easily accessible via a graphical dashboard and voice commands
• Analysis time has been reduced from 1.5 hours to a few minutes
• Automation reduces the opportunity for errors and inconsistent data