New innovations are keeping natural gas producers and distributors competitive at a critical time. Not only is the energy sector more competitive than any time in recent memory, but the novel Coronavirus has exacerbated this reality, forcing producers to search for new efficiencies to augment their competitive advantage.
For many, that value is found in digital transformation. A 2017 report by the World Economic Forum identified new technologies as key to unlocking as much as $2.5 trillion in additional value, meaning this isn’t an entirely new concept for the energy sector.
However, the recent pandemic has hastened adoption as safety restrictions, remote work, and a digital-first approach to problem-solving are remaking the natural gas sector in real-time.
Unfortunately, in their current iterations, many remote work arrangements are not sustainable as long-term solutions. A Gartner report on the state of remote work during the pandemic found that even companies with the best work from home practices, 40% of companies lacked “adequate infrastructure for the current crisis.”
For digital transformation, especially as expressed through remote work, to improve efficiencies, bolster capabilities, and control costs, natural gas producers will need to bolster remote operations capacity. In doing so, they will optimize their workforce on many fronts.
#1 Personnel Capacity
The energy sector traditionally struggles to attract and retain top talent. With an average churn rate of 10%, it’s one of the most transient of any sector. Meanwhile, there is strong evidence that a more flexible and inclusive work environment can help solve this problem. Gallup estimates that more than half of all workers would change jobs for a more flexible work arrangement, and 70% of energy sector works would prefer to work remotely, making this a clear win-win for natural gas producers.