The following Utility Voice was authored by Marc Rosson, Community Connector at Utility.Community
For those of us who started our careers 20 years ago, we remember what reporting used to be like. You had a data source, a reporting tool, and relied on proprietary software to organize that data so you could create reports that visualized information in a way that made sense to you. Over the years, the technology changed, and we changed with it, learning new tools but still building reports much the same way.
In the SAP Labs building in Vancouver, BC, there is a glass case containing a box of software called Win/QL. You know you're getting old when the tools you once used end up in a display case. That was the reporting software I started with, which became Crystal Reports, later merged into BusinessObjects, then evolved into BOBJ, and finally moved to the cloud with SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC).
On the data side, we started with our core ERP system, which fed into BW (Business Warehouse). This architecture worked well for many years. Then, about 15 years ago, another revolution arrived: SAP HANA. HANA transformed the data landscape by enabling real-time summarization without needing a separate warehouse. From there, we evolved again to the cloud, gaining access to more powerful compute resources for richer analytics, more tools, and better user experiences.
The Next Revolution: SAP Business Data Cloud + Joule (Generative AI)
Today, our journey continues with another major shift: SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC).
This time, the revolution is not simply about how data is stored or accessed; many utilities have been building cloud-based data lakes for years. Instead, the breakthrough comes from combining enterprise data with LLMs (large language models) — generative AI capable of creating a far more interactive, insightful, and intuitive way of working with information.
SAP Joule is the user interface layer that brings this AI capability to life. Although Joule is still in its early stages, its potential for automation, efficiency gains, and enhanced collaboration—built on top of business data stored in SAP Business Data Cloud—is the foundation for the revolution ahead.
Challenges Ahead
When we read information produced by AI, we instinctively apply our own knowledge to spot where it might be wrong. We can also verify its referenced sources. But SAP systems, our system of record and source of truth, cannot guess about a customer balance or how long equipment has gone without a work order. Accuracy is nonnegotiable.
In addition, questions asked in natural language must be correctly translated into database queries. For example, if I ask about customer consumption, SAP Joule must understand that this refers to meter reads, know where they are stored, understand the related data structures, and know how to calculate consumption correctly.
Expanding the Data Landscape
Another reality is that generative AI improves with more data, and not all our data lives in SAP. SAP Business Data Cloud addresses this by enabling access to external data sources without moving the data. This is essential for real-time scenarios, as traditional ETL and data movement, like we used to do with BW, take too long.
SAP’s industry business unit for utilities is expected to release its first set of utility-specific data products through BDC, helping accelerate adoption and value realization.
Data Products developed by SAP for ERP/EAM use cases, SAP IBU for utility use cases, third-party providers, and the utilities themselves can provide a rich data resource that can then be used in multiple use cases, as well as be leveraged by Intelligent applications built on top of the Data Products. I would encourage all the utilities that are moving forward with Business Data Cloud to collaborate on ideas and then share those ideas with our community and with our SAP IBU through continual influence.
What Comes Next
Next will be intelligent applications powered by Joule, built on top of these new BDC data products. These applications will provide insights and efficiencies that build on every evolution, revolution, and innovation we have seen over the years.
None of us knows exactly what the future holds or which of today’s tools may one day end up in a glass case. But we are committed to continuing the journey. One thing is certain: more evolution, more revolution, and more innovation are on the way, each helping our business leaders make more informed, insightful decisions.
To get involved and keep up with the latest, join ASUG’s Utilities Community.