With businesses in all industries now placing digital transformation at the forefront of their strategies and goals, the utilities sector is gearing up for this fall’s SAP for Utilities, Presented by ASUG conference (Oct. 9–11 in Chicago; register here).

As a Producer of Enterprise Content Programming at ASUG, I’m fascinated to learn more about the utilities’ community’s greatest challenges and opportunities while working with a dedicated group of SAP customers and advisors to help build this year’s agenda. I can’t wait to discuss what we have planned.

This year’s key topics will serve as a catalyst to drive innovation and change across businesses, as event attendees network and learn from like-minded utilities and partners while learning how to get the most value out of their existing investments in SAP technology. In addition, this year’s conference will feature more opportunities for attendees to connect intimately with one another than in previous years. Let me tell you more.

60+ Interactive Sessions Covering Hot Topics in the Utilities Sector

ASUG members love hearing peers share their stories. This year’s speakers will discuss their successes and challenges with technology implementation while overcoming the industry’s most prominent obstacles and maximizing its greatest opportunities for evolution. Attendees can learn more about specific topics, find resources, and connect with like-minded utilities to meet their organization’s needs. We’ll have something for everyone—from customer stories to compelling keynotes, solution deep dives, and hands-on demos!

Attendees will learn how to embrace digital and process transformation, leaving the conference with a more complete understanding of the SAP roadmap for utilities customers through discussions around cloud migration options and other SAP products and partner services available to help users accomplish their goals. Attendees will also discover how to improve the customer experience and transform operations through leveraging the latest advances in finance, HR, and supply chain to drive financial change and improve overall business performance. Attendees will gain actionable, cutting-edge insights into recently announced regulations and their effect on planning cycles and options for sustainable solutions like reducing carbon footprints or adopting circular economy best practices.

Listen to Dominion Energy discuss its Customer Core solution, which will replace the company’s customer information and meter data management systems. Customer Core was introduced at Dominion to better control and access customer data, enrich customer service operations, enhance process consistency, and improve operational efficiency and reporting. A business priority for Dominion was identifying a new enterprise customer information and billing system to improve its ability to meet customer expectations and provide a modernized platform capable of attracting and retaining the next generation of digital-savvy users—employees and customers.

Snohomish PUD’s session will discuss SAP Security before, during, and after a RISE with SAP migration. RISE with SAP—a comprehensive suite of cloud-based applications, platforms, tools, and services—is designed to help businesses of all sizes accelerate their digital transformation. That said, any migration to the cloud comes with its own security challenges. Third-party security technology can enhance customers’ data and systems protection while transitioning into a RISE with SAP environment. This session will provide attendees with insights into how enhanced visibility, automated security scanning, and incident response can augment their teams’ abilities to inspect what they expect from RISE with SAP.

Mel Robbins—a podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and former lawyer—will serve as this year’s keynote speaker, taking the stage for a Q&A session with SAP in which she will share insights into what it takes for any leader to create a driven, connected, collaborative, and cohesive team.

Follow this link to check out the confirmed sessions at the 2023 event!

Unique Opportunities to Connect and Discuss the Topics That Matter Most

This year, we’re excited to introduce lunchtime topic tables on both days of the conference, giving attendees multiple opportunities to sit with peers and discuss top-of-mind topics. If tackling cybersecurity is a priority for your organization, for example, you can join a topic table to learn what peers are doing to overcome cybersecurity challenges during a facilitated, informal discussion.

Personally, I’m excited for attendees to experience the two-part Idea Jam session planned around field service management. Part 1 of this session begins with an engaging panel discussion with multiple utilities, all of which have chosen to move forward with scheduling dispatch and mobile operations for their specific utility work management tasks. Attendees will hear about 50 use cases across three utilities (water, gas, and electric) that selected SAP Field Service Management.

Each organization is in a different phase of the project. Some are just starting their journey from a blueprinting perspective, some are in the middle of implementation, and others have gone live and are deciding on the next steps. Part 2 of this session allows attendees to choose from three different breakout groups to join for a follow-up discussion based on their organizations’ particular journeys—whether they are at the beginning of the journey, in the implementation process, or in project execution mode.

Of course, we’ll include plenty of other, more traditional conference sessions where attendees will learn from other ASUG members and peers. We’ve also enhanced this experience by establishing “Speaker’s Corner” breakouts after every session, keeping speakers available to answer any follow-up questions or engage in longer discussions with attendees upon whom their sessions significantly impacted.

Make the Most of Your Investment with SAP Support

Ever wonder what you are getting for the money you spend on SAP Support? Are you curious about how to get more value from your SAP investment utilizing entitlements that you already own for your on-premise and cloud landscape? Are you wondering when your systems will reach end of mainstream maintenance, and if your system data is accurate? How about the number of incidents you are logging, their status, and history? Would you like to see a personalized real-time view of your landscape that you can access at any time? Did you know that you have options when it comes to planning and preparing for your digital transformation journey?

Only at the ASUG Hub will we deliver on all of this and more! Come by the ASUG Hub and meet with SAP Customer Evolution experts to see demos, discuss your SAP goals, and receive guidance! We can help you optimize, innovate, and evolve… at no charge.

Experience the Power of Community

ASUG is here to help people and organizations get the most value from their investment in SAP technology. We pride ourselves on connecting our members directly to one another to realize the value of a solutions-oriented technology community. This conference gives attendees access to leading-edge SAP best practices and real-world examples from peers and industry experts, helping them make smarter decisions to overcome challenges now and in the future.

Take Advantage of Reduced Pricing by Buying Your Ticket Now!

SAP for Utilities, Presented by ASUG is October 9–11, 2023, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. We have amazing plans for the 2023 conference, and you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to network in person while learning how to get the most value from your investment in SAP technology. Don't forget to register, and we'll see you in Chicago this October!

Alyssa Perna is a Producer of Enterprise Content Programming at ASUG.

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