How a Traditional Company Seeded New Analytics Capabilities

Abstract

Developing state-of-the art data analytics capabilities is a challenge for traditional companies with long-established processes and legacy systems. We describe how one such company (a Swiss electricity utility) conducted a seed project-a bottom-up initiative to develop an analytics ecosystem of business, organizational and technological capabilities. This project was an effective first step in growing the company's analytics capabilities. Based on this case, we provide four key lessons that can be used by other traditional companies seeking to develop new digital capabilities.