The energy and commodities sector is at a pivotal crossroads. Facing unprecedented disruption—from the global shift to renewables and mounting cost pressures to a pronounced talent shortage—energy and commodity trading organizations must fundamentally rethink how they operate, innovate, and grow. The answer lies in engineering transformation: a holistic approach that modernizes technology, reimagines ways of working, and builds a culture of agility and continuous improvement. At Publicis Sapient, we help energy and commodity leaders become future-ready, tech-driven organizations that can thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Energy and commodity trading companies are navigating a perfect storm of challenges:
To address these challenges, energy and commodity firms must transform from the inside out—adopting an engineering mindset, embracing agile and lean principles, and modernizing their technology platforms.
The next generation of talent is drawn to organizations that place technology and sustainability at the heart of their mission. Energy companies that actively rebrand as technology-driven and environmentally responsible—demonstrating a commitment to renewables and digital innovation—are better positioned to attract and retain top talent. This shift is not just about messaging; it requires embedding technology at the core of operations and empowering tech talent to drive real business outcomes.
An engineering mindset is more than technical proficiency—it’s a cultural transformation. It means:
Energy and commodity trading organizations can accelerate digitalization and scale new technologies by applying proven frameworks:
Lean principles focus on eliminating waste and minimizing work in progress. By streamlining processes and reducing hand-offs, organizations can increase efficiency and reduce costs. Lean thinking also encourages teams to focus on delivering value incrementally, rather than waiting for large, monolithic releases.
Agile is about delivering value to customers quickly and continuously. Small, autonomous teams work in short cycles, incorporating feedback and adapting to change. Agile methods foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and rapid iteration—critical for responding to market shifts and regulatory changes.
DevOps bridges the gap between development and operations, enabling continuous integration, delivery, and deployment. Automation and end-to-end ownership ensure that software evolves rapidly and reliably, with operational considerations built in from the start.
Legacy technology is a major barrier to agility. Many energy and commodity trading groups operate on systems cobbled together from multiple vendors, resulting in friction, inefficiency, and slow time-to-market. Modern engineering transformation involves:
Transformation is not just about technology—it’s about people and culture. Successful engineering transformation requires:
Organizations that embrace engineering transformation see tangible benefits:
Transformation efforts can stall if organizations:
The energy and commodities sector is undergoing urgent transformation. By adopting an engineering mindset, implementing lean, agile, and DevOps principles, and modernizing legacy systems, organizations can attract future-focused talent, accelerate digitalization, and scale new technologies. Publicis Sapient partners with energy and commodity leaders to build resilient, agile, and tech-driven organizations—ready to capitalize on tomorrow’s opportunities.
Ready to transform your organization? Connect with Publicis Sapient’s experts to discover how engineering transformation can help you thrive in the new energy landscape.