The energy and commodities sector stands at a pivotal crossroads. Facing mounting cost pressures, a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, and the urgent imperative to decarbonize, organizations in this space are being called to fundamentally rethink how they operate, innovate, and create value. The answer lies in becoming digital at the core—embedding digital capabilities not as a bolt-on, but as the engine that drives transformation from the inside out.
At Publicis Sapient, we believe that true digital transformation in energy and commodities is achieved by orchestrating five core capabilities: Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data. When these capabilities work in concert, they empower organizations to attract next-generation talent, implement agile and lean methodologies, and scale technologies like cloud and AI for operational efficiency and sustainability.
In energy and commodities, digital transformation must begin at the strategic level. The sector’s unique challenges—volatile markets, aging infrastructure, and the transition to renewables—demand a clear vision that connects business purpose to digital opportunity. Leading organizations are elevating roles like the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) to drive a unified, customer- and employee-centric vision. This means moving beyond incremental IT upgrades to holistic strategies that prioritize data-driven decision-making, sustainability, and new business models.
A digital-first strategy also positions energy companies as technology leaders, not just commodity providers. This shift is critical for attracting the next generation of talent, who are drawn to organizations that are purpose-driven, innovative, and committed to environmental stewardship. By actively rebranding as technology-forward and sustainability-focused, energy firms can close the skills gap and build a future-ready workforce.
Product development in energy and commodities is evolving from long, linear projects to agile, iterative cycles. The focus is on delivering value quickly—whether that’s a new trading platform, a customer-facing app, or an internal analytics tool. Agile and lean methodologies are essential, enabling cross-functional teams to test, learn, and adapt in real time. This approach not only accelerates time-to-market but also ensures that solutions are closely aligned with user needs and market realities.
For example, energy trading groups are increasingly adopting microservices architectures and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. This allows them to break down monolithic systems into modular components, making it easier to innovate, scale, and respond to regulatory or market changes. The result is a more resilient, responsive product ecosystem that can support both legacy operations and new digital business models.
In a sector where operational complexity often leads to fragmented user experiences, creating a seamless, intuitive journey for both customers and employees is a game-changer. The emergence of the CXO role in energy organizations signals a commitment to designing experiences that are consistent, efficient, and data-driven—whether it’s a trader accessing real-time analytics or a field engineer using a mobile app to optimize maintenance.
The goal is to move toward a “single pane of glass” experience, where disparate systems and data sources are unified into a cohesive interface. This not only reduces friction and boosts productivity but also enables better decision-making at every level of the organization. By leveraging design thinking and multidisciplinary teams, energy companies can ensure that digital solutions are not just functional, but truly transformative.
Engineering transformation is at the heart of becoming digital at the core. For energy and commodity firms, this means adopting an engineering mindset—prioritizing progress over perfection, fostering autonomy, and embracing experimentation. Lean, DevOps, and agile principles are applied to streamline workflows, reduce waste, and enable rapid iteration.
Practical steps include forming smaller, cross-functional teams aligned to specific value streams, implementing value stream analysis to identify bottlenecks, and investing in cloud and automation to scale operations. The impact is measurable: organizations report significant reductions in time-to-market, improved quality, and higher employee satisfaction. Most importantly, engineering transformation enables energy companies to respond to market shifts and regulatory changes with speed and confidence.
Data is the connective tissue that enables all other digital capabilities. In energy and commodities, the ability to harness and democratize data—across trading, operations, and customer engagement—is a critical differentiator. Modern data platforms unify information from legacy and new systems, making it accessible and actionable for everyone from traders to executives.
Advanced analytics and AI are being deployed to optimize asset performance, predict maintenance needs, and automate decision-making. For example, platforms like Enerlytics unify and monetize data across power plant operations, enabling real-time insights that drive both efficiency and sustainability. As the sector moves toward decarbonization, data-driven approaches are essential for tracking emissions, optimizing energy mix, and meeting regulatory requirements.
Energy and commodity organizations face unique hurdles on the path to digital transformation:
The journey to digital maturity in energy and commodities is ongoing. Success requires more than technology—it demands a holistic, integrated approach that aligns strategy, product, experience, engineering, and data. By embracing these five capabilities, energy organizations can:
At Publicis Sapient, we partner with energy and commodity leaders to unlock the full potential of digital transformation. Whether you’re looking to modernize legacy systems, scale AI and cloud, or build a culture of continuous innovation, we’re here to help you achieve what’s next.
Ready to put digital at the core of your energy or commodities business? Let’s start the conversation.