Industry Deep Dive: MuleSoft Integration for Energy & Commodities
Transforming Operations in a High-Stakes Sector
The energy and commodities sector is defined by its complexity, volatility, and stringent regulatory demands. Trading teams must make rapid, high-value decisions, often across global markets and under intense scrutiny. Yet, many organizations still rely on fragmented legacy systems, manual processes, and siloed data—creating operational bottlenecks and compliance risks. MuleSoft integration, when paired with Publicis Sapient’s deep industry expertise, offers a proven path to modernization, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
The Sector’s Unique Challenges
Energy and commodities organizations face a distinct set of operational and regulatory hurdles:
- Complex Compliance Requirements: Regulatory mandates demand robust audit trails, approvals, and real-time reporting. Manual, fragmented processes increase the risk of non-compliance and reputational damage.
- Real-Time Data Needs: Trading teams require instant access to unified, accurate data across multiple systems and geographies to make high-stakes decisions.
- Intricate Approval Workflows: Deal approvals often span legal, finance, risk, and trading desks. Legacy systems and manual interventions slow down processes and introduce errors.
- Siloed Systems: Disparate platforms, spreadsheets, and ad hoc communication tools create data silos, hinder collaboration, and impede operational efficiency.
Publicis Sapient’s Approach: MuleSoft Integration at the Core
Publicis Sapient brings a holistic, industry-specific approach to digital transformation in energy and commodities. Our methodology is anchored in:
- Discovery and Rapid Prototyping: We conduct in-depth workshops with trading, legal, finance, and compliance teams to map pain points and co-create solution designs. Rapid prototyping ensures stakeholder buy-in and accelerates time-to-value.
- Seamless Integration: MuleSoft is leveraged to connect Salesforce and other platforms with on-premises and third-party systems, enabling real-time data flow and a single source of truth for all users.
- User-Centric Design: Solutions are built for intuitive, point-of-entry use, reducing manual steps and streamlining complex workflows.
- Agile Delivery: Minimum viable products are delivered in months, not years, with iterative enhancements based on user feedback and evolving business needs.
Case Study: Accelerating Win Rate for a Global Energy Company
A leading global energy company, with over a century of experience, partnered with Publicis Sapient to overhaul its liquified natural gas (LNG) trading operations. The company’s deal approval process was previously managed through a patchwork of legacy systems, emails, spreadsheets, and messaging apps. Compliance checks were slow and dependent on scheduled reports and third-party inputs, putting the company’s reputation and regulatory standing at risk.
The Solution
- Deep-Dive Discovery: Publicis Sapient led workshops to identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
- Rapid Prototyping: A Salesforce Sales Cloud prototype shaped the solution, while a six-week proof of concept demonstrated seamless integration with existing systems via MuleSoft.
- Unified Platform: The new platform provided a user-friendly, single point of entry for all trading approvals, automating compliance checks and reporting.
The Results
- 100% adoption for all new trades within the first week of launch.
- 14 manual steps across multiple systems reduced to just 4 clicks in Salesforce.
- Real-time, unified data accessible to 150 users across trading, legal, finance, freight, portfolio trading, and compliance.
- Automated reporting enabled leadership to make faster, more informed decisions, reducing time spent on data aggregation.
- In the first year: 989 trading opportunities, 273 approved trades, and over $14 billion in cargo value managed through the new system.
Broader Impact: Efficiency, Risk Reduction, and Revenue Growth
The transformation delivered by Publicis Sapient goes beyond process automation:
- Efficiency Gains: Streamlined workflows and reduced manual intervention free up teams to focus on value-added activities, accelerating deal cycles and increasing throughput.
- Risk Reduction: Automated compliance checks and audit trails minimize the risk of errors, omissions, and regulatory breaches.
- Revenue Growth: Faster approvals and real-time insights empower trading teams to capitalize on market opportunities, driving higher win rates and increased deal value.
Why Publicis Sapient?
Publicis Sapient is recognized as a market leader in digital business transformation for the energy and commodities sector. Our SPEED capabilities—Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data & AI—ensure that every MuleSoft integration is tailored to the unique needs of our clients. We don’t just deploy technology; we co-create solutions that drive measurable business outcomes, from operational efficiency to revenue growth and risk mitigation.
Our partnership with MuleSoft and Salesforce, combined with deep industry knowledge, positions us to deliver:
- End-to-end transformation, from strategy and design to implementation and ongoing optimization
- Seamless integration with legacy and third-party systems
- Scalable, future-ready platforms that evolve with your business
Ready to Transform?
The energy and commodities sector is at a crossroads. With the right digital foundation, organizations can navigate regulatory complexity, harness real-time data, and unlock new sources of value. Publicis Sapient is your partner for MuleSoft-powered transformation—empowering your teams, streamlining your operations, and driving your business forward.
Connect with our experts to start your transformation journey today.