Agile Transformation in Energy Trading & Risk Management: From Legacy to Leading-Edge

The New Imperative for ETRM Modernization

Energy trading organizations today operate in a landscape defined by unprecedented volatility, regulatory scrutiny, and the accelerating pace of the energy transition. Yet, many are still constrained by legacy Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM) systems—fragmented, on-premises platforms and manual processes that limit agility, slow innovation, and hinder real-time decision-making. To remain competitive and compliant, the imperative is clear: embrace agile transformation, modernize ETRM architecture, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Unique Challenges in ETRM Transformation

The journey from legacy to leading-edge ETRM is complex, shaped by several unique challenges:

Legacy System Modernization: Many trading desks rely on outdated, siloed systems that are difficult to scale and integrate with new asset classes or regulatory requirements. These environments slow innovation and make it hard to respond to market shifts.
Regulatory Compliance: The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, demanding greater transparency, auditability, and real-time reporting. Manual compliance processes and delayed data aggregation expose organizations to operational and reputational risk.
Real-Time Data Integration: Trading success depends on the ability to access, analyze, and act on real-time data from across the value chain. Siloed data and disconnected systems impede timely decision-making and limit the effectiveness of risk management strategies.

The Agile Approach: Breaking Down Silos and Accelerating Value

Agility is more than a methodology—it’s a mindset and an operating model. By applying agile principles, energy trading organizations can break down silos between business, IT, and compliance, enabling cross-functional teams to deliver value iteratively and respond rapidly to market and regulatory changes.

Key Elements of Agile ETRM Transformation

Cross-Functional, Autonomous Teams: Agile transformation begins with restructuring teams to include all necessary skills—traders, risk managers, IT, and compliance—empowering them to deliver end-to-end solutions. Smaller, autonomous teams can iterate quickly, incorporate feedback, and drive continuous improvement.
Lean, DevOps, and Continuous Delivery: Lean principles minimize waste and focus on delivering incremental value. DevOps practices automate the software lifecycle, ensuring that new features, compliance updates, and integrations are delivered rapidly and reliably. Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines enable frequent, low-risk releases.
Cloud-Based ETRM Solutions: Migrating ETRM systems to the cloud unlocks scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Cloud-native architectures support real-time data integration, advanced analytics, and AI-driven decision support—without the disruption of replacing core systems of record.
Unified Data Ecosystems: Building a unified commercial analytics platform across supply, trading, and risk breaks down data silos and enables next-generation decision support. Real-time data integration supports portfolio optimization, automated compliance, and advanced risk analytics.
Culture of Continuous Improvement: Agile transformation is sustained by a culture that values experimentation, learning, and adaptation. Interactive mentoring, test-and-learn mindsets, and transparent communication foster ongoing innovation and resilience.

Real-World Impact: Measurable Outcomes

Publicis Sapient has partnered with leading energy trading organizations to deliver measurable business outcomes through agile ETRM transformation:

Efficiency Gains: By streamlining approval processes and integrating disparate systems, one global energy trading client reduced 14 manual steps to just four clicks, achieving 100% adoption within the first week and enabling real-time compliance and reporting for over $14B in trading value.
Operational Agility: Cloud-based ETRM modernization has enabled trading teams to respond to market volatility, regulatory changes, and new asset classes with speed and confidence, supporting rapid growth in renewables and distributed energy resources.
Enhanced Compliance: Automated, real-time reporting and audit trails have reduced compliance risk and freed up resources for higher-value activities.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Unified data platforms and AI-powered analytics have empowered trading organizations to optimize portfolios, forecast demand, and manage risk proactively.

Actionable Strategies for Trading, Risk, and IT Leaders

Start with a Strategic Assessment: Evaluate your current ETRM landscape, identify pain points, and prioritize high-value opportunities for modernization.
Adopt Agile Ways of Working: Restructure teams for cross-functional collaboration, empower autonomous decision-making, and embed continuous feedback loops.
Invest in Cloud and Data Integration: Migrate ETRM systems to the cloud, unify data sources, and leverage advanced analytics for real-time insights.
Automate Compliance and Reporting: Implement automated workflows to ensure regulatory compliance and reduce manual effort.
Foster a Culture of Innovation: Encourage experimentation, learning, and knowledge sharing across trading, risk, and IT teams.

Why Publicis Sapient?

With over 30 years of experience in energy and commodities, Publicis Sapient brings a holistic, outcome-driven approach to ETRM transformation. Our SPEED framework—Strategy, Product, Experience, Engineering, and Data & AI—ensures that every initiative is aligned with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and operational realities. We partner with clients to co-create solutions that deliver measurable value, resilience, and a foundation for ongoing innovation.

Start Your ETRM Transformation Journey

The future of energy trading is agile, data-driven, and cloud-enabled. Whether you are seeking to modernize legacy ETRM systems, enhance compliance, or unlock new value from real-time data, Publicis Sapient is your partner for what’s next. Connect with our experts to discover how agile transformation can help your trading organization move from legacy to leading-edge—and lead the energy transition with confidence.