American Gas - November 2013 - (Page 9)

by the numbers Utilities are growing their investment in mobile employees, devices, and applications. Worldwide, the number of mobile utility workers will double to 2.4 million by 2020, predicts navigant research (bit.ly/1gubOo2). spending on mobile hardware and software will more than double to $421 million, but much of the growth will occur overseas. MOBILE UTILITY WORKERS Navigant defines the mobile workforce as utility employees and contractors, from line workers to executives, who spend at least one-quarter of their time offsite. Their ranks will grow most rapidly in Asia Pacific, largely because of rising demand for utility services. In North America, the pool of mobile utility workers will increase just 1 percent a year, reaching 100,000 by 2020. KEY: 2020 2013 MOBILE UTILITY WORKERS NORTH AMERICA 100.1 94.1 in thousands SPENDING ON 24.3 MOBILE DEVICES 18.4 in $ millions SPENDING ON MOBILE WORKFORCE APPLICATIONS in $ millions 59.9 48.6 .9% 4.1% 3% LATIN AMERICA 136.4 91.5 4.5 2 16.9 8.7 5.9% 12% 9.9% MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA EUROPE 163.8 104.7 16.3 10.1 44.1 29.4 6.6% 324.1 12.4% 142.8 7.2% 6% 4.2 1.4 17.1 6.2 17% 15.5% ASIA PACIFIC 1761.4 11.5% 823.1 48.6 17.9% 15.3 185 16.2% 64.7 Source: Navigant Research UTILITY SPENDING ON MOBILE WORKFORCE APPLICATIONS UTILITY SPENDING ON MOBILE DEVICES Utilities are also investing in mobile devices, which can help them do more with fewer resources, especially when preparing for and responding to emergencies. Some still use radio as their primary means of communicating with field workers, while others have deployed truck-mounted laptops and specialized handhelds. But increasingly, utilities are equipping mobile employees with the latest smartphones and tablets. In North America, spending on mobile devices will increase 3 percent a year to $60 million in 2020, Navigant predicts. In contrast, European spending will grow at a 6 percent annual pace, while Asia Pacific will surge ahead at a yearly rate of 16 percent. Mobile workforce applications enable utilities to deliver real-time information to remote technicians, managers, and executives. Common functionalities include dispatch, routing, information sharing, worker and asset monitoring, reporting and analytics, and back-end integration. Reasons for investing in mobile applications include lower costs, RESPOND greater efficiencies, and better customer service. In North America, utility investment in mobile workforce applications is EFFICIENCY projected to move ahead at 4 percent a year to $24 million in 2020. In Europe, expenditures will grow at 7 percent, while in Asia Pacific, spending increases will GROW DO MORE INCREASE DELIVER approach 18 percent each year. november 2013 AmericAn GAs 9 http://bit.ly/1gubOo2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - November 2013

American Gas - November 2013
Contents
President’s Message
Subject Index
Head Start: On Energy Education
Digest
Issues
Updates
By the Numbers
Need to Know
Places
The Wheels on the Bus...
California
Michigan
Michigan
New Jersey
Long Island
Fueling the Future
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
A Tight Ship
Expanding the Reach of the Gas Infrastructure
Company Profiles
Jobs
Marketplace
Headway

American Gas - November 2013