Idrica's Head Of Business Development Shares Immediate And Long-Term Benefits Of Digital Transformation
Idrica is gaining momentum in the field of digital transformation and innovation. As the company was launched earlier this year, what is the current situation?
We started 2020 with a good dynamic with our existing customers, and with other companies who showed interest in adopting new technologies for water management. The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging, as some processes were paralyzed due to global uncertainty, but on the other hand, it has created new opportunities. Many companies have realized that digital transformations will be key from now on and reached out to us after hearing about our successful implementation of GoAigua technology, to help both water utilities and health authorities manage the crisis.
How can water utilities benefit from digital transformation?
Digital transformation is a must for the water industry. The digitalization of water resource management is necessary to monitor processes and facilitate decision-making. This means savings at both the operational and investment levels, which are also the basis for further investments in digitalization, thus making it a sustainable model.
How can technology guarantee the continuity and quality of water services? Can it help citizens and the government?
To make informed decisions and digitally transform processes, it is necessary to have accurate information. However, it is not enough to just monitor and optimize; rather, it is vital to use this information to simulate and try to predict the networks’ behavior. I believe that technology has a lot to offer. We have seen this with our GoAigua SARS-Analytics solution, which allows us to identify the characteristics of the pandemic several days in advance. We can also use this technology to guarantee water supply or control the quality of water, among other benefits.
Digital transformation is also fundamental for transparency with citizens, companies and institutions, who will become key agents for a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce, and for which their direct involvement will be required.
What role can services play in the water industry?
Services have been and always will be key in the water industry, but they require relevant experience and know-how for appropriate management. I often hear about aging water infrastructures, yet an additional challenge is the average age of professionals who manage those infrastructures. For this reason, companies with a long tradition of specializing in the management of water resources will become essential. Traditionally, there has not been much investment in IT departments, but as new services start appearing, such as digital transformation, they will become key players that also require advice.
What role will digital transformation have on the sector in the long-run, particularly after the pandemic ends? Is cybersecurity a critical factor in the water sector?
That’s the key. The transformation of the sector had already begun before the pandemic, but it’s now a question of when the pandemic will end and where it will leave us. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the global economic impact, but I believe that digitization is necessary for the “new normal,” both globally and in the water industry. We will have to intelligently manage resources to understand what is happening and to make informed and efficient decisions.
Cybersecurity also plays a big role and is an inherent component of digital transformation. Many of us would not use online banking without cybersecurity, which offers protection from external threats or interruptions. The same goes for the water industry and for digital water management, especially in light of remote working and social distancing.