Dive Summary:

• Integrating critical AMI data with workflow applications is a key to unlocking the value of the smart grid, argues Elster's Michael Johnson.
• "The utilities that thrive will be those with business workflow solutions that not only share information among numerous systems, but also across departments and applications," he writes. By pulling data from various sources and guiding employees through the necessary steps to solve various problems, workflow solutions will help employees become "super users," who simply have to define and input a problem into an advanced workflow application.
• A successful workflow solution does four things, Johnson says. It adapts to pre-existing work styles rather than forcing employees to adapt to intrusive technology; it improves employee productivity; it makes integrated applications easily accessible; and it provides secure and consistent administrative controls.

From the article:

"There is no doubt we’ll be hearing much more about innovation in this area as more businesses begin to realize its benefits in the days to come."