2013 Planned Research Agenda

Our research advisory services encompass topics covering several topics in the energy market. Within each advisory service we plan a series of research projects spanning the range of interest areas each service covers. Our IDC Energy Insights analysts have planned dozens of research projects to help you get the most out of your business in the coming year. The information presented here represents some of our current plans (which are subject to change).

Additionally, Insights research can become the foundation or springboard for custom consulting projects that delve into topics important to your business, such as evaluating new business opportunities, understanding a market segment, exploring new technologies for your operations, improving knowledge of your customers, increasing customer satisfaction, developing a competitive strategy, and more.

Because our Research Agenda may change during the course of the year, regularly check this section for updates. To learn more about the planned research agenda or to learn about regional or country plans, please contact us.


Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Transforming Utility Markets

The Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Transforming Utility Markets research advisory service examines the business and regulatory environment of the utility sector, combining it with a comprehensive insight into the IT spending preferences and plans of utility providers, helping to understand the drivers and IT investment priorities within the sector. This service also delivers insights about IT suppliers to utilities and analyst perspectives on topical issues ranging from smart grid and smart metering to clean energy and security of supply, and what this implies to suppliers to utilities across the CEE and MEA regions.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions CEE & MEA Transforming Utility Markets 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Pivot Table Central and Eastern Europe Utility Sector IT Spending Forecast Update Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective Smart Grid Security Challenges and Opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy Utilities and Business Analytics: A View from Central and Eastern Europe Jan-Mar 2013
Perspective Clean Energy Strategies in Central and Eastern Europe Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy Central and Eastern Europe Smart Metering Update, 2013 Apr-Jun 2013
Perspective Turkey Country Highlight: Turkey Utility Sector in Transformation Apr-Jun 2013
Pivot Table CEE Utility Sector 2013-2017 IT Spending Forecast Apr-Jun 2013
Business Strategy CEE & MEA Utilities Industry Business Drivers and Strategic Objectives, 2013 Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective Russia Country Highlight: Focus on Utility Sector in Russia - Understanding the Landscape Jul-Sep 2013
Pivot Table MEA Utility Sector 2013-2017 IT Spending Forecast Jul-Sep 2013
Pivot Table CEE Utility Sector 2013-2017 IT Spending Forecast Update Oct-Dec 2013
Pivot Table MEA Utility Sector 2013-2017 IT Spending Forecast Update Oct-Dec 2013
Business Strategy CIO View: Cloud Computing in CEE & MEA Oct-Dec 2013


Europe, Middle East and Africa Smart Energy Strategies

The Europe, Middle East and Africa Smart Energy Strategies service provides insight into the key topics that matter to EMEA utility business decision makers and IT executives responsible for smart energy programs, services, and products. Initiatives to be covered will include smart metering, integration of distributed energy, network automation, virtual power plant, demand response and customer engagement, energy efficiency and e-mobility.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions EMEA Utilities Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective EMEA Smart Energy Market Quarterly Update Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy Gas Smart Metering in Europe Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Distribution Management Systems Europe Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy Residential Customer Engagement Jan-Mar 2013
Perspective EMEA Smart Energy Market Quarterly Update Jan-Mar 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC Marketscape: Home Energy Management in EMEA Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Selection Smart Grid Communications Trends EMEA Apr-Jun 2013
Perspective EMEA Smart Energy Market Quarterly Update Apr-Jun 2013
Case Study Renewable and Distributed Generation Smart Integration Jul-Sep 2013
Best Practices Smart Distribution Network: Advanced Automation Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective EMEA Smart Energy Market Quarterly Update Jul-Sep 2013
Business Strategy Smart Metering Business Model Update Oct-Dec 2013
Business Strategy Electric Vehicle Business Model Update Oct-Dec 2013
Perspective EMEA Smart Energy Market Quarterly Update Oct-Dec 2013


European Utility IT Strategies

The European Utility IT Strategies service is designed to helping utility IT and business management navigate the changes of today's energy economy. The service provides exclusive research and direct access to experts on the impact of new technology and regulation on information technology and business processes in generation, transmission, distribution, and retail. Guidance is provided in making the right IT investments to meet corporate objectives of reliability, operational efficiency, business performance, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions EMEA Utilities Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy CIO Priorities: IT Budget Distribution and Channel Selection - Western European Utilities Survey 2013 Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy CIOs Priorities: IT Solutions - Western European Utilities Survey 2012 Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy CIOs Priorities: New Technologies - Western European Utilities Survey 2012 Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective EMEA Utilities Industry Quarterly Update: July-September 2012 Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: IT Service Providers for the EMEA Utilities Industry Jan-Mar 2013
Methods and Practices Getting Right on Enterprise Mobility Jan-Mar 2013
Perspective EMEA Utility IT Market Quarterly Update Jan-Mar 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Enterprise Asset Management in EMEA Apr-Jun 2013
Perspective EMEA Utility IT Market Quarterly Update Apr-Jun 2013
Methods and Practices Getting Right on Analytics Jul-Sep 2013
Pivot Table Western Europe Utility Industry IT Spending Forecast Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective EMEA Utility IT Market Quarterly Update Jul-Sep 2013
Business Strategy CIOs Agenda: Cloud and New Technologies - Western European Utilities Survey 2013 Oct-Dec 2013
Business Strategy CIOs Agenda: IT Solutions - Western European Utilities Survey 2013 Oct-Dec 2013
Business Strategy CIO Agenda: IT Budget Distribution and Channel Selection - Western European Utilities Survey 2013 Oct-Dec 2013
Perspective EMEA Utility IT Market Quarterly Update Oct-Dec 2013


Oil and Gas Solutions Market Share Guide

IDC Energy Insights' Oil and Gas Solutions Market Share Guide examines solution-specific vendor revenue for the top worldwide energy IT vendors. Solutions covered include hydrocarbon accounting, geology/geophysics solutions, energy trading and risk management (ETRM), oil and gas project portfolio management, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) solutions, and well management. Unlike products that examine horizontal vendor revenue from either the hardware, software, or services perspective, this guide examines industry-specific vendor revenue at the solution level and provides a holistic view of the top vendors in the oil and gas industry.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Pivot Table Oil and Gas Solutions Market Share Guide Jul-Sept 2013


Russia/CIS, Middle East and Africa Oil and Gas IT Strategies

IDC Energy Insights' Russia/CIS, Middle East and Africa Oil and Gas IT Strategies examines the business environment of the oil and gas sector in major oil-and-gas-producing countries and combines this with comprehensive insight into industry trends and its impact on information technology. The service also tracks the IT spending behavior and the IT plans of oil and gas companies, establishing a thorough understanding of the drivers and IT investment priorities within the sector. It also provides insight into topical issues ranging from cloud computing to infrastructure monitoring and control to the digital oilfield. And it delivers IT best practices in the oil and gas industry, timely market sizing, and guidance for grasping current and emerging opportunities.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Business Strategy Cloud Computing and Virtualization in the O&G Sector in MEA Jan-Mar 2013
Methods and Practices Social Business and Collaboration in the O&G Sector (worldwide) Jan-Mar 2013
Pivot Table MEA O&G Sector IT Spending Guide Jan-Mar 2013
Technology Selection IT Solutions for the Offshore Upstream Sector in MEA Apr-Jun 2013
Best Practices Digital Oilfield Case Study Apr-Jun 2013
Executive Brief Impact of the Current Oil Prices on IT Investment in O&G in MEA Apr-Jun 2013
Methods and Practices Managing Big Data in the O&G Sector in MEA Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective The Big Vision: How IT will Transform O&G in 10 Years in MEA? Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective O&G Heuristics in MEA: The IT Spending Mindset Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective Mobility Solutions in the O&G Sector in MEA Oct-Dec 2013
Business Strategy Cost Reduction Through Integrated Operations in O&G in MEA Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions Top 10 Predictions in MEA O&G Oct-Dec 2013


Smart Building Strategies

IDC Energy Insights' Smart Building Strategies research advisory service focuses on the costs and benefits of Smart Building technologies and building automation solutions. Subscribers receive the latest market intelligence on the evolving Smart Buildings marketplace, helping them make better-informed business decisions and develop cost-effective investment and deployment strategies.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Best Practices Utility Engagement and the Role of Social Media Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy Big Data & Analytics for Smart Buildings Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective Cloud Services for Smart Buildings Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection Global Smart Building Technology Spending Forecast Jan-Mar 2013
Methods and Practices Smart Building Plug Load Solutions Jan-Mar 2013
Best Practices Smart Building Solutions for Hospitality Jan-Mar 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Smart Building Energy Analytics Apr-Jun 2013
Best Practices Smart Building and Smart Cities Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Selection Smart Water Solutions for Smart Buildings Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Selection Impact of Wireless Networks on Smart Building Technology Deployment Jul-Sept 2013
Business Strategy Energy Services Model for Smart Building Support Jul-Sept 2013
Best Practices Smart Building Solutions for Commercial Real Estate Jul-Sept 2013
Technology Selection IT Infrastructure for Integrating Distributed Energy Resources Oct-Dec 2013
Methods and Practices Defining ROI Metrics for Smart Buildings Oct-Dec 2013
Methods and Practices Smart Building Fire & Security Solutions Oct-Dec 2013


Smart Demand Management Strategies

The Smart Demand Management Strategies service spearheads the challenges of creating a high impact investment strategy and management approach to active customer participation in demand management. This service delivers the salient strategic advice to help your organization defer new generation plant construction, shift usage for improved peak load management, find new sources of revenue and wisely invest in enabling technology infrastructure.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection Social Business - Home Energy Management Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective Utility Buyer's Guide: Smart Grid Landscape - Projects, Technology and Vendors Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection DR Enabled HEM Equipment: The Standards that Matter Most Jan-Mar 2013
Best Practices Evolving Energy Efficiency into Home Energy Management Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy The Strategic Role of 3rd Party Services in HEM Enablement Apr-Jun 2013
Business Strategy DR Systems Infrastructure: Is Evolution or Revolution, the Solution? Apr-Jun 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Smart Thermostats for HEM Jul-Sep 2013
Best Practices Analytics to Plan and Operate DR Programs Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective Customer Owned Generation Using HEM (Control) Gateways Oct-Dec 2013
Case Study Centrally Managing all Customers with a Single DR System Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2014 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2013


Smart Grid Operations Strategies

The Smart Grid Operations research advisory service delivers the industry research that propels your utility organization's technology investment and management decisions. Rooted in core operational technologies, subscribers can tap into the powerful insights needed to best plan, implement, extend and maintain the critical infrastructure that is redefining utility operational excellence and electrifying smart grid infrastructure.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective Social Business - Outage Operations Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy The New Mobility for Field Workers Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection Smart Water Network Management Jan-Mar 2013
Best Practices Extreme Weather: Impact Planning for Distribution Grid - OT Jan-Mar 2013
Technology Assessment Asset Management - OT Perspective Apr-Jun 2013
Perspective A Prospective Marriage: Control Technologies and the Cloud Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Assessment Control System Solution Architectures for Smart Grid Jul-Sep 2013
Methods and Practices Security in Grid Operations Jul-Sep 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: IT Service Providers for Smart Grid Oct-Dec 2013
Best Practices Operational Analytics for the Smart Grid Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2014 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2013


Smart Metering and Communications Strategies

The Smart Metering and Communications Strategies research advisory service gives utilities the market intelligence they need to plan, implement, extend and maintain the critical metering and communication infrastructure that defines the smart grid. This service delivers high-impact analysis that will save you evaluation time, reduce technology costs, and mitigate management risks inherent with rapidly evolving technology. Both the utility IT and business functions will learn about best practices, technology adoption and emerging strategies that create long term value.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective Developing Smart Meter Technologies - "Smart Metering Outside the Box" - Including Prepay Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Assessment Smart Water Metering Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy Broadband Metering: Rational or Wishful Thinking? Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy Smart Metering for the Consumer Jan-Mar 2013
Best Practices AMI Security Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Selection Global RF Technology Overview Apr-Jun 2013
Best Practices Converged Network Management System: Improving O&M Efficiency Jul-Sep 2013
Vendor Selection PLC Landscape Jul-Sep 2013
Best Practices Smart Grid M2M Network Unification Oct-Dec 2013
Best Practices Smart Metering for Multi-Resource Utilities Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2014 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2013


Utility IT Strategies

The Utility IT Strategies service covers traditional IT infrastructure of utility companies, particularly as it applies to meeting the needs of the generation, transmission and distribution, and retail businesses at the utility, merchant generation companies and retail energy providers. The service focuses on business performance, business-related IT strategy, IT budget, and best practices in achieving efficiency. In addition, it covers serving customers and managing assets, carbon and the workforce.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Assessment Managing Utility Data - Metering and Beyond Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection The New Mobility for Field Workers Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective New Developments in NERC CIP Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Security Services Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy Extreme Weather: Impact Planning for Distribution Grid - IT Jan-Mar 2013
Perspective New Products and Services and Utility IT Jan-Mar 2013
Business Strategy Big Data and Analytics for Utilities Apr-Jun 2013
Business Strategy Emerging Asset Management - IT Perspective Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Assessment Billing Applications for Pre-Pay Apr-Jun 2013
Business Strategy Utility CIO Budget and Strategies Jul-Sep 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Professional Services in Customer Care Jul-Sep 2013
Technology Selection Update on the Cloud Services for Utility Companies Oct-Dec 2013
Perspective Update on NERC CIP Oct-Dec 2013
Methods and Practices Customer Care and Billing Apps for the New Customer Experience Oct-Dec 2013
Perspective Electricity Fraud - Exploring Business and Technology Initiatives to Reduce Fraud Activities Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions North America Utility Industry 2014 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2013


Worldwide Oil & Gas Industry IT Spending Guide 

Energy Insight’s Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide is a semiannual analysis of the current status and projected growth of information technology spending in the oil and gas sector. This global five-year outlook on spending by oil and gas companies provides IT vendors with key information needed to develop effective market strategies. This service combines IDC's extensive technology forecasts with deep industry knowledge provided by IDC Energy Insights analysts and ongoing primary research in the oil and gas industry.

Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Pivot Table Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual Oct-Dec 2012
Pivot Table Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Mid-year Update Apr-Jun 2013
Pivot Table Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual Oct-Dec 2013


Worldwide Oil and Gas IT Strategies

The Worldwide Oil and Gas IT Strategies research advisory service provides insights into and analysis of the impact of information technology investments and business process initiatives on business performance in the upstream and trading sectors of the oil and gas industry. Studies will include business strategy, best practices, technology selection, and vendor assessment

Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Top 10 Predictions Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection Communications in the Oil and Gas Sector Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment Profiles of Oil Field Services and Niche Players IT Offerings Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy Optimizing Production Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection Building Collaboration Capabilities for Capital Project Management Jan-Mar 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Energy Trading and Risk Management Jan-Mar 2013
Best Practices Incident Prevention and Response Jan-Mar 2013
Technology Selection Technology Stack for Production Optimization Apr-Jun 2013
Technology Selection Ensuring Health, Safety and Protecting the Environment Apr-Jun 2013
Business Strategy Social Business in Oil and Gas Apr-Jun 2013
Vendor Assessment IDC MarketScape: Hydrocarbon Accounting Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective Plug and Play for Mergers and Acquisitions in Oil and Gas Jul-Sep 2013
Business Strategy North American CIO Budget and Priorities for 2014 Jul-Sep 2013
Perspective Managing Joint Venture Relationships Oct-Dec 2013
Vendor Assessment Well Management Landscape Oct-Dec 2013
Best Practices Managing Technical Data Oct-Dec 2013
Top 10 Predictions Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry 2014 Top 10 Predictions Oct-Dec 2013


Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker

The Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker(R) provides clients with the detailed information necessary for navigating the evolving global smart metering market by providing reliable, accurate, and independent market data that serves as a foundation for creating quantitative market analyses and studying historical trends. The tracker provides total market size and vendor share for selected technology areas and segmentations, as well as selected geographies.
Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Pivot Table Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker Oct-Dec 2012
Pivot Table Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker Jan-Mar 2013
Pivot Table Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker Apr-Jun 2013
Pivot Table Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker Jul-Sep 2013
Pivot Table Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker Oct-Dec 2013


Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide

IDC Energy Insights’ Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide is a semiannual analysis of the current status and projected growth of information technology spending in the utility sector (electricity, natural gas, and water). This global five-year outlook on spending by utility companies provides IT vendors with key information needed to develop effective market strategies. This service combines IDC's extensive technology forecasts with deep industry knowledge provided by IDC Energy Insights analysts and ongoing primary research in the utilities industry.

Document Type Document Title Publish Date
Pivot Table Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual Jan-Mar 2013
Pivot Table Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide - Mid-Year Update Jul-Sept 2013