concept workshop ©Futurice & [NDA]

Developing strategic Energy Partnerships

How to navigate a fierce energy market facing unsufficient installation capacities?

Renewable energy labour shortage
HVAC Partnership program
Conception Sprint

Role & Responsibilities
Service Designer (Futurice GmbH): Research, Facilitation, Strategy, Prototyping

Product / Output
Concept, Benchmark, Value Proposition Prototype

Year & Duration
2024, 2 weeks

Client/Partner
[NDA] Energy Provider

overview
In this intense sprint project a lean team of service designers co-created concepts for partnership programs with installation companies to mitigate labour shortage.

concept workshop ©Futurice & [NDA]

challenge
How might we ensure sufficient installation capacity and reduce the complexity of heat pump installations to make our client’s business more competitive in an increasingly fierce market?

outcome
Consolidated concept of a partnership program with installers.

context
In 2024, our client was looking at an increasingly competitive energy market. All players must ensure sufficient installation capacity and high efficiency.
Our client already had loose ideas and needed a coherent overall concept.

insights
New players like Octopus Energy emerge on the European energy market. They aim to integrate the entire value chain. They employ their own installers and are fully digitalised from the scratch. A war for installation capacity and speed is in full swing.
Additionally, grid capacity and the introduction of smart meters are a bottleneck.

impact

Clear Roadmap

As a team of 3 very motivated colleagues from our client and 3 very motivated and skilled service designers from Futurice we were able to consolidate loose ideas to one crispy concept in only 2 weeks.

It gave our client a clear roadmap and vision for their partnership program to develop. The client was exceptionally happy with the work.

PROJECT JOURNEY

From loose Ideas to one Concept

In a nutshell
We examined the HVAC market (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning), identified the opportunities for our client to position and created a tangible concept for a partnership program.

Phases/Artefacts
1. Competitor analysis -> Benchmark
2. Concept Workshop
3. Idea Consolidation

Competitor & Market analysis: Benchmark
Prior to the sprint project we analysed the HVAC market and focused on the strategies and business models of the new players on the market.
We found a fierce market with a war for installation capacities and players with different levels of efficiency due to their digitalisation maturity.

benchmark report ©Futurice & [NDA]

benchmark report ©Futurice & [NDA]

Analysis of current offering & target group
Along the existing offering for installation partners and the typical installation journey we compared the current offering with the strategies on the market.

concept workshop
We met in-person to browse the findings together with the client. All our benchmark findings were mapped along the journey.
In 3 rotating teams we ideated in 3 different directions.

concept workshop ©Futurice & [NDA]

Consolidation to one concept
After the workshop, we combined the three key concepts into a coherent concept for a partnership program. We created a value proposition statement and a value proposition prototype using Midjourney AI.

concept consoIidation ©Futurice & [NDA]

Value proposition prototype
After the workshop, we combined the three key concepts into a coherent concept for a partnership program. We created a value proposition statement and a value proposition prototype using Midjourney AI.

First validation: Stakeholder interview
We were able to get a first feeling and feedback for the concept by discussing the different building blocks of the offering with an existing partner.
In the future also potential new partners have to be interviewed.

My takeaway

Motivation = Efficiency

Our client's colleagues brought a lot of motivation and freshness to the table. It was a clear match for both sides. This commitment allowed us to work in a very focussed and efficient way and have fun at the same time.

It was definitely one of my best experiences as a consultant and reminded me of the importance of group dynamics and ways of working.

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