EDP is a pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence

Thursday 09, November 2017

The initiative is developed with EY and USP

This week, EDP Brasil has launched a pioneering R&D project for artificial intelligence systems applied to energy distribution. With an investment of R$8.3 million over 18 months, the project will study the impact of process automation with state-of-the-art robots.

With the assistance of EY and researchers from the University of S‹o Paulo (USP), the purpose of the initiative is to structure a disruptive technology observatory which will examine, among other relevant topics, the impact of automation on workforce training and management. This research will make it possible to identify, measure and mitigate socioeconomic and cultural aspects, helping companies define a new profile for workers and management bodies in the face of the changes brought about by the application of new technologies.

This unprecedented study in the energy sector will make it possible to use first-generation robots to automate manual and repetitive processes, thereby enabling workers to spend more time on analytical and creative tasks. The same study will then be conducted with third-generation (and higher) robots endowed with artificial intelligence, which can learn to identify patterns and make decisions.

This year EDP has become the first company in the electricity sector to create an Automation Excellence Center, with a certified team dedicated to automating and managing the digital workforce. The company has already implemented 15 robots, which started operations throughout the year (the first of which in January), and is currently working on the implementation of another 23 robots, amounting to 36,000 automated hours per year. The goal is to reach over 100 robots by the end of 2018. "We stand out for our leadership in the digital transformation agenda, and we are the first company in the electricity sector to implement automation processes. Now we also want to be leaders in the application of artificial intelligence in the sector," says EDP Brasil CEO Miguel Setas.

For EY, being part of this initiative is very important. "There more to this work than just implementing the robots. We must also train the staff who will monitor the whole process, so that they can perform their duties competently," says EY Brasil CEO Luiz SŽrgio. 

Processes that can be automated as part of this R&D project include:

  • Fixing inconsistencies in the distributors technical and commercial records; /p>

  • Assisting in the operation of distribution grids;

  • Channelling and honing the distributors revenue recovery processes; /p>

  • Asset management, including O&M activities;

  • Customer service and regulatory aspects.

With this project, EDP will be able to optimize (automate) several activities in order to ensure operational quality, efficiency and productivity, bringing benefits to employees, society and stakeholders by investing in state-of-the-art customer-focused solutions.

This pioneering initiative was launched in October 2017 as part of the EDP R&D program.

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