How Energie voor Elkaar regained control of their data in a fast-moving energy market
In a fast-moving energy market, reliable data is key. Energie voor Elkaar, operator of sustainable heating networks across the Netherlands, faced growing data challenges. Reports were fragmented, processes manual, and collaboration difficult. Together with Rockfeather, they tackled the root of the problem; building a solid data foundation for faster, smarter decisions.
The solid idea
Energie voor Elkaar develops and operates sustainable heating networks across the Netherlands. The company supplies heat to over 4,000 customers in more than fifteen municipalities. As the energy transition accelerates, the demand for reliable and timely data grows too.
But within the organization, data was all over the place. Every department had its own reports. Data was processed manually, dashboards took a lot of time to create, and mistakes were common. Processing was slow and fragmented. That made collaboration difficult and decision-making unclear.
This sparked a solid idea: stop patching things up and fix the root of the problem.
The take-off
Energie voor Elkaar partnered with Rockfeather to build a reliable data platform. The solution was based on Microsoft Power Platform and Azure AI.
We started by creating a new data lake. On top of that, we built a central data model in Power BI. All reports now rely on the same definitions and data sources. Everyone works from the same numbers. Responsibilities are clearly defined. With data owners and stewards in place, teams can gradually improve the quality of their data.
Once the foundation was in place, we moved on to process improvements. One of the first areas we tackled was biomass logistics. Data was scattered across Excel files and could take up to 40 hours per month to process during the winter. Together, we built an app that automates this work. Delivery slips are now scanned automatically using Logic Apps. Azure AI reads the content and a Power App gives staff real-time visibility into deliveries.
The flight
The improvements are clear and measurable.
- Data processing now takes 1.5 to 2 hours instead of 6 to 7
- Reports are consistent, accurate and easy to generate
- Biomass tracking is largely automated
- Teams collaborate better thanks to clear data responsibilities
“If you ask us how many connections we have today, we can give you one clear answer — and we trust that it’s correct.”
With Power Platform, Azure AI and Rockfeather as their partner, Energie voor Elkaar now has full control over their data. That creates peace of mind today and confidence for tomorrow.
Want to learn more about this collaboration?
Watch the video at the top of this page or send an email to paul.damen@rockfeather.com.
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Start with our Data Maturity Scan and find out where to begin.
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