Automation in industrial processes, such as sheet metal manufacturing and field service management for installation, maintenance and repair, will play a critical role in the future success of businesses in the value chain for the Australian clean energy industry.
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Australia has been hard hit by climate change. In recent years we’ve been battling bushfires, droughts, and floods of increasing intensity. The Albanese government is taking climate change seriously, calling for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower and mandating a 43% emissions reduction target by 2030.
This presents a massive business opportunity for the clean energy sector and creates demand for new and innovative products and services. In NSW alone, the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap projects $32 billion in private sector investment as well as other major initiatives in areas such as transport and community infrastructure over the next 20 years as the state’s energy transition steps up. It’s time for the Australian clean energy industry to prepare for an uplift in demand.
The green energy supply chain comprises several different industries, including solar panel servicing, solar repair, wind turbine maintenance, and power turbine services. A key challenge for these industries is that many of the components required for these systems are currently being produced offshore. This creates logistical and financial challenges for the businesses that rely on these components.
Peter Ceeney, General Manager of PFG Victoria, is one industry leader who’s embracing the opportunity to work closely with more local companies. PFG has reported “a surge in customers looking for local bespoke design and manufacturing. Concerns about supply chain security, delays and freight costs have reignited interest in Australian-made engineering and production.”
Onshoring, or bringing the production of these components back to Australia, could provide a significant boost to the clean energy sector. It would help businesses reduce their administration costs, improve supply chain management, and create new jobs. It would also make it easier for businesses to manage quality control, with more oversight of the production process. According to the Future Batteries Industry, “Diversified battery industries in Australia could now contribute A$16.9 billion gross value added (GVA) and 61,400 jobs to the economy by 2030.” Wind blade manufacturing is another high-value opportunity, accounting for 15% of total wind farm project costs.
Automating business operations is critical to scalability.
Automated industrial processes, including field service management and sheet metal manufacturing, also play a critical role in the future success of the Australian clean energy industry. Manufacturing automation can help to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This is especially true for automation suppliers and engine parts suppliers, which rely on consistent and efficient manufacturing processes to deliver high-quality products.
This is the space where Klugo’s service offerings can help medium-sized businesses in the clean energy supply chain improve their processes with an integrated digital solution. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, like Oracle NetSuite, can help businesses manage their finances, streamline administration processes, and automate tasks such as payroll and production planning. When you include a field service management (FSM) system such as Next Service on the same ERP platform, sending technicians and crews into the field to perform installations, repairs, and maintenance tasks can become more profitable while improving cash flow. By automating these tasks, businesses can reduce the time and resources they spend on non-core activities and instead focus on their core business functions.
Many businesses in the clean energy supply chain have a series of disconnected digital infrastructure and systems that are clunky and require follow-up. Investing in Klugo’s integrated service offering, which brings key functionalities into one integrated system, is an investment small to medium-sized businesses need to think about making as demand increases in the clean energy sector.
The Australian clean energy industry needs to prepare for an uplift in demand now in order to be ready for our greener future. Beyond Zero Emissions’ research shows that “Australia could generate $333 billion in green exports by 2050.” Onshoring, automated industrial and manufacturing automation, and the right ERP and FSM systems can all play a critical role in the success of this sector. By using Klugo’s service offerings, medium-sized businesses in the clean energy supply chain can improve their processes and be better positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.
Conclusion
Australia’s push towards renewable energy presents a huge opportunity for the clean energy sector, creating demand for new and innovative products and services. Onshoring, or bringing the production of components back to Australia provides a significant boost to the clean energy sector, as it would help businesses reduce their administration costs, improve supply chain management, and create new local jobs.
Automation in industrial processes, such as field service management and sheet metal manufacturing, will play a critical role in the future success of the Australian clean energy industry. Klugo’s integrated service offering, including NetSuite ERP + Next Service FSM, can help businesses improve their processes and be better positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.
About Klugo
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Klugo’s vision is to unlock the full operating potential of our customers to maximise the value of their business. We do this by helping our customers achieve operating excellence using NetSuite + NextService, the world-leading cloud ERP and FSM business platform for small-to-medium-sized businesses.
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