Strategy, Research & Advisory

The principals within Five Point Partners’ Strategy, Research & Advisory (SRA) practice have been serving utilities and industry vendors for nearly 20 years. SRA provides comprehensive coverage of the industry from breaking regulatory/legislative issues to information technology developments and customer experience trends.

SRA principals have conducted dozens of commissioned research/advisement studies for utilities and vendors including IT performance studies, gap analysis for utilities, and market analysis and strategy for vendors. Utilizing statistically based measurements, surveys and other primary and secondary research techniques, SRA delivers vital decision-making data to clients, putting that data into context based upon years of experience and visionary approaches.

Through strategy advisement, SRA has helped utilities develop their plans and approaches for AMI deployments, Smart Grid initiatives, and major software overhauls. For vendors, SRA has helped develop market strategies, go-to-market materials such as white papers, thought-leadership articles, and board presentations. SRA principals have worked actively with all the major industry organizations and groups to provide high-value participation as speakers and writers to the industry at large.

Vendor Neutrality and Confidentiality Are our Cornerstones

In all its work, SRA maintains a strict vendor neutrality and confidentiality of information. Utilities and vendors can be assured of superior advisement, without fear of partiality or disclosure of trade secrets or other vital information. Although SRA often customizes service packages to meet specific needs, the following categories of services are our most popular:

Strategic Advisement – SRA helps utilities identify and execute on their strategic objectives. From plan formulation to business case development and technology assessments, SRA leverages their vast industry experience and proprietary intellectual property developed through years of industry research to help utilities optimize their strategic and operational objectives. For vendors, SRA utilizes current, objective market research to help determine market conditions and opportunities.

Application Plans and Technology Roadmaps – SRA can help you execute on your strategic imperatives and navigate the changing IT and business environments to develop a comprehensive plan for your application portfolio and a technology roadmap to meet your emerging requirements within the appropriate budgetary and regulatory framework. We provide this service in collaboration with our consulting professionals and your staff, who help evaluate and optimize your business processes so that the technology recommendations can be applied where and when they matter most. Additionally, Five Point's Solution Procurement experts can be leveraged to help evaluate and implement the solutions that will help utilities accomplish their strategic objectives. For vendors, we apply the same expertise to help determine appropriate functionality enhancements desired by the market, both in the near-term and long-term.

Executive Programs – Representing our highest value investment, these programs enable utilities and vendors access to all of SRA’s research reports, market share data, webcasts and executive summits, as well as structured and on-demand access for advisement and analysis. Executive program clients participate in guiding SRA research to ensure we are focusing on issues most pertinent to their business needs.

Commissioned Research – Vendors and utilities can take advantage of targeted research including surveys, executive interviews and other primary and secondary research techniques to find the specific answers they need, including strategic vision questions, market analysis and technology development guidance.

White Papers and Thought Leadership Pieces – SRA can help your company evaluate options and express your position by providing insight into topical issues and trends with commissioned papers. Although often used in conjunction with commissioned research, the papers can be developed separately based on SRA’s existing data and market analysis.

Benefits of Strategy, Research & Advisory Services

If you are facing a significant decision, consider how our SRA practice can improve the outcome:

Highly Experienced – Five Point’s SRA practice brings years of experience and knowledge to the table. We learn your business and then provide the research-based information and advisement you need for effective decision-making.

Independent Thought – By getting an independent perspective, a company facing the turmoil in the utility industry can benefit from SRA’s knowledge and years of experience in detailing and following the dynamic utility environment.

Cost Effective – Making business and technological decisions without in-depth, high-quality research and advisement is a risky proposition. As an independent, privately-held company, SRA can provide you the objective information and advice you need to be successful in a constantly changing utility business environment. SRA prices are competitive for quality research in the industry. Framing the right questions and developing the right answers in advance can prevent costly mistakes.