Technology advisory firm of the year: KWA Analytics

As risk and operational complexity increase for energy firms, the focus on technology is growing to improve efficiencies in risk management across the entire business. As new, specialised technology vendors spring up, and others improve their offerings amid advances in technology, energy firms are increasingly seeking assistance in selecting and implementing the most appropriate products.

We’ve deepened our focus on automation and cloud-based solutions, enabling clients to scale their systems more efficiently

Kevin Wagner, KWA Analytics

As a result, competition in the technology advisory space has grown recently, but KWA Analytics, winner of Energy Risk’s Technology advisory firm of the year, stood out for the work it is doing with clients in the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region. 

“There has been an uptick in competition over the past 12 months, but we have continuously shown that we have been able to attract and retain the best talent in the market,” says Kevin Wagner, director, Apac at KWA Analytics. “Our clients have faced several technology challenges, including integrating complex new energy trading and risk management [ETRM] systems, achieving compliance with evolving regulatory requirements and scaling their IT infrastructures to support rapid business growth.”

He adds: “We have helped them by providing strategic guidance, implementing scalable and flexible systems, automating processes and ensuring seamless integration of new technologies.”

Notable projects over the past year include providing target operating model advisory services for a Middle East-based, major liquefied natural gas producer and trader, implementing Japanese electricity market ETRM solutions at multiple supermajors, implementing an ETRM biofuels solution at a supermajor oil firm and leading the implementation for several environmental certificate projects.

“We’ve expanded our expertise in power, renewables and low-carbon technologies,” says Wagner. “Additionally, we’ve deepened our focus on automation and cloud-based solutions, enabling clients to scale their systems more efficiently.”

The company has made what it describes as “significant investments” in the development and deployment of its artificial intelligence assistant Risk and Operations Systems Expert (ROSE). “This solution allows us to allocate more time to high-value tasks, such as strategic advisory and complex problem-solving, ultimately benefiting our clients,” explains Wagner.

“Additionally, we can now offer AI advisory services to our clients, providing them with expert guidance on how to implement and optimise AI solutions within their own organisations,” he adds.

Over the previous 12 months, KWA Analytics increased its customer base by almost one-fifth, and added 15% to its headcount, which now stands at more than 300 employees. It has also deepened its relationships with vendors ION Commodities and CWAN. “Our partners have sustained impressive growth, and KWA has invested in developing top-tier talent to enable and support implementations for their solutions,” says Wagner.

Looking forward, KWA Analytics aims to continue building out its capital markets services, and AI and quantitative development practice. “We see significant growth potential in Apac in each of these areas, and we feel we have the global knowledge and expertise to achieve growth in these areas,” he says.

“Our company thinks in the long term and stands out for delivering innovative, high-impact solutions driven by a team of exceptional talent,” Wagner adds. “With a diversified portfolio of services, we consistently tailor our offerings to meet complex client needs, creating lasting value and measurable results.”