The impact of digitalization on corporate strategy in the heat-power industry

The article analyzes 8 directions areas of digitalization that affect corporate strategizing in the heat-power industry, classifies this direction into demanded and prospective, and conducts an OTSW analysis of these directions and their features that have a significant impact on the development of the industry. The main objectives of the study were to study the strategic trend of digitalization in the context of the heat-power industry, analyze the application and relevance of the main aspects of digitalization in strategic public documents of heat generating companies in Russia such as PJSC “Gazprom Energoholding”, PJSC “T-Plus”, PJSC “Quadra”, and identify prospects and the problems they face in the context of the current level of digitalization. The main methodological school on which the research is based is the scientific school of strategy by V.L. Kvint.

The article emphasizes the important role of digitalization as one of the leading drivers of development of the heat-power industry and demonstrates examples of digitalization of operational processes of the heat generating companies. The OTSW analysis reveals negative characteristics of the digitalization trend, mainly associated with economic costs that limit its active implementation in the industry. The conducted research leads to the conclusion that digitalization is not only a trend, but also a global investment project for the heat generating companies and for the industry as a whole, stimulating investments increase in complex technological virtual and material systems and devices.

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