Event recap: How Orkusalan is building a future-ready utility platform with MECOMS 365

At a recent event hosted together with our partners Advania and Orkusalan, one message became crystal clear:

For utilities, digital transformation is no longer simply about upgrading software. It is about building a future-proof foundation for innovation, operational resilience, and customer-centric growth.

During the session, Orkusalan shared their ambitious journey toward implementing MECOMS 365, Ferranti’s next-generation utility platform built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. Together with Advania, the project is helping establish the digital foundation needed to support the future of utility operations in an increasingly dynamic energy market.

What makes this transformation particularly interesting is that it goes far beyond technology. It is about simplifying complexity, reducing operational risk, improving access to data, and creating the flexibility utilities need to continuously evolve their services and operations.

From legacy complexity to a future-ready platform

After years operating on AX2012 and MECOMS 2012, Orkusalan recognized that maintaining the status quo was no longer sustainable. Increasing operational complexity, growing service portfolios, and the limitations of legacy environments created the need for a more modern and scalable platform. Legacy system risk became a critical concern, as both AX2012 and MECOMS 2012 are nearing end-of-life for vendor support and further development.

As Erling Ormar Vignisson from Orkusalan explained during the event:

“This is not just a system upgrade. It is a transformation project and a foundation for future operations, services, and data.”

The decision to move to MECOMS 365 was driven by several strategic priorities:

• Reducing operational risk
• Simplifying heavily customized environments
• Improving data accessibility and real-time visibility
• Supporting future innovation and digital services
• Enabling greater automation and scalability

For utilities across Europe facing similar challenges, this story will sound very familiar.

The role of partnership in successful transformation

Large-scale utility transformations require more than technology alone. They demand strong collaboration, industry expertise, and a shared long-term vision.

This is where the partnership between Orkusalan, Advania, and Ferranti plays a key role.

Throughout the project, Advania has supported Orkusalan with implementation guidance, project governance, and transformation expertise, helping bridge operational needs with modern cloud technology. Combined with Ferranti’s deep utility industry knowledge and the capabilities of MECOMS 365, the collaboration creates a strong foundation for long-term success.

The project also demonstrates the importance of preparation. Before implementation started, extensive analysis work was carried out to review business processes, assess customization needs, and reduce project risk as much as possible upfront. That disciplined approach is already paying off.

Preparing utilities for the next generation of services

One of the strongest themes throughout the event was the realization that utilities today need to support far more than traditional electricity billing.

Modern energy companies increasingly require platforms capable of supporting:

• EV charging ecosystems
• Subscription-based services
• Smart metering communication
• Renewable energy offerings
• New digital customer experiences
• AI-driven insights and automation

For Orkusalan, MECOMS 365 provides the flexibility and scalability needed to support both today’s operations and tomorrow’s ambitions. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform enables utilities to modernize while continuously adapting to changing market demands and customer expectations.

A transformation beyond IT

Perhaps the most important insight shared during the event was that projects like these are fundamentally about change management, not just technology.

Successful transformation requires organizations to rethink processes, simplify complexity, and create a stronger operational foundation for the future.

The collaboration between Orkusalan, Advania, and Ferranti is a strong example of how utilities can approach modernization strategically, pragmatically, and with long-term value in mind. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, utilities need platforms that are flexible enough to evolve with them.

That is exactly what MECOMS 365 is designed to enable. A big thank you to Orkusalan and Advania for sharing their insights and collaboration throughout this transformation journey.

More information about the event: https://advania.velkomin.is/vidburdur/mecoms365