It is called Process Intelligence, and is one of those terms brought by the technology that companies cannot do without. Among the leaders of the sector is Celonis, a global leader in the “Process Mining”, with which it is possible to analyze, optimize and reinvent operational processes through data. And this is the secret of artificial intelligence to increase the competitiveness of companies, especially then if you can also give a female touch to the digital transition. For example, the Iren group did so, one of the main Italian players in the Energy, Water and Environment sectors, which looking for a figure who combined strategic vision, operational experience and a strong awareness of the role has chosen Maria Greco technologies and information systems as director and information systems. It is she who, by enhancing the IA with responsibility and supporting the role of women in the Stem world, is carrying out the change in the company, with the collaboration of Celonis.
From a long journey into the operations to the role of guidance of the IT transformation of the Iren group: how did this passage happened?
“It was a profound change, even if in continuity with my path. After ten years in Iren from the channels to credit, passing through billing, a new opportunity has opened. It is a challenge that I do not live like a leap in the void: I think I have the right background to guide this phase. Also because today the technology is no longer only IT, but it is an integral part of the business processes”.
Usually these roles are occupied by men …
“In fact, this choice makes the company honor. In Iren, sustainability is a concrete value, and my appointment is the sign of a group that really believes in the principles it declares, and that wants to implement them. This gives me even more responsibilities: the task I have today is to accompany a technological revolution in respect of people, territories and our DNA”.
The tech world is still perceived as a male world. Are you changing something?
“I think so. In my path I have always met people – women and men – who have supported me. And now I see more engineer, more professionals who take the floor, who guide projects. However, it remains essential to encourage girls to cultivate the passion for scientific subjects, who explain the world, help to understand it and act on it. And who is curious, finds in these subjects responses and inspirations”.
Technology and people: can you find a balance?
“I really believe in the complementary role of technology. In the past we had tools that we used for a specific purpose. Today the IA, especially the generative one, has become a travel companion, a digital colleague who is at our side in everyday life. But for this reason we must also accompany people, not only technologies. We cannot delegate everything, we must guide this transition, do not suffer it”.
A key point of your path is the use of process mining. How do you work with Celonis?
“We started to explore it in 2018, even before starting the great transformation of our information systems. Celonis was and is a strategic partner in this path: working on data intelligently allowed us to optimize processes, identify inefficiencies and draw new data -based solutions. Today this collaboration allows us to further evolve, integrating the analysis in real time in our operational flows”.
Today there is a lot of talk about privacy, but also of the need to enhance the data to offer better services. How do you keep all this together?
“It is a question of balance and responsibility. The data is everywhere, just leave the house to start” leave them “. But using them well, in a conscious way, can bring value. We in Iren manage many data: from networks to customers, from IoT devices to the systems. If organized correctly, these data can power solutions such as the digital twin of electrical and gas networks, the energy efficiency, or the personalization of the services. Always keep the person at the center and respect the regulations “.
And in this balance, can customer data also become an innovation tool?
“Absolutely yes. Today we no longer only compete on the price of energy: it is responsible for the quality of the service, on the ability to build personalized experiences. And this passes from the data. We are also working in this direction, with solutions that do not speak directly with the end customer – at least for now – but that improve the quality of the internal service and operational support.
Many fear the invasion of technology in the emotional and personal sphere. What vision does it have about it?
“It is a delicate theme. The IA is no longer just an instrument, it is an entity that can interact with us in a” human “way. This opens new issues, even ethicals. It is necessary to accompany this process, educating the correct use. But it is also necessary to avoid catastrophism. Every technological revolution has brought risks and fears with it: it happened with social media, with the big data, with the smartphone.
So is it a matter of digital education?
“Exactly. We need greater awareness. Even in communication, at the beginning an excessive alarm was generated. Speaking of artificial intelligence as if it were a deadly danger has fueled fears, often unfounded. Instead it is a tool, which – if well used – can improve daily life. Ethics, training, transparency is needed. And also the ability to listen”.
Is Iren working on projects with generative?
“Yes, we are experiencing. Always with prudent approach, but open. We look at the technologies, test them and, if they work, we adopt them. Here too, however, we never make an innovation for itself: each project has a precise purpose, linked to the creation of value for people, the company, the territory. Technology is never an end, but a means”.
And the future? How do you imagine technology in the coming years?
“We are in a phase of hype, this is undeniable. A new platform comes out every day, a new model. It is like a continuous race. But after this initial phase there will be a natural selection, a maturation. Some solutions will remain, others will be lost. The important thing is to remain curious, but also pragmatic. And, above all, never lose contact with people”.
In short: is there a female touch in technology?
“Perhaps it exists, but not in the stereotyped sense. The real female touch – if we want to call it that – is the ability to listen, empathy, inclusion. It is to put the human being at the center. But after all, it is not a gender issue.
It is a question of humanity, and vision. Today we need a technology that adapts to our habits, which assist us intelligently, but that does not replace us. This, for me, is the future. Building it is a task that concerns all of us. ”