Oil and Gas Companies Most Committed to Radical Reinvention Expect Twice the Revenue and Margin Growth of Those Least Committed, Accenture Report Finds

Rhea-AI Summary

Accenture's latest report reveals that oil and gas companies committed to reinvention post-COVID-19 anticipate revenue growth and margin expansion at twice the rate of their less committed counterparts. The report, based on a survey of over 200 executives, introduces the ‘Reinvention Index’ and outlines a '5C' model—Competitiveness, Connectivity, Carbon, Customer, and Culture—for successful transformation. Leaders expect at least 11% revenue growth and 7% margin growth compared to only 6% and 3% for Laggards. Environmental performance is prioritized, with hydrogen and renewable power identified as key growth areas.

Positive

• Leaders expect revenue growth of at least 11% over the next three years, compared to 6% for Laggards.
• Leaders anticipate a minimum margin growth of 7%, significantly higher than the 3% projected by Laggards.
• 96% of Leaders have set ambitious ESG targets and commit to reporting on emissions regularly.
• 62% of Leaders see hydrogen as a major revenue source, with 54% citing renewable power as a growth area.

Negative

• None.

The oil and gas companies most committed to reinventing themselves over the next three years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic expect to grow their revenues and margins at twice the rate of companies least committed to reinvention, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) that outlines best practices companies should adopt to thrive in the energy transition.

Accenture’s Oil and Gas Reinvention Index (Photo: Business Wire)

The report, titled “Necessity is the Mother of (Re)invention” features results from a global survey of more than 200 oil and gas executives and introduces Accenture’s “Reinvention Index,” which analyzed the companies across key factors related to reinvention. Accenture classified the 10% of companies that scored the highest in the Index — who are setting the pace for reinvention through bold and decisive action — as reinvention “Leaders,” with those in the bottom 25% labeled “Laggards.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the Leaders plan at least some level of significant changes to their business, with half (50%) intending radical reinvention, compared with only 9% of the Laggards. Almost seven in 10 Leaders (69%) consider enterprise-wide transformation essential to this reinvention and 77% of Leaders see cloud as essential to their business reinvention plans in the next three years.

And reinvention could drive substantial rewards. For instance, Leaders expect minimum margin growth of 7%, on average, in the next three years, more than double that of the Laggards (3%), and expect to grow revenues over the same period by at least 11%, compared with just 6% for the Laggards.

“Competition from new energy sources, environmental accountability, talent scarcity, investor apathy and the COVID-19 pandemic have led most oil and gas companies to realize the need to transform to ensure profitability, embrace sustainability and maintain their relevance,” said Muqsit Ashraf, a senior managing director at Accenture who leads its Energy industry group. “What’s required isn’t just piecemeal transformation but wholesale business reinvention, which is anchored in a new approach that we call our ‘5C’ model.”

The ‘5C’ model for reinvention comprises:

• Competitiveness — Shaping a resilient portfolio and operating model, including ways of working, that achieve accretive returns through cycles; and
• Connectivity — Enabling an intelligent and secure enterprise with end-to-end connectivity, optimization and autonomous capabilities, facilitated by cloud capabilities;
• Carbon — Achieving carbon neutrality by transforming or shifting investments, operations and products;
• Customer — Delivering superior customer experiences through services, solutions, formats/channels and customization; and
• Culture — Building a distinct purpose-led culture and employee experience with an emphasis on collaboration, innovation and agility.

The report notes that attaining carbon neutrality, in particular, is a key facet of the reinvention required to thrive in today’s era of accelerated energy transition. In fact, more than a third (37%) of respondents, including all the Leaders, expect margin improvements of 20% or more from their low-carbon businesses in the next three years. Refocusing investments, operations and products will be key, with 97% of all respondents citing environmental performance as a priority and one-third (33%) naming it their top priority.

The Leaders are already making some headway in this area; almost all (96%) have set ambitious environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) targets, with the same number committed to reporting frequently on their emission-reduction progress. In contrast, only 56% of Laggards have set targets, with less than half (47%) regularly publicizing their results. Additionally, all Leaders expect ESG performance to have, at the minimum, a strong impact on their competitiveness over the next three years.

Hydrogen and renewable power were identified as the two low-carbon businesses with the most growth potential. In fact, more than half of Leaders expect hydrogen (cited by 62%) and renewable power (54%) to account for more than 7% of their revenues within the decade.

“This decade will be a make-or-break period for the oil and gas industry, which remains rutted in a low-price environment, but the opportunities presented in the report provide a blueprint for reinvention for continued success,” Ashraf said. “All oil and gas companies should aim to emulate the reinvention Leaders to maintain relevance during and after the energy transition. Otherwise, the transition will transform from an opportunity to build a sustainable and profitable future to an existential risk.”

The full report can be found here.

Research Methodology

In early 2021, Accenture conducted its Oil and Gas Reinvention Index research to understand the actions that oil and gas companies are taking to meet the challenges of the energy transition, their progress toward reinvention, and the outcomes they expect to achieve. The research included a survey of 214 C-suite executives from 179 oil and gas companies across five continents. More than four-fifths (83%) of the companies were international or independent oil companies, with the rest national oil companies and oilfield and equipment services companies. More than one-third (36%) of the companies have revenues exceeding US$10 billion, and 48% have annual revenues between US$1 billion and US$10 billion. Accenture also created a Reinvention Index Score, based on selected survey results and composed of equally weighted scores from each of the five identified facets of reinvention (competitiveness, carbon, connectivity, customers and culture). Responses were grouped (n = 214) into companies (n = 179) to determine an aggregated score for each, then companies were defined and grouped. The top 10% of companies were identified as reinvention “Leaders,” with the bottom 25% identified as “Laggards.”

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture helps oil and gas companies develop innovation-led capabilities to drive end-to-end transformation and make energy more available, affordable and sustainable. To learn more, visit Accenture’s oil and gas industry portal.

Copyright ©2021 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are registered trademarks of Accenture.

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FAQ

What did Accenture's report reveal about oil and gas companies' revenue growth?

Accenture's report shows that committed oil and gas companies expect revenue growth of at least 11% over the next three years.

What is the 'Reinvention Index' mentioned in Accenture's report?

The 'Reinvention Index' is a measure introduced by Accenture that scores oil and gas companies based on their commitment to reinventing their business models.

How does the revenue growth expectation differ between Leaders and Laggards?

Leaders expect at least 11% revenue growth, while Laggards anticipate only 6% growth over the next three years.

What is the significance of the '5C' model in the report?

The '5C' model—Competitiveness, Connectivity, Carbon, Customer, and Culture—serves as a framework for oil and gas companies to successfully reinvent themselves.

What are the primary growth areas identified for oil and gas companies in Accenture's report?

Hydrogen and renewable power are identified as key growth areas, with over half of Leaders expecting them to significantly contribute to revenues.