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Writer's pictureEmre Can Anlar

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Charge Point Operators (CPOs)

The rapid growth of electromobility presents Charge Point Operators (CPOs) with the challenge of efficiently managing infrastructure while meeting increasing demand. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers numerous opportunities to optimize operations, enhance customer engagement, and improve efficiency. By enabling CPOs to analyze large data sets, automate processes, and make predictive decisions, AI plays a crucial role in enhancing overall performance.

AI's relevance in today's discussions has grown even more with the rise of advanced language models, which have demonstrated significant potential in automating complex tasks, improving decision-making, and enhancing customer interactions. This new wave of AI technology further underscores the importance of integrating AI into CPO operations to remain competitive in the fast-evolving electromobility landscape.


In this analysis, we have evaluated the potential value and ease of implementation of AI applications based on insights from other industries and our deep knowledge of CPO operations. Across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and transportation, AI has consistently demonstrated its ability to generate significant cost savings and revenue growth, making it highly applicable to the CPO market.

The rise of advanced AI models, particularly in language and decision-making, underscores a pivotal moment for Charge Point Operators. This technology can now tackle complex tasks, streamline decision-making, and elevate customer interactions. Integrating AI is no longer a choice but a strategic necessity for CPOs aiming to stay competitive in the dynamic world of electromobility. With proven success across sectors like energy and manufacturing, AI offers CPOs a clear path to cost savings and growth potential. - Dr. Andreas Pfeiffer, CEO greenventors GmbH

Three Key AI Areas for CPOs

1. Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance remains one of the highest-value AI applications for CPOs. This solution allows CPOs to maximize the availability of charging stations and minimize downtime through proactive and automated maintenance scheduling. By predicting equipment failures before they occur, predictive maintenance can reduce operational costs by up to 30% and improve system uptime, contributing to a 20% boost in customer satisfaction​ McKinsey & Company. Additionally, McKinsey research demonstrates that predictive maintenance can reduce overall downtime by 50%, providing a high return on investment when integrated into existing CPO infrastructure​ Gartner McKinsey & Company.


2. Dynamic Pricing

Dynamic pricing enables CPOs to optimize revenue by adjusting pricing based on real-time demand, energy availability, and peak usage patterns. AI-powered dynamic pricing models, already proven in industries such as airlines and ride-hailing, can increase revenue by 10% while balancing energy loads and ensuring efficient resource utilization​ McKinsey & Company. This application provides CPOs with flexibility in pricing strategies and helps align their pricing with market conditions, ensuring a swift return on investment due to its strong potential for revenue growth​ McKinsey & Company.


3. First Level Support

AI in First Level Support offers immediate cost savings by automating customer inquiries, resolving common issues, and providing rapid responses. According to Gartner, AI-powered support functions can reduce customer service costs by up to 20%, making it an effective tool for CPOs to optimize operational efficiency​ Gartner. Beyond cost savings, automating first-level support allows CPOs to enhance customer experience by ensuring quicker response times and reducing the need for human intervention in basic customer service tasks​ Gartner.


𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝑰 & 𝑪𝑷𝑶𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 (here) and receive exclusive insights and industry-relevant recommendations. Survey participants will gain access to a comprehensive summary with essential trends and actionable strategies to help shape their CPO business model.

Overview of AI Topics for CPOs

We conducted a full assessment of all key functional areas for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to identify where Artificial Intelligence (AI) can deliver the most value with an ease to implement. This evaluation explores both the potential impact on business and the ease of implementation for each AI application, based on insights from other industries and our in-depth market knowledge of the CPO sector.

In our assessment of AI opportunities for Charge Point Operators (CPOs), we focused not only on the implementability of each solution but also on its potential to generate business value in terms of cost savings and revenue increase based on Functional Areas of a CPO business model.


The table below summarizes the results of this analysis, which served as the basis for our overall evaluation of AI’s impact on CPO operations.

These insights highlight where AI investments can most effectively reduce operational costs and increase revenues, providing CPOs with a strategic roadmap for prioritizing AI applications.

Topic

Functional Area

Cost Savings (%)

Revenue Increase (%)

Description

Insights Based on Source

Predictive Maintenance

Charging Infrastructure

30%

20%

AI predicts equipment failures and schedules maintenance proactively, reducing downtime and operational costs.

"Prediction at scale: How industry can get more value out of maintenance," McKinsey & Company, November 2018 "Digitally Enabled Reliability," McKinsey & Company, November 2018

Dynamic Pricing

Commercial Model

0%

10%

AI adjusts pricing based on demand, energy availability, and peak times, maximizing revenue and balancing energy load.

"How Airlines Can Use Machine Learning for Dynamic Pricing," McKinsey & Company, August 2020

Automated Billing

Service Delivery

15%

0%

AI automates the billing process, reducing errors, speeding up payments, and improving cash flow management.

"Supercharging customer service with AI," Deloitte, July 2021

Real-time Monitoring

Service Delivery

10%

0%

AI monitors charging stations in real time, addressing performance issues, improving uptime and reliability.

"Harnessing Analytics and AI to Shape the Future of Mobility Retail," McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Subscription Management

Commercial Model

0%

10%

AI personalizes customer plans, improves retention, and generates recurring revenue through optimized subscription management.

"The Future of Subscription Management with AI," Deloitte, August 2021

Partnership Management

Commercial Model

30%

5%

AI supports business partner management by optimizing contracts and improving collaboration performance.

"An Unconstrained Future: How Generative AI Could Reshape B2B Sales," McKinsey, 2023; "Key Tactics for Successful Next-Gen B2B Sales," McKinsey, 2022

Inventory Management

Charging Infrastructure

10%

0%

AI optimizes inventory by managing hardware and spare parts, reducing shortages and ensuring timely maintenance.

"AI-Driven Inventory Management for the Energy Sector," Forbes, September 2021

Data Quality Improvement

Cross-functional Tasks

15%

15%

AI enhances data quality, providing accurate information for decision-making and improving operational insights.

"Data Quality: Best Practices for Accurate Insights," Gartner, 2021; "AI-Powered Insights," PwC, 2021

Business Intelligence

Cross-functional Tasks

0%

15%

AI analyzes large data sets to provide actionable insights, improving strategic decisions and uncovering new revenue streams. AI can generate cost savings through operational efficiencies and better data management.

"AI-Powered Customer Service," PwC, 2020

Revenue Assurance

Service Delivery

0%

7%

AI ensures accurate revenue capture by identifying billing errors and revenue leakage, improving profitability.

"Revenue Assurance Through AI," Gartner, May 2021

Self-service Portals

Service Delivery

10%

0%

AI powers customer self-service tools, allowing users to manage accounts and resolve issues without contacting support.

"AI-Enhanced Self-Service in the Utility Sector," Accenture, July 2020

First Level Support

Support Functions

20%

0%

AI automates customer inquiries and resolves common issues in real time, reducing support costs and improving response times.

"Top Trends in Customer Service and Support for 2021," Gartner, March 2021

Site Analysis for New Locations

Charging Infrastructure

0%

20%

AI evaluates traffic, energy demand, and other factors to identify optimal locations for new charging stations.

"Harnessing Analytics and AI to Shape the Future of Mobility Retail," McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Optimizing Site Operations

Charging Infrastructure

15%

0%

AI optimizes site operations by balancing energy loads, reducing consumption, and improving charging station performance.

"Unlocking Value with Location Intelligence," BCG, September 2021

 

Our analysis reveals that AI offers significant potential for both cost savings and revenue growth within Charge Point Operator (CPO) operations. On the cost reduction side, substantial savings can be realized in several key areas. Predictive Maintenance can achieve up to 30% in cost reductions by predicting equipment failures and enabling proactive maintenance scheduling, which reduces downtime and operational expenses. First Level Support can save 20% by automating customer service inquiries and troubleshooting common issues, which lowers support costs. Automated Billing, with potential savings of 15%, improves billing efficiency by automating processes, reducing human error, and speeding up payments. Similarly, Data Quality Improvement can reduce costs by 15% through enhanced data accuracy, which supports more reliable decision-making. Finally, Optimizing Site Operations also has the potential for 15% cost savings by balancing energy loads and reducing consumption at charging stations.

On the revenue side, AI-driven solutions provide strong growth potential, particularly in areas like Business Intelligence, which can increase revenues by 15% by analyzing large datasets to uncover new revenue streams and inform better strategic decisions. Dynamic Pricing can generate up to 10% more revenue by optimizing pricing based on demand, energy availability, and usage patterns. Additionally, Subscription Management can lead to a 10% increase in recurring revenue by personalizing customer plans, improving retention, and enhancing customer experience.


Together, these AI applications streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive revenue growth, helping CPOs enhance both operational efficiency and profitability.

Building on this analysis of cost savings and revenue generation, we developed an overall evaluation that considers both the financial impact and implementability of AI applications for CPOs. By combining these insights, we can prioritize AI opportunities that deliver the greatest business value while being feasible for near-term implementation. This comprehensive assessment provides CPOs with a clear roadmap for strategically investing in AI to maximize operational efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Below is an overview of the identified AI opportunities across all functional areas, along with a breakdown of their business potential and technical feasibility.


Implementability vs Business Value in AI Adoption CPO business
Implementability vs Business Value in AI Adoption CPO business

The following table shows the detailed description of AI applications relevant to Charge Point Operators in detail, including the potential for implementation and the expected business value. The chart that accompanies this table visually maps these topics, showing the trade-off between implementability and business value to help identify the most suitable areas for AI deployment.

Topic

Functional Area

Implement-ability (1-10)

Business Value (1-10)

Description

Predictive Maintenance

Charging Infrastructure

8

9

AI predicts equipment failures and schedules maintenance before issues arise, minimizing downtime and reducing operational costs.

Inventory Management

Charging Infrastructure

6

6

AI optimizes the management of hardware and spare parts, reducing stock shortages and ensuring timely maintenance.

Site Analysis for New Locations

Charging Infrastructure

5

7

AI evaluates traffic, energy demand, and other factors to identify optimal locations for new charging stations.

Optimizing Site Operations

Charging Infrastructure

7

8

AI optimizes site operations by balancing energy loads, reducing consumption, and improving charging station performance.

Dynamic Pricing

Commercial Model

7

8

AI adjusts pricing dynamically based on demand, energy availability, and peak times to maximize revenue and balance load.

Subscription Management

Commercial Model

6

8

AI enhances subscription management by personalizing customer plans, improving retention, and generating recurring revenue.

Partnership Management

Commercial Model

5

6

AI supports the management of relationships with business partners, optimizing contract performance and collaboration.

Automated Billing

Service Delivery

8

7

AI automates the billing process, reducing human error, speeding up payments, and improving cash flow management.

Real-time Monitoring

Service Delivery

6

7

AI monitors charging stations in real-time, identifying and addressing performance issues to improve uptime and reliability.

Revenue Assurance

Service Delivery

6

7

AI ensures accurate revenue capture by identifying and preventing billing errors or revenue leakage, improving profitability.

Self-service Portals

Service Delivery

6

6

AI powers customer self-service tools, allowing users to manage their accounts and resolve issues without contacting support.

First Level Support

Service Delivery

7

7

AI automates customer inquiries and resolves common issues in real time, improving response times and reducing support costs.

Data Quality Improvement

Cross-functional Tasks

7

8

AI cleans and enhances data accuracy, providing reliable information for decision-making and improving operational insights.

Business Intelligence

Cross-functional Tasks

8

9

AI analyzes large data sets to provide actionable insights, improving strategic decisions and uncovering new revenue streams.

 

A Structured Approach to Successfully Implementing AI Projects for Charge Point Operators (CPOs)

In addition to methodological expertise, a deep understanding of the specific IT infrastructure used by CPOs, as well as knowledge of the emobility sector and industry strategies, is crucial for success. This combination of technical know-how and industry insight allows for the development of AI solutions that are both practical and aligned with the operational realities and strategic goals of CPOs.

Our consulting approach goes beyond theory—by combining deep industry insights and hands-on AI expertise, we enable Charge Point Operators to turn AI potential into measurable results. From ideation workshops to proof-of-value implementations, we empower CPOs to transform their operations sustainably, making AI a true driver of efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction. - Marcus Vengels, CEO Mediaan Deutschland GmbH
AI Adoption Roadmap for CPOs by Mediaan & greenventors
AI Adoption Roadmap for CPOs by Mediaan & greenventors

A proven and structured approach to setting up successful AI projects for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) begins with an Ideation Workshop, where businesses work closely with experts to identify operational challenges and explore how AI can address them. This phase ensures that AI solutions align with the company's goals and target the areas that will deliver the most significant impact.


The next critical step is the Proof of Value (PoV) in the validation phase, where small-scale AI projects are implemented to test their effectiveness in real-world scenarios. This approach allows companies to validate the benefits of AI—such as cost savings from Predictive Maintenance or revenue increases from Dynamic Pricing—before committing to a larger-scale deployment.


Following the PoV is the design phase, where a detailed analysis of the integration is conducted, and a comprehensive plan for the implementation of the use case is created. Depending on customer needs, consultants and architects are provided to ensure the solution's smooth integration into the company's operations.


Once the design is finalized, the AI solutions are scaled across the company’s operations. This phase focuses on integrating AI into existing systems and ensuring that the technology improves system-wide performance, delivering consistent and scalable results.

This structured approach—combining ideation, validation, design, and implementation, along with sector-specific expertise—ensures that AI projects deliver measurable business outcomes and drive efficiency, profitability, and growth for CPOs.

𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝑰 & 𝑪𝑷𝑶𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 (here) and receive exclusive insights and industry-relevant recommendations. Survey participants will gain access to a comprehensive summary with essential trends and actionable strategies to help shape their CPO business model.

 


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