The increased demand for smart grids in the energy sector requires improved communication and automation to ensure reliable electric grid management.  Migrating from legacy radio communication technologies to digital radio networks is a crucial part of the evolution of the telecommunications network. This study explores asset optimisation and change management in a smart grid during a telecommunications technology migration project. The study focuses on migrating legacy radio technology to an IP-based digital platform. Using an exploratory mixed-methods approach, the research focuses on collecting perceptions and comments from newly migrated system participants (engineers, technologists, and network planners) through open-ended survey questions, as well as secondary data from the management system.  Analysis of the results shows divergence between a higher user perception of the new system’s usability and the obtained low reliability score (Mean Time Between Failure, MTBF) of 2.4 hours/failure. Human factors contributed to system instability due to training and communication from management. This study recommends the use of integrated asset and change management through tools such as the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and predictive maintenance tools, and the adoption of change management tools such as Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement (ADKAR) and Kotter’s 8 Steps to improve skills, training, and management alignment.

Keywords

Asset Management, Change Management, Digital Mobile Radio (DMR), Smart Grid, Predictive Maintenance.