{"id":44183,"date":"2026-02-05T12:39:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/cases\/from-trench-to-cable-at-enexis-a-big-bang-going-live-without-data-loss-and-record-adoption-in-a-complex-chain\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:49:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:49:37","slug":"from-trench-to-cable-at-enexis-a-big-bang-going-live-without-data-loss-and-record-adoption-in-a-complex-chain","status":"publish","type":"cases","link":"https:\/\/nlmtd.com\/en\/cases\/from-trench-to-cable-at-enexis-a-big-bang-going-live-without-data-loss-and-record-adoption-in-a-complex-chain\/","title":{"rendered":"From trench to cable at Enexis: a big-bang go-live without data loss and record adoption in a complex chain"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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From trench to cable at Enexis: a big-bang go-live without data loss and record adoption in a complex chain<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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In an industry where data migrations often fail due to complex chain structures, Enexis had to switch from trench to cable registration. Some 250 core users saw their way of working radically changed, while some 5,000 adjacent users would be impacted daily, and all of this had to be done without loss of production or data.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Result<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A successful big-bang go-live with zero data loss, high adoption, and strong chain collaboration. A solid foundation has been laid for the next step: Revision Automation via NLCS++.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Client<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Enexis is one of six regional grid operators in the Netherlands, responsible for the construction and maintenance of the gas and electricity grids. The migration to the cable model fell under the Asset Registration value chain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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In brief<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The implementation of the cable model at Enexis was one of the most far-reaching chain changes within the energy sector. nlmtd led the migration from trench to cable registration in GEN, with direct impact on many stakeholders and multiple systems.<\/p>

Through a combination of pragmatic execution, tight chain-of-command direction, and target-group-specific narrative communication, a big-bang go-live was achieved on June 11, 2025. With zero data loss, a training rating of 4.5\/5, and a solid foundation for NLCS++, Enexis proved that even the most complex transformations are manageable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Real world uses cases<\/div>\t\t\t
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\/5 rating on 170+ evaluations<\/div>\t\t\t
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Data loss during going live<\/div>\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tThe success was not only in the technology but also in the approach: with a clear and consistent change story, we reached and activated colleagues as well as chain partners. The method was considered best practice throughout Enexis. We can be proud of that: we have strengthened Asset Registration and laid a solid foundation for NLCS++ and Revision Automation. \t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- Wilco Overweg (Product Manager Ketenvernieuwing GV&N Enexis)<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Challenge<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The demand for cable registration<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The existing trench registration of assets at Enexis has limited accuracy, uniformity, and automation possibilities. In addition, differences among branches, contractors, and systems such as GEN, Netplan, AutoCAD, and Lovion caused friction and inconsistent quality. Namely, data is currently recorded in different systems, shared via email, and then entered by hand. This is error-prone and can be simplified and made much faster with Revision Automation.<\/p>

The new information-exchange standard NLCS++ (an extension of the national NLCS construction drawing standard for 2D design drawings) enables revision automation but also calls for a single uniform drawing method: cable registration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A flawless transition<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Automation delivers demonstrable productivity gains that align with the industry’s strategic task of “build, build, build.” Moreover, engineers already think and design in cables. In short, the move from trench registration to wires is necessary for future-proof cooperation in the energy transition.<\/p>

The challenge was making this transition in one go, with no disruption to operations, no data loss, and high adoption across a chain where thousands of stakeholders depend on these systems every day, despite regional differences, contractor variation, and a release calendar with many dependencies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The implementation of the cable model was carried out in five phases and rested on a new way of working with three guiding principles:<\/p>

  1. The chain as storyteller: focus groups grew into ambassadors, and communication became an ongoing change story that gave meaning to the move to the cable model.<\/li>
  2. Confidence through transparency: Risks and differences between the North and the South were not brushed aside, but used as strengths and learning moments. Ambassador input was also visibly incorporated, building trust ahead of going live.<\/li>
  3. Adoption from day one: involvement began with co-designing training courses with core users, support focused on sharing expertise through visual examples, and aftercare concentrated on working together on the first real cases.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Deepdive\nin the\nprocess<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Phase 1 – Preparing
    <\/b>The project started with a thorough impact analysis. Sounding board groups identified risks, regional differences, and dependencies. The dry release notes thus turned into clear storyboards and visual instructions. In addition, each identified risk was assigned a concrete Plan B to ensure the organization was prepared for any scenario.<\/p>

    Phase 2 – Testing
    <\/strong>In seven intensive days of testing, more than 40 realistic use cases were run, involving users from across the chain. This provided not only technical certainty, but also confidence. The test days served as learning days and a communication channel: insights were shared, mistakes were corrected, and successes were celebrated\u2014the result: 100% GAT-go before going live.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Phase 3 – Training
    <\/strong>Over the course of a month, some 250 contractor employees received full-day training across 10 sites and 2 production lines. GEN interpreters, and Lovion and drawing software users were trained via webinars and self-study. This training, co-designed with core users, emphasized practical examples, recognizable cases, and visual explanations\u2014average rating: 4.5\/5, exceptionally high for a technical transition of this magnitude.<\/p>

    Phase 4 – Going Live<\/strong>
    On June 11, 2025, the cable model went live. Thanks to careful preparation, this day felt like confirmation, not experimentation. The chain knew what was coming and was ready.<\/p>

    Phase 5 – Aftercare<\/strong>
    After going live, a warm hyper-care phase followed, with walk-in consultations, visible experts, and the introduction of the “Cable Newspaper” as an informative platform, which accelerated stabilization and enabled continuous improvement.<\/p>

    Accelerate adoption<\/strong>
    The combination of testing discipline, appreciative training, visible support, and an engaging change story (usefulness, need, pride) turned users into ambassadors and
    ambassadors into accelerators.<\/p>

    The North-South paradox: from problem to strength<\/strong>
    The impact analysis revealed significant differences between the Northern and Southern sites in terms of culture and change-readiness, as well as the processes and systems used. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    However, the differences were not a bug, but a feature: North provided speed, South guaranteed quality; together they created an implementation that was both fast and solid.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Results<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The cable model implementation became a textbook example of how technology and people come together.<\/p>