Channel Shifting: identifying the right channel for the right job and customer

19 May 2026
Customer and Communities Stage

As customer expectations evolve and call volumes rise, utilities need to offer a variety of solutions to serve a diverse customer base. Energy and water companies need to understand which channels best support specific customer needs and preferences to drive operational efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. This session explores strategies for aligning the right communication and service channels with the right customer journeys to optimise engagement and outcomes.

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Salesforce - Wikipedia


Chair welcome and introduction
Rob Hakimian - Utility Week

Successful approaches to automation: helping customers to self-serve and reducing dropout rates
Owain Roberts, Programme Manager - Welsh Water
Adam Johns, Portfolio Manager - Welsh Water

Implementing a WhatsApp strategy
Sally Ainsworth, Customer Service Director - United Utilities

Using AI to summarise call outcomes to allow time for agents to really focus on the customer
Louise Walsh, Chief Customer Contact Officer - Utilita

From fragmented to frictionless - how omnichannel intelligence is redefining utility customer engagement
Mark Gilbey, Director - Industry Advisor, Energy & Utilities - Salesforce

Chairperson
Rob Hakimian
Rob Hakimian - Utility Week
Speakers
Louise Walsh
Louise Walsh, Chief Customer Contact Officer - Utilita
Sally Ainsworth
Sally Ainsworth, Customer Service Director - United Utilities
Mark Gilbey
Mark Gilbey, Director - Industry Advisor, Energy & Utilities - Salesforce
Owain Roberts
Owain Roberts, Programme Manager - Welsh Water