Briefly
Program description
Seeking innovative solutions using avatars, artificial intelligence and mixed reality to create hybrid customer service offices in the energy sector.
Energie AG Oberösterreich is an Austrian energy and service company that provides over 450,000 customers with electricity, gas, heat, water and services in the field of ICT and waste management.
Competition goal:
To develop an innovative concept for a hybrid customer service office that combines physical presence and digital interaction channels while preserving regional identity and personal communication.
Ultimate goal:
To create a digital, scalable and user-friendly presence system that improves the level of service compared to existing offices.
Main Information
Supported Activities
Participants must propose solutions that will help Energie AG:
- ensure regional presence through a hybrid network of offices;
- increase efficiency, scalability and sustainability;
- integrate avatars, voice bots, video interaction or mixed reality technologies.
Expected solutions can:
- make personal consulting "tangible" in digital format (avatars, holographic representatives, MR applications);
- provide interaction through touch screens, video calls, voice assistants;
- personalize avatars (e.g., traditional clothing for rural regions or modern style for youth audience);
- be implemented in partnership with communities, banks, insurance companies;
- be available to other organizations as a platform solution.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the F6S application submission tool.
Evaluation Criteria
Business criteria:
- How well the solution meets Energie AG challenges.
- Available capacity (resources, technical base, team).
- Implementation speed and scalability.
- Partnership potential.
- Presence of proof of effectiveness (prototypes, similar products, existing partnerships, etc.).
Additional criteria:
- Desirability: How precisely does the idea solve the identified problem? Is the solution directly relevant to the posed challenge?
- Feasibility: Can the idea be implemented in practice? Does it take into account the technical, financial and operational constraints of the company and industry?
- Viability: Is the solution economically feasible? Does it provide a favorable cost-benefit ratio? What is the expected return on investment?
- Sustainability: A particularly important aspect for the energy sector. How environmentally friendly and sustainable is the proposed solution?
- Degree of Innovation: How innovative and different is the idea from existing solutions? Does it offer a new approach or perspective?
- Team and Expertise: Who is behind the idea? Does the team or startup have the necessary experience and knowledge to implement the project?
FAQ
Startups and operating companies that already have work experience and are ready to implement innovative solutions can participate in the competition. Participation is not geographically limited – applicants from any country can apply.
The purpose of this competition is to create a modern digital customer service office concept that combines physical and virtual forms of interaction and opens up new opportunities for regional presence. The solution should make personal consultations tangible in digital format and raise the level of service compared to existing offices.
Solutions using avatars, voice bots, video interactivity, mixed reality, touch screens, personalized avatars (e.g., regional design) and platform solutions for partners are especially welcome.
Not mandatory, but digital personal consultation (e.g., using avatars, holograms or mixed reality) is a key direction.
Solutions must comply with the highest data protection and security standards (e.g., GDPR, secure video identification).
Integration with CRM, ticketing system, knowledge bases and existing voice bot technologies (such as Cognigy AI and REST API) is required.
Yes, the solution must be adaptable to different target groups, regions and scenarios (such as PowerTower, municipality, trade fair). Use by partners (banks, municipalities, insurance companies) is also desirable.
Yes, a technical pilot implementation in PowerTower is planned as a demonstration project. Gradual implementation through digital touch points or partner locations is possible.
Regular quality assurance (e.g., customer satisfaction, NPS, usage rate, resolution rate, response time, CES) and continuous improvement through AI learning are required.
- Cognigy AI (REST endpoint)
- Optional: OpenAI-compatible chat endpoint with RAG pipeline
Yes, integration of existing voice bots and AI agents is explicitly encouraged.
- Redirection to customer portal or homepage
- Payment integration via ATMs (e.g., for open accounts)
- Mobile kiosks with avatars for events/exhibitions
- Integration with smart devices (e.g., Alexa)
- Voice and gesture control