IHS Consulting Case Studies

Case Study – Market Planning

Brand Image, Market Position, and Strategies to Broaden Appeal

Challenge: A global OEM in the automotive industry wanted to expand its product offerings and move its brand image up-market in an effort to gain market share and attract younger, more affluent consumers.

Solution: IHS Consulting produced extensive vehicle and market forecasts, undertook a highly detailed competitive benchmarking exercise, and examined successful premium brand practices from the point of market entry to the present day. Based on this information, our research team identified current and future “white space” opportunities and made multi-pronged strategic recommendations on brand image, product features, specifications, and advertising strategy.

Results: The client was prepared to undertake a successful evolution of its brand image and products and to increase its market share and volume in a very challenging mature market.

Case Study – Economic Impact Analysis

Quantifying a Company’s Economic Impact to Policymakers

Challenge: A global high-tech manufacturer needed to educate policymakers on its contribution to the U.S. and E.U. economies, arising from both its manufacturing operations and the productivity gains attributable to the widespread use of its technology.

Solution: IHS Consulting combined both traditional input/output impact models with growth economics frameworks to produce a comprehensive assessment.

Results: The client was able to demonstrate that its business had stimulated the creation of over 820,000 jobs and influenced 1.1% of GDP in the United States. In the European Union, the corresponding findings were 330,000 jobs and 0.4% of GDP.

Case Study – Regulatory Compliance Service

Competitive Advantage through Regulatory Risk Management

Challenge: To manage regulatory risks associated with multibillion-dollar investments, an oil and gas super major commissioned IHS Consulting to develop a comprehensive compliance management system.

Solution: In collaboration with the client, IHS Consulting developed a robust software solution tailored to an end user’s needs. We populated the system with all applicable laws and standards and conducted detailed regulatory analyses to identify critical requirements.

Results: The IHS Consulting system has been used and updated by the client as an enterprise-wide application since 1999. End-users have reported these key benefits:               

• Significant reductions in direct costs
• Operational efficiency improvements
• Effective change management
• Project schedule adherence
• Getting the right information at the right time

Case Study – Energy Resource Assessment

Screening for European Unconventional Gas Opportunities

Challenge: A mid-size independent E&P had created a successful unconventional gas business in North America and was looking to replicate that success in Europe. However, the client needed to understand the nature of the UCG opportunity in Europe.

Solution: We identified potential shale gas and coal-bed methane resources in Europe where existing technology in use in North America could be applied. Using IHS information, research and published sources, we systematically analyzed all significant European basins. We also reviewed the macroeconomic, political and investment climates of candidate countries, to enable an overall opportunity ranking.

Results: Our analysis enabled the client to develop a clear picture of the opportunity and its potential value, which informed their UCG investment strategy.

Case Study – Energy Strategy Support

Formulating a Regional Gas Business Strategy

Challenge: A Russian independent wanted to create a regional gas business in an area where it had significant oil production.

Solution: IHS Consulting developed a strategic road map for the client, outlining seven distinct strategic alternatives, their full value chain considerations, their main value drivers and risks. For each alternative, we presented a rigorous economic risk evaluation, so the client could better understand the impact of uncertainties in gas resource potential before committing major investment funds.

Results: Our report enabled the regional business unit and corporate headquarters to align on a regional gas business strategy and to redirect exploration resources and gas plant investments to support the new strategy.

Case Study--Cost Performance Improvement

Extending the Field Life of Mature North Sea Offshore Platforms

Challenge: A client with mature offshore platforms in the North Sea needed an in-depth understanding of OPEX and cost drivers for maintenance facilities to estimate the remaining field life of their assets.

Solution: IHS Consulting developed detailed lifecycle OPEX forecasts and identified cost drivers, using OPE$T™, our proprietary OPEX modeling tool.

Results: Our analysis enabled the client to develop an optimum field modification program that extended the remaining field life by 20%. We identified cost reduction opportunities through improved contracting and quantified the impact of the Carbon Credit Regime & Water Discharge Regulations on OPEX.