Pipeline sector leads the energy industry in digital transformation: 85% increase focus on digitalization
The pipeline sector is emerging as the digital vanguard of the energy industry, with 85% of pipeline professionals reporting increased focus on digitalisation over the past year, significantly outpacing the industry average of 74%, according to DNV's Pipeline Insights 2025 report.
This accelerating digital transformation isn't just about keeping pace with technology trends. It's delivering measurable results that are reshaping how pipeline operators manage their increasingly complex infrastructure.
From data to decisions
Modern pipeline networks generate approximately one terabyte of data every single day. While operators have long collected pressure readings and flow rates, what's fundamentally changed is how they use this information. Advanced analytics and machine learning are now identifying patterns and predicting failures in ways that create measurable competitive advantages.
Figure 1: Pipeline sector leads energy industry in digital transformation
The results speak for themselves: 72% of pipeline respondents believe digital technologies have improved their business performance, compared to 66% across all energy sectors.
Leading where it matters most
Pipeline companies are achieving particularly strong impact in critical operational areas. When it comes to data-driven innovation, the sector shows impressive leadership:
- Process optimization: 63% report major impact (vs. 56% industry average)
- Predictive maintenance: 56% see significant benefits (vs. 49% across energy)
- Automated operations: 56% achieving major impact (vs. 45% industry-wide)
Perhaps most striking is the sector's commitment to continued investment: 63% of pipeline organizations plan to increase digitalization spending in the coming year, higher than any other energy segment.
Regional digital leadership
Digital adoption varies significantly by region, reflecting distinct strategic priorities. Asia-Pacific leads with 83% of pipeline respondents citing increased digitalization spending, driven by the need to manage energy infrastructure across vast distances. Europe follows at 61%, with particular emphasis on cross-border integration, while North America demonstrates a more targeted approach at 54%, concentrating investments on proven high-value applications.
The foundation for future growth
This digital leadership creates more than operational efficiency. It's building the foundation for strategic transformation. The capabilities being developed today, from predictive analytics that optimize complex networks to digital twins that model new molecular flows, provide the platform needed for tomorrow's diversified energy systems.
As pipeline infrastructure evolves to transport not just oil and gas but hydrogen, captured CO₂, and renewable gases, digital capabilities become essential for managing increasingly complex operations across multiple molecules and pressure regimes.
Download the full report
DNV's Pipeline Insights 2025 report explores how the sector is navigating complexity, building resilience, and embracing transformation through digital innovation and strategic diversification. The report draws on survey data from 109 pipeline professionals worldwide, global case studies, and expert analyses.
Download Pipeline Insights 2025
About the research: The Pipeline Insights 2025 report is based on DNV's comprehensive Energy Industry Insights 2025 study, which gathered perspectives from over 1,100 senior energy leaders worldwide between February and March 2025.
Author: Sowmya Ponnada - Marketing and Communications Manager
11/27/2025 12:00:00 PM
