Looking back to move forward: Lessons from AMP7 as AMP8 begins

At Sensat, we work closely with water companies and their delivery partners to help visualise, manage and share infrastructure data, making complex programmes easier to understand and deliver.

With AMP8 now officially underway, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on what we saw across AMP7 and what those experiences tell us about where things are heading next.

Delivery pressures rose, and so did expectations

AMP7 put delivery teams under pressure to hit ambitious targets. But it wasn’t just about outputs anymore. Public scrutiny grew, with media attention focusing on missed targets, pollution events and infrastructure spend. (Source: The Guardian)

Now, as we move into AMP8, we’re seeing teams go beyond simply getting things over the line with even higher targets. There’s even more focus on how teams collaborate, involving stakeholders earlier, using visual data to build shared understanding, and working more openly across organisations.

Silos stunted progress

One thing we heard time and again was that decisions were made too late. Information got lost between teams. Knowledge was not being shared; the same surveys carried out multiple times, site visits happening multiple times due to missed measurements or not having the right information to hand. All of this adds up to efficiency drops, additional rework, and costly delays.  

On projects involving asset owners, consultants, contractors and more, fragmented communication often meant critical details slipped through the cracks.

In AMP8, that has to change. And we’re already seeing signs of progress. Teams are shifting to shared visual data environments, real-time monitoring, digital workflows and connected scheduling tools, helping enable clearer conversations, fewer mistakes and quicker decisions.

The tools are here, but the mindset shift is still catching up

AMP7 didn’t see consistent adoption of digital tools. While some early adopters experimented, investments were often made in silos, with different teams or regions adopting tools independently rather than as part of a coordinated digital strategy.

This has to change in AMP8; Ofwat has made innovation a clear priority. But this isn’t just about buying new technology, it’s about using it to fundamentally rethink how delivery happens. (Source: Ofwat)

The biggest gains won’t come from layering digital on top of old workflows. They will come from redesigning those workflows entirely. The teams who use digital to drive change, rather than simply replicate old habits, will see the real benefits.

Rebuilding trust means showing your work

The water industry is facing a trust challenge, and AMP8 presents a fresh opportunity to rebuild consumer confidence. Trust in the sector has been shaken by recent events and headlines, making it even more important to demonstrate transparency and accountability. But this requires more than just hitting technical targets; it demands transparency at every stage of the asset lifecycle, from decision-making to final outcome.

In AMP7, public scrutiny increased, with the media focusing on pollution events and missed targets. As we move into AMP8, water companies must embrace transparency. Technologies like IoT sensors and real-time water quality monitors are enabling greater visibility, helping to inform the public about water safety and pollution levels. For example, Wessex Water and Southern Water now use real-time monitoring to keep swimmers informed (Source: The Guardian).

Additionally, organisations like Surfers Against Sewage have pushed for more clarity on sewage discharges, highlighting the need for more open communication. But transparency is only part of the solution. Water companies now have access to more catchment-wide data than ever before, and by working closely with local communities, they can identify pollution hotspots, take targeted action, and ultimately reduce the number of spills. AMP8 is an opportunity for the sector to show its work more transparently; helping rebuild trust by demonstrating how decisions are made and ensuring clearer communication with the public.

What AMP7 taught us:

• Start earlier: Projects that accessed high-quality data early were better able to de-risk construction and reduce late-stage rework.
• Work together, not in sequence: The best outcomes came from shared environments and open conversations between clients, consultants and contractors.
• Don’t just buy tools: Change behaviours. Digital transformation only works when people trust the tools and use them to make real decisions.
• Trust is built on transparency: The sector needs to prove it can be open about performance, not just talk about results.

As we move into AMP8, there’s a real opportunity not just to meet targets, but to rethink how delivery works.

We’re already seeing what’s possible when teams work more visually, more collaboratively and more transparently. Now it’s about making that the norm.

Want to talk about what this looks like in practice? Get in touch. We’d love to share what we’re seeing.