As Vice President of Global Services, I see the expansion of the data center industry, driven by AI with digitization at its core. The speed and scope are breathtaking. Between now and 2030, the global installed base of data centers is set to double. Surely, this growth brings opportunity, but it also introduces friction. Aging infrastructure, tight commissioning timelines, volatile climate impacts, and a deepening technician shortage each add complexity individually, but they become force multipliers when combined.
Retrofitting, modernizing, and operating in this environment requires more than process improvement. It calls for a systems-level rethink of service, utilizing cutting-edge technology and approaches that span design through operations. Yesterday’s reactive, calendar-based maintenance won't cut it. New pressures from grid saturation, including renewable and hybrid energy inputs, and addressing asset diversity, demand a shift to AI-enabled condition-based strategies built for this complexity. This isn't just a tech upgrade; it's a mindset shift.
As a baseline, we are embedding telemetry into our design and using predictive analytics to guide operations teams, reduce costs, accelerate readiness, and enhance service quality. While there is a lot of talk about AI in production – and products – we are using it to add value to our services, service centers, and technicians during every interaction. These aren't theoretical gains. In our collaboration with Compass Data Centers, we've cut intrusive onsite maintenance by 40% and reduced operational expenses by 20% all while maintaining industry-leading reliability.
We see systems-level insight as the baseline; service teams must optimize across interconnected digital energy chains, not just individual assets. Without taking a broader view, data center owners and managers increase their risks and experience suboptimal performance because no asset operates in isolation. They are all connected.
Avoiding costly downtime costs and unplanned outages is critical. Even minor outages can cost businesses dearly. The Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) in their 2024 report found that industrial and digital economy firms are collectively losing $45.7 billion per year due to outages. Adding rising regulatory risk to the mix makes the situation even more challenging. If you consider the CRDS imposes fines of up to 5% of revenues for non-compliance, the way forward requires better and more immediate solutions.
Data center teams need validated models, real time data, and deep domain knowledge to align uptime with costs and sustainability goals. That's the work ahead and it's work we can do together.
Explore our latest report for deeper insights into how Data Center Services are shaping the future of infrastructure.
