Schneider Electric Innovation Summit North America: Powering and Digitizing the Economy

Nov 19, 2018 11:05 AM ET

BOSTON, Mass., November 13, 2018 – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, hosted more than 1,200 customers, partners, suppliers and influencers at its latest Innovation Summit, November 13-14 in Atlanta, Georgia. The event brought together Schneider Electric experts and world-leading industry thought leaders to share insights and bold ideas on the challenges and opportunities of powering and digitizing the economy.

Schneider Electric Innovations Unveiled for North America

This year’s Innovation Summit World Tour includes 20 events across the world, doubling the previous year’s program. Innovation Summit North America explored the convergence of automation, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as discussed the value of digital transformation on critical applications and infrastructure across more than 45 expert learning sessions, strategy talks and panel discussions. Attendees heard a keynote by Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Schneider Electric's chairman and CEO, and engaged with Schneider Electric partners and users to discover real-world applications and experiences that impact businesses’ digital economy.

Schneider Electric showcased its latest developments to EcoStruxure™, its IoT-enabled, plug and play, open, interoperable architecture and platform. EcoStruxure delivers enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability and connectivity. The platform leverages advancements in IoT, mobility, sensing, cloud and cybersecurity to deliver innovation at every level, from Connected Products and Edge Control to Apps, Analytics and Services. EcoStruxure has been deployed in more than 480,000 sites, with the support of more than 20,000 system integrators and developers, connecting more than 1.6 million assets under management through 40+ digital services.

With a 19,000 square-foot Innovation Hub, Schneider Electric provided on-site demonstrations of its newest EcoStruxure products and solutions. Major EcoStruxure developments and innovations showcased at the Summit included:

  • EcoStruxure Power: IoT-enabled enhancements to strengthen power management capabilities with advanced monitoring and analytics, as well as to improve operational safety, reliability and efficiency.
  • EcoStruxure Machine: Improvements to deliver advanced smart machine solutions, including product connectivity, edge control, tracking and monitoring.
  • EcoStruxure IT: Cloud-based solutions for improved monitoring and visibility across the entire data center ecosystem.
  • EcoStruxure Grid: Enhanced microgrid solutions to maximize onsite renewable energy penetration and simplify power management.
  • EcoStruxure Buildings: New offerings to fortify occupant engagement, optimize space utilization better and empower personalized environments.

In addition, Schneider Electric announced the winner of its eighth edition of Go Green in the City, the company’s international student case study competition focusing on developing innovative energy solutions for smart cities. In August, Schneider Electric announced the competition finalists that will compete in the final round of the competition. Each finalist presented their case study to a jury composed of members of Schneider Electric's senior management, with the overall winner selected and announced during the Summit.

Bold ideas for the digital economy

“The booming digital economy is driving change at an unprecedented rate. At the same time, we’re facing challenges to generate cost savings and become more efficient, sustainable and competitive,” said Annette Clayton, CEO & President, Schneider Electric North America. “Technologies such as IoT, AI and big data analytics are helping companies in every industry innovate and welcome this disruption. In designing Our Innovation Summit, we created an experience that will help unlock opportunities to overcome those challenges and make measurable improvements in your businesses.”

During the two-day event, customers, partners and suppliers attended Strategy Talks on the trends shaping the digital economy including “The New Energy Landscape,” “Digital Grid,” “Power Distribution Redefined,” “Data Centers & Microgrids” and “The Energy Transition – Disruption & Opportunity.” Schneider Electric hosted Expert Learning Sessions with its stakeholders, delivering concrete customer successes, solutions and interactive discussions between participants. Topics included the effect of co-innovation, cybersecurity and edge computing across industries such as healthcare, industrial automation, consumer packaged goods and smart buildings.

Additionally, Schneider Electric invited global influencers from CNBC and the Wall Street Journal to host panels on key industry issues. CNBC’s Contessa Brewer moderated a panel on IoT with leaders from Energize Ventures, Deloitte, Darktrace, the Carlyle Group and the State University of New York to discuss the problems stopping the U.S. from achieving a sustainable energy system to meet society’s new demands, and how innovation can help. The Wall Street Journal’s Rob Sloan led a panel on industrial automation with executives from Carollo Engineers, Georgia Power, Delta Systems and ExxonMobil to explore how Industrial IoT impacts business productivity and efficiency today.

The Innovation Summit North America featured the company’s growing network of strategic digital alliances, technology partners and start-ups. More than 20 partners were represented, including Microsoft, Accenture, IBM, Faith Technologies and Dynamic Energy Networks that complement Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure solutions.

For more information about Innovation Summit North America, please visit: https://www.schneiderelectric.us/en/about-us/events/innovation-summit-north-america/.

Find out more about Schneider Electric’s sustainability commitments: https://sdreport.se.com/en/

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.

www.schneider-electric.com