Intelligent Data Centres Issue 20 | Page 23

INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE POWERED BY THE DCA
systems . It is using Smartia ’ s flagship product , MAIO , an industrial intelligence technology , to not only measure , monitor and manage data from critical sites such as data centres , but also to improve efficiency and manage risks using industrial AI / ML algorithms .
Similar to what Google did , industrial AI experts at Smartia looked at operational and performance data from one of its customers , a major data centre in the UK , and was able to model complex relationships between IT infrastructure variables and the real-time PUE . Currently , in order to optimise energy usage , data centre operators need to make physical changes to live infrastructure .
However , using Smartia ’ s capabilities , changes to live infrastructure and their effects on energy usage can be simulated before making any actual changes , eliminating massive operational risks . In the near future , there are plans to scale the system using MAIO and roll it out to additional data centres .
Next-generation AI-enhanced DCIM tools need to first address the immediate challenges faced by data centres while preparing them towards a digital mindset .
Of all the use cases described above , the biggest pain points for data centres remain improving efficiency and managing risks .
As mentioned , AI / ML can make a positive impact across a lot of key areas .
However , data centres are still adapting to new technologies . Essentially , nextgeneration AI-enhanced DCIM tools need to first address the immediate challenges faced by data centres while preparing them towards a digital mindset . Smartia , a UK-based Industrial AI technology company is leading the charge on that front .
Founded in May 2018 and having been celebrated as one of the UK ’ s most trailblazing AI companies by Digital Catapult in 2019 , Smartia has now been listed in the top 10 AI start-ups to watch out for globally in 2020 , by Tech Domains .
A leading UK manufacturer of precision cooling systems is partnering with Smartia to develop the next-generation tools for remote monitoring and autonomous optimisation of its data centre cooling
Over the next five years , the number of mobile users is expected to increase from 3.8 billion to 5 billion and the number of Internet of Things ( IoT ) connections is set to double from 12 billion to 25 billion . Evidently , the demand for data and digital services is set to drive an exponential growth in the demand for data centres .
To tackle the ensuing challenges around sustainability , efficiency and risk management , data centres need to continue evolving and so do the DCIM tools that support the industry . Efforts to improve efficiency and manage risks will eventually reach a point of diminishing returns .
While AI will enable innovative solutions to traditional problems , the industry needs to openly embrace it before they can solve the bigger challenges . ◊
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