NEWS
Findings from latest BCS data centre survey reveal supply chain disruption
NEWS n optimistic sector with record levels of respondents
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( 98 %) seeing demand either maintained or increasing was an encouraging finding from The Winter Report 2021 / 22 , which is undertaken by independent research house , IX Consulting , and commissioned by BCS ( Business Critical Solutions ), the specialist services provider to the digital infrastructure industry .
It captures the views of over 3,000 senior data centre professionals across Europe , including owners , operators , developers , consultants and end-users .
However , despite these findings – the highest levels of confidence since the survey began 14 years ago – there are real concerns within the industry about how to deliver this capacity against a backdrop of a shortage of key skills and the ongoing disruption in the supply chain . In fact , 91 % of respondents had experienced some issues over the past 12 months . Disruptions were felt the hardest among our build professionals , with 69 % of developer / investor respondents and 62 % of design engineering and construction respondents reporting that they had experienced significant supply chain volatility in 2021 .
“ These well documented supply problems have led to delayed deliveries and higher prices ,” said James Hart , CEO at BCS . " They are widespread and there is a general reduction in the supply and the reliability of supply visible in our sectors . There are massive dislocations in the container market , shipping routes , ports , air cargo , trucking lines , railways and even warehouses . The result is shortages of key manufacturing components , order backlogs , delivery delays and a spike in transportation costs and consumer prices .
“ COVID-19 has not only exacerbated these issues but has also brought about a shift in how we look at current supply chains . Certainly , more companies and governments are reviewing their supply chains for critical items , with a mind towards security of supply as well as cost . Our expectation and recent experience is that supply chains are already shortening as a response , either via reshoring , or as companies try to diversify their sources of supply . We at BCS are helping clients through this process and have mapped supply chains associated with the deployment of data centres .”
Digital business boom drives Equinix ’ s investment in 10th Paris data centre
quinix , the world ’ s digital infrastructure company , has announced a new International Business Exchange
E data centre in Paris , France . Part of Equinix ’ s Saint- Denis campus , the new site – named PA10 – will be the 10th data centre opened by Equinix in Paris over the course of 20 years . It will provide global and local businesses and partners alike with the ability to connect directly and securely to the world ’ s digital economy , via comprehensive digital ecosystems . growth of the local digital economy and Digital Transformation strategies . The latest Global Interconnection Index ( GXI Vol . 5 ), an annual market study published by Equinix , reveals the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the French economy into digital overdrive , with digital leaders moving four times faster than prepandemic levels .
Multiple sustainability initiatives are planned for PA10 , including a heat recovery technology project to recover energy from customer equipment and transfer it to the urban heating network , and in turn , heat the local community swimming pool .
The rooftop of the new site will be home to a greenhouse of 430 m ² in which fruit and vegetables will be grown . A hydroponic system aims to reduce water consumption by using a water recovery system and only irrigating the cultivated areas . The greenhouse will also utilise the heat recovery technology in place at PA10 . The rooftop garden will help retain rainwater and reduce the amount of water directed to the sewer , in addition to reducing waste heat emissions .
The development of PA10 is part of Equinix ’ s ongoing commitment to the French market , further supporting the
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