Schneider Electric: Software Becomes the Key Foundation for Scaling AI in Industrial Applications
Time:2026-07-24 Browse: 0
As artificial intelligence (AI) moves from technological breakthroughs toward large-scale industrial adoption, software is becoming a critical foundation for connecting computing power, energy systems, industrial data, and business operations.
Yin Zheng, Executive Vice President of Schneider Electric, stated that AI cannot achieve real industrial value without software infrastructure. According to him, software is no longer simply an individual product category but a fundamental operating layer that connects the physical and digital worlds.
“AI needs software as the stage to perform effectively,” Yin Zheng said. He emphasized that software must strengthen three key foundations: coordinating computing power and energy, integrating data and industrial systems, and connecting the broader industrial ecosystem.
Software Enables Computing Power and Energy Coordination
The rapid growth of AI applications is creating increasing demand for computing resources, while data centers and intelligent computing infrastructure require significant energy consumption.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that global data center electricity consumption will continue increasing significantly in the coming years, making energy efficiency a major challenge for AI expansion.
Schneider Electric believes that software-driven energy management is essential for solving this challenge. By connecting power systems and computing systems through software platforms, enterprises can achieve dynamic coordination between energy supply and computing workloads.
Traditional power systems and computing infrastructures often operate independently. Software can break down data barriers, enable real-time monitoring, and optimize the allocation of electricity resources according to computing demand.
This approach is particularly important for large-scale computing infrastructure projects, where energy efficiency and operational flexibility directly influence long-term performance.
Intelligent Energy Management Improves AI Infrastructure Efficiency
Schneider Electric is developing software-based solutions that act as both a coordinator and optimizer between energy systems and computing environments.
These solutions support functions including:
Dynamic energy load management
Energy efficiency forecasting
Microgrid intelligent control
Computing workload optimization
For example, at the Guangling Computing Park of Qin Energy Technology’s Datong Super Energy Complex, Schneider Electric provides integrated medium- and low-voltage power distribution solutions combined with lifecycle services.
The solution helps coordinate power supply, computing demand, and energy management, improving operational efficiency and carbon management capabilities.
Yin Zheng explained that when more computing facilities achieve this level of intelligent energy coordination, the overall efficiency potential of future computing networks can be significantly improved.
Software Connects Data and Industrial Systems
Beyond energy and computing challenges, AI implementation also faces another major obstacle: fragmented data and disconnected industrial systems.
Many enterprises have accumulated large amounts of operational data, but this information often remains isolated across different platforms, equipment systems, and departments.
According to Schneider Electric, software plays three important roles in enabling AI adoption.
First, software transforms data from a passive resource into an active production asset. Through energy management and industrial automation software platforms, data from equipment, edge devices, and cloud systems can be collected, integrated, and analyzed.
Second, software platforms eliminate information silos by connecting traditionally separated systems, including research and development, production, energy management, and logistics operations.
Third, software provides the industrial knowledge and operational data required for AI models to function effectively in real-world environments.
Schneider Electric is developing an industrial and energy-focused foundational AI model by combining software capabilities, industry expertise, and operational data to help integrate AI into industrial processes.
AI Applications Demonstrate Real Industrial Benefits
Schneider Electric’s software-driven AI solutions have already been applied in several industrial and infrastructure projects.
At the Shanghai Jiading Waste-to-Energy Plant, Schneider Electric uses integrated hardware and software systems to collect operational data across the entire production process. AI algorithms optimize combustion conditions and energy management, reducing manual operations and alarm handling requirements by more than 90%.
At Shanghai Fulei Library, an AI-enabled microgrid solution integrates photovoltaic power generation and carbon monitoring systems. The project achieved an 88% renewable energy utilization rate and a 70% carbon reduction, becoming one of the world’s first LEED net-zero carbon certified libraries.
These applications demonstrate how software can transform industrial data into actionable intelligence and improve operational efficiency.
Software Builds Industrial Ecosystem Connectivity
In the digital industrial era, no single company can independently solve every challenge across complex application scenarios.
From data centers and factories to buildings, airports, and transportation infrastructure, industrial transformation requires cooperation between technology providers, manufacturers, suppliers, and ecosystem partners.
Schneider Electric’s Shanghai Putuo Factory, recognized as a lighthouse factory, demonstrates how software platforms can create end-to-end digital connectivity.
Through standardized interfaces and open protocols, the factory connects production processes with upstream and downstream systems, enabling real-time collaboration across the supply chain.
With software platforms and AI algorithms, the factory can monitor component availability, optimize production scheduling, and track product delivery status, significantly improving supply chain responsiveness.
At the same time, energy management software helps maximize rooftop photovoltaic utilization, improve operational efficiency, and support carbon reduction across the industrial ecosystem.
Software Drives the Future of Intelligent Manufacturing
Schneider Electric believes that the future of industrial digital transformation will depend on the deep integration of automation software, energy management platforms, and artificial intelligence technologies.
“When automation software and energy management software work together, production efficiency and energy efficiency can improve simultaneously, allowing every unit of electricity and every piece of equipment to create greater value,” Yin Zheng said.
By leveraging its China software development capabilities and global partner network, Schneider Electric aims to support industries in achieving smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable operations.
As AI continues reshaping manufacturing and infrastructure, enterprises are expected to move from passive monitoring toward proactive decision-making, and from reactive analysis toward predictive maintenance.
Software will serve as the essential foundation connecting energy, data, and industrial ecosystems, accelerating AI adoption and supporting the next stage of intelligent industrial transformation.
