A partnership to support the growth and expansion of data centres in APAC

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Even as AI is predicted to become 15 to 20 percent of data centre workloads by 2028, cloud and services providers (C&SP) are fast responding to the changing landscape by expanding their footprint-and rethinking their facilities-to thrive in a new digital boom. As these workloads require higher power densities, C&SPs in the Asia Pacific region (APAC) are expanding their current capacity in areas where they're established but are also planning to build and launch new hyperscale facilities and edge sites.

These edge sites are becoming a more prominent pillar for C&SPs' digital infrastructure platforms. Strategically located in proximity to critical telecommunications infrastructure, these edge sites form regional digital hubs, enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate their technology to SaaS providers and cloud platforms.​ They help bolster support, drive innovation, efficiency, connectivity, and growth more easily through enhanced access to digital services previously uncatered for.​

So how can leading regional C&SPs realign their operations to make these aggressive growth plans a reality?

Innovative design and engineering are needed to build performant data centres

Those wanting to build highly efficient and sustainable data centres across a vast regional footprint are attempting to deliver data centre capacity in increasingly shortened lead times. With such diverse client requirements across APAC, data centre architecture needs to meet every customer's demand profile without compromising on quality and reliability.

Repeating successful deployment of edge sites across these geographies requires mutualistic relationships with technology partners who are reliable, transparent and responsive. These partners must innately understand how sustainability and business model innovation are key points of differentiation because these C&SPs' reputations are on the line in an aggressive and risky regional market.

As C&SPs continually look for markets to penetrate while balancing technological disruptions and the demands of shareholders, they also need to meet the sustainability imperative in several key areas:

• Design: Only the latest technology can help C&SPs reduce energy usage, improve environmental controls and our impact on the environment.​
• Operations: Data centre operations need to maximise the designed intent, be it PUE, WUE, waste, and/or emissions.
• Compliance: C&SPs need to comply with all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements relating to energy and the environment.​
• Education: Every C&SP professional must be given the blueprint on how they can contribute towards reducing their impact on energy usage and the environment.​
• Reporting: Internal and external communications on environmental issues and transparent reporting on environmental performance to ​stakeholders must be maintained.

If a technology partner could deliver an integrated solution that resolves many of these challenges for C&SPs in any APAC site, imagine how this impacts delivery times, cost projections and launch dates. Such a technology partner can deliver compelling solutions that impacts the contributions and working experience of many data centre stakeholders, including specifiers, contractors, panel builders, systems integrators, IT solutions providers, electricians, and more.

How does seamless integration impact APAC C&SPs?

First, more efficient data centres directly impact OPEX

Even as contracted utilisation rates struggle to match billing customer utilisation, direct costs from power and consumables, which in some cases have risen by over 90 percent, continues to hammer on revenue and profitability. In this context, cost management is critical to accelerate the transition to growth and profitability. Our unparalleled expertise in data centre design and efficient power solutions unlocks OPEX cost savings, de-risks C&SPs' growth plans and optimises your fleet for profitability.

Second, better revenue performance directly affects enterprise-wide compensation and benefits

As we are at an inflexion point amid the AI revolution, there are significant greenfield opportunities to capture across APAC. Capturing these opportunities delivers multi-pronged benefits encompassing more efficient operations, a lower environmental impact, happier customers, and more profitability business-truly a win-win for all stakeholders.

The ability to meet and even exceed performance metrics like safety, power usage effectiveness (PUE) and HR performance can be overcome with a comprehensive suite of solutions from a single vendor that works in tandem, and not in silo, across a C&SP's whole fleet.

Schneider Electric is recognised as the number one supply chain leader by Gartner and the only one in the sector to receive "A-List" status for all three separate ESG awards by S&P Global; our know-how in this area plays a pivotal role in helping C&SP decision-makers achieve diverse performance targets.​

Third, an integrated solution includes professionals who provide critical cultural intelligence for success

To navigate the complexities and achieve success in global operations, companies must develop cultural intelligence and implement strategies tailored to local contexts.​

While ANZ business customs often lean towards directness, practicality, equality and informality, it's important to recognise that preferences may vary within the culturally diverse APAC region.​ For example, countries like Malaysia tend to be more hierarchal and feature a strong sense of group affiliation.

Schneider Electric's network prides itself in building a longstanding presence in markets like Malaysia and Thailand for over 30 years. As a result, our professionals are able to provide critical advice to empower C&SP platers with invaluable insights and competitive pricing for seamless data centre construction.​

Schneider Electric's expertise in constructing AI-ready data centres makes it the ideal partner in advancing C&SP's AI-focused strategies

Read our white paper on the challenges and guidance for data centre design in view of AI disruption. This white paper is the first of its kind for the industry and it describes the relevant attributes and trends of AI workloads and resulting data centre challenges for every physical infrastructure category including power, cooling, racks and software management.

The new reality for APAC C&SPs begins now

As APAC C&SPs prepare to seize regional opportunities, the right technology partner can relieve the daily core responsibilities for important decision-makers like Chief Experience Officers and alleviate additional challenge of meeting sustainability targets.

We are the ideal partner for C&SPs with bold plans for APAC that feature a strong focus on business and environmental sustainability. Get in touch with me today to begin a discussion on how we can partner to achieve your ambitions for the region.

Until then, we've got one more resource for you-view our exclusive Innovation Talk Webinar to get up to speed on how C&SPs can prepare for AI-ready data centres.

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