What industry trends and tech developments are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s show?

I’m eager to see innovations in AI-ready data centre infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainability. With AI adoption surging, managing decoupling power consumption from data centre growth is critical, and I expect to see advancements in AI-driven asset management, liquid cooling and predictive analytics.

From our perspective at Schneider Electric, we’ll be showcasing our new Galaxy VXL UPS, an ultra-compact and high-density power protection system for AI data centres.

Additionally, we’ll be demonstrating our AI-optimised reference designs co-developed with NVIDIA on show, which enable high-density AI clusters to be deployed at scale.

Finally, our EcoStruxure solutions will demonstrate how AI can be leveraged for energy intelligence, helping businesses scale their digital infrastructure while reducing environmental impact and improving efficiency.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry in 2025?

The rapid expansion of AI-driven workloads is putting immense pressure on data centre energy consumption, requiring innovative solutions to improve efficiency.

One major challenge is decoupling AI data centre growth from rising power demands while maintaining sustainability. Retrofitting legacy data centres for AI-ready infrastructure, addressing cooling challenges and ensuring resilient power architectures is crucial. Finally, a shortage of a trained workforce presents operational risks, making solving the skills gap a key priority.

Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration across the industry to develop scalable, flexible solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and support the future of AI-driven digital infrastructure.

What excites you most about your industry right now?

The intersection of AI, digital infrastructure, and sustainability is transforming data centres into a facilitator of renewable energy and intelligent automation.

AI, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and IoT-enabled remote monitoring are also revolutionising how we optimise energy use and reduce downtime.

The development of liquid cooling technologies, advanced power management and AI-ready architectures is paving the way for more efficient and sustainable operations.

At Schneider Electric we’re focused on bending the energy curve by integrating smart energy strategies, demonstrating how AI-powered applications can drive decarbonisation and redefine the future of data centre operations at scale.

Why is it important to bring industry professionals together at events like this?

Events which bring the full breadth of the digital infrastructure ecosystem together are vital for fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing and innovation.

As AI and sustainability reshape the industry, bringing together experts, decision-makers, and innovators helps accelerate progress. These gatherings enable discussions on emerging technologies, best practices and solutions to shared challenges, such as energy efficiency and AI adoption.

They also provide a platform for unveiling cutting-edge advancements, for example we at Schneider are showcasing out end-to-end AI-ready solutions and sustainable infrastructure developments.

By connecting professionals across the ecosystem, we can drive meaningful change, ensuring that data centres evolve in a way that is both technologically advanced and environmentally responsible.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to newcomers joining the industry?

Embrace continuous learning and innovation. The industry is evolving rapidly, driven by AI, sustainability and digital transformation. Staying ahead requires adaptability, collaboration, and a willingness to both engage with early talent while exploring emerging technologies and sharing best practices.

 

Welcome to the new era of data centres, where AI drives innovation but demands a shift toward energy efficiency and sustainability—join Mark Yeeles for key insights on navigating this transformation.

Date: 12th March

Stage: Keynote: Global Strategies, People, Environment & Innovation

Time: 11.05am – 11.30am