Future of successful businesses relies on their digital transformation

Digitalisation changes everything because it connects all processes and provides a complete result, notes Petr Hermann, Schneider Electric Cluster President, Southeast Europe, in an interview for the Balkan Green Energy News. Data use and process digitalisation are among the key factors of efficiency, energy saving and CO₂ emission reduction.

“The next ten years are crucial in the transformation of the way we consume energy. Schneider Electric strongly believes that a solution is in a more electric and digital world, as power is the fastest way to a cleaner, smarter and more efficient energy. If we strive for net-zero by 2050, we need to act fast right now,” said Petr Hermann.  He added that Schneider Electric could be a reliable partner for everyone ready for this transformation. “Our wide range of products, software, and services, together with consulting in the area of energy efficiency, sustainability and cyber security, make us a reliable partner to users who aim to improve their operational efficiency, safety and sustainability.

SM AirSeT, a medium voltage switchgear for commercial and industrial facilities using pure air technology instead of SF6 gas, is an example of a step further in offering green products. By launching this new technology, we have made a key step forward in power grid decarbonisation. The number of sites using it has constantly been increasing, including networks of private industrial and commercial users,” noted Hermann, adding that the latest proposition of the EU policy revision, referring to the switch to green power technologies, will speed up the transformation further.

Many leading innovative companies locate their global hubs in SEE because of well educated workforce

According to him, smart digital technologies are already widely available, providing huge opportunities. “What remains to be seen whether people are ready to manage change and focus on rapid digital transformation,” added Hermann.

Southeast Europe is highly attractive for companies in the tech sector. “An interesting trend is that many leading innovative companies in the world locate their global hubs in Southeast Europe, because they can find well educated workforce there. Schneider Electric has strong commercial presence across the region and systematically invests in its commercial centres for research and development, production, and global expertise in that region.”

Schneider Electric: Together, we’ll make a sustainable impact 

20 years of Schneider Electric in Serbia

Schneider Electric has been present in Serbia for 20 years and currently employs more than 1,000 people here. Hermann underlines the relevance of Schneider Electric Hub in Novi Sad, where around 900 engineers among other software’s are developing ADMS, the most advanced smart power distribution solution in the world. During two-decade-presence in Serbia, Schneider Electric assisted large number of companies improve their business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

In Southeast Europe, we see a strong need for modernisation of most elements of the energy infrastructure

As energy networks, as well as markets, are already well interconnected across Europe and as we all encounter global issues, all countries in Europe have similar challenges. In Southeast Europe, we see a strong need for modernisation of most elements of the energy infrastructure. From increasing power production and going green, to digitalisation of the overall power distribution, to more efficient use of power in consumption. Also, there is a trend of growing entrepreneurship in the energy market. For instance, power users are becoming producers, selling extra power produced to a network.

As the global leader in solutions for power management in smart homes, Schneider Electric systematically collaborates with local standardisation agencies, design offices and expert installation businesses

Herman additionally pointed to growing demand for smarter, more sustainable, and safer houses and apartments. “People expect their homes to be connected via all available technologies. To have all systems optimised, because then they can be easily controlled from any location at any time. Sustainability is becoming a standard of living. People want their homes to have a positive environmental impact, be supplied with green energy, with optimised consumption, be able to charge electric vehicles. There should be no compromise with safety. Technology is expected to meet high design standards. We see growing demand for smarter, more sustainable, safer, and nice homes across Europe, but the rate of the existing houses and apartments with solutions that meet demand varies significantly. On one hand, there are many new development projects including smart technologies, matching all high standards, in Southeast Europe. Unfortunately, on the other, there are still many households with power installations that do not even meet the basic safety standards. For instance, there are still many bathrooms or children’s rooms that are not properly equipped with the basic power protection. As the global leader in solutions for power management in smart homes, Schneider Electric systematically collaborates with local standardisation agencies, design offices and expert installation businesses. We inform and train them in all new technologies that can improve safety and sustainability and thus enhance quality of life. In fact, we see this as important part of our mission,” says Hermann.

Serbia is important for Schneider Electric

Serbia’s success in development goes hand in hand with Schneider Electric’s success in Serbia. Exceptionally developed education, progress in digitalisation and innovation, better quality of life, business operations meeting high ethical standards, sustainability everywhere – those are all shared interests of Schneider Electric and Serbia. As I mentioned before, in Serbia, in Novi Sad, there is the Schneider Electric Hub, where software solutions for sustainability and efficiency for the whole world are developed. This is highly significant for our large and very innovative Serbian team, concluded Petr Hermann, Schneider Electric Cluster President, Southeast Europe.