Bridging data and AI for success: Why it matters for businesses
In today’s race to harness digital advantage, the debate often centers on where to place the first bet: data or AI? But this framing can miss the point. Data is not just a prerequisite for AI – it’s a strategic outcome in its own right. Its success is shaped by clearly defined business process and their realization in digital systems. When grounded in trust and driven by value, data becomes a catalyst – illuminating pathways to insight, innovation, and impact.
AI can then act as a force multiplier – accelerating the transformation of data into predictive intelligence, operational agility, and automated outcomes. And thus, the real differentiator isn’t choosing between data-first or AI-first – it’s how seamlessly an organization can orchestrate both to drive smarter decisions, operational excellence, and new avenues for growth.
When high-quality data and value-driven AI applications are interconnected, they can empower businesses with a self-reinforcing cycle – where insight drives action, fuels innovation, and accelerates richer data creation. Fostering a data-first mindset with AI literacy results in innovation, which helps navigate complex challenges, such as sustainability and energy management, with clarity and precision.
Bridging data and AI is vital. This article will explore how businesses can strategically bridge data and AI and offer practical approaches and key takeaways for leaders looking to prioritize and accelerate this journey.
For AI at scale, data at scale is essential
To drive AI innovation, businesses need a strong data foundation. AI thrives on large, high-quality datasets that fuel its ability to learn, predict, and adapt.
At Schneider Electric we say “for AI at scale, we need data at scale”.
This ensures data is treated as a strategic asset, and AI capabilities are developed with a strong governance framework. From data collection at the source to its application in analytics and AI, every step in the data supply chain must be trusted, scalable, and transparent.
Trust underpins data practices
Building trust is foundational to the effective use of data and should underscore your responsible data practices from protection to consumption. To achieve this we recommend monitoring the maturity of data initiatives across your data offices, digital systems, and strategic programs. This rigorous approach not only enhances compliance but also builds confidence among stakeholders – both internal and external.
Driving value through use cases
Bridging data and AI is not just about implementing technology; it’s about applying it to real-world challenges. At Schneider Electric, we have over 30 Data and AI use cases in our portfolio, each designed to deliver tangible value.
Fostering interdisciplinary teams and portfolio management
These applications couldn’t work without a close collaboration between data, AI, and business experts and utilizing portfolio management greatly helps in managing these interdisciplinary teams. By centralizing and managing our use cases, we identify opportunities for reuse, innovation, and continuous improvement. This is why robust portfolio management processes are required, ensuring each initiative use case implemented aligns with our delivers value to stakeholders while meeting compliance and governance standards.
Building a learning culture
For organizations to succeed in bridging data and AI, fostering the right skills and mindset among employees is critical. The 3Es framework – Education, Experience, and Exposure – provides a structured approach to building these capabilities:
Education (10%): formal learning methods, including training programs and workshops
Experience (70%): practical, on-the-job activities that reinforce learning through real-world application
Exposure (20%): opportunities to network, collaborate, and gain insights from peers, leadership and industry experts
This balanced approach ensures that teams are equipped to adapt to new technologies, think critically, and work collaboratively across disciplines.
One vision of success: working towards a shared mission of data and AI initiatives
Strategic usage of data and AI can create a competitive advantage for organizations if it’s paired with a meaningful purpose. Data and AI both play a pivotal role in advancing energy and resource efficiency – a top priority for businesses worldwide. At Schneider Electric, we use AI to optimize energy use, integrate renewable energy sources into the grid, and drive decarbonization efforts for us and our customers. This is the filter through which we select our use cases to ensure we deliver customer value.
Data and AI is a powerful combination – it unlocks smarter decision-making, improved customer experiences, and operational efficiencies.
01
Trusted data practices
ensure responsible scalability for data and AI initiatives
02
Portfolio management
centralizing use cases enables reuse, compliance, and innovation, maximizing business impact
03
Skills development
building a learning culture equips teams with the capabilities needed to thrive in a data-driven and AI-extensive world
04
A shared vision and clear objectives
A shared vision and clear objectives unite the worlds of data and AI. At Schneider Electric, we believe that leveraging AI for energy optimization and decarbonization can help businesses align with efficiency and operational goals while driving long-term value.
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