AI-powered electrification: shaping the future of an electrified world

At the heart of this transformation are AI-powered monitoring systems. These systems, equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) connected sensors, continuously collect real-time data on network and equipment operating conditions, such as temperature, voltage, and load. In a world where every second counts, this constant stream of data offers utilities an unparalleled window into the health of their infrastructure.

But what does this mean in practical terms? Let’s break it down:

• On the micro level, AI algorithms detect and locate anomalies with pinpoint accuracy. A power line overheating in a remote area or a transformer on the brink of failure can now be identified and addressed before causing widespread blackouts.
• On the macro level, machine learning algorithms analyze large streams of voltage and current data, visualizing where stress points are building up. With this knowledge, operators can balance loads in real-time, preventing overloads and ensuring electricity reaches the right places when needed most.

This new level of insight is transforming how operators manage their networks. Instead of reacting to failures, AI could allow operational teams to anticipate problems, and hence dramatically reducing downtime and improving reliability.

Efficiency at Scale: A Smarter Approach to Energy Distribution

Why stop at predicting failures? AI could also reshape how energy is distributed. By analyzing historical data and predicting future demand, we can imagine that in the future machine learning models would optimize and balance power flows so that electricity is delivered where it’s needed most – and at the lowest possible cost.

This is particularly critical as renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, become a larger part of the energy mix. Unlike traditional power plants, renewables are inherently variable-solar panels don’t generate power at night, and wind turbines don’t spin when the air is still. AI-based flexibility and demand response softwares however, can forecast these fluctuations and adjust  operations accordingly, ensuring that the lights stay on no matter how the wind blows.

A Roadmap to the Future: How is AI already powering electrification ?

A sustainable, electrified future is not a distant vision – it’s being built today and the recent outburst of AI technologies has already allowed Nexans to launch innovations that transform once-opportunities into concrete business breakthroughs for many actors of the electrification value chain:

• Grid operators are now able to build in a few weeks-time digital twin replicas of their physical network out of incomplete and often inaccurate legacy data sources. AI and ML algorithms create highly precise assets connectivity models, enabling the implementation of transformational smart grid programs such as advanced distribution management systems.
• Large electro-intensive industrial companies that rely on critical machinery uptime performance can optimize their capital expenditure and maximize asset utilization by leveraging predictive failure and asset/component obsolescence models, all while effectively managing risk
• Thanks to AI-powered virtual power flow models, datacenter operators or critical building owners aiming at upgrading and modernizing their legacy equipments towards higher capability IT servers and more efficient cooling systems can determine whether their existing power infrastructure (cables, transformers, etc.) still remains fit for purpose.
• Electrical contractors are now provided access to mobile apps with embedded AI computer-vision and augmented reality technology bricks that verify the proper preparation and installation of sensitive components such as medium voltage terminations, joints and connectors in order to ensure long term reliability performance of their infrastructure.

As we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of smart grid technology, partnerships are key to success. Nexans is partnering with an ecosystem of key actors of the sector to enhance the reliability and safety of modern power networks. Such partnerships enable the Group for example to integrate advanced AI-driven monitoring into medium-voltage cables systems, allowing for predictive maintenance, fault detection, and real-time diagnostics of these critical infrastructures.

Toward a Sustainable, Intelligent Future

The electrification industry is standing on the brink of a revolution. With AI at the helm, critical electrical infrastructures are becoming more resilient, efficient, and intelligent.

At the intersection of AI, IoT, and Industry 4.0, we’re entering a new era of electrification – one where power grids and large electrical infrastructures such as datacenters or gigafactories aren’t just networks of wires, substations, machines and robots, but dynamic systems capable of self-monitoring, self-healing, and optimizing themselves.

And while this future is already being realized by pioneers across the industry, some companies are leading the charge. Nexans, with its expertise in both electrification and digital transformation, is at the forefront of this revolution. Through its innovative solutions, Nexans is helping to shape the power infrastructures of tomorrow, ensuring that we not only meet the energy challenges of today but build a smarter, more connected future for generations to come.

4 Sectors Where Augmented Reality is A Game-Changer

Imagine having digital information at your fingertips, layered over your physical surroundings. That’s the power of AR. With real-time data enhancing human capabilities, AR offers a seamless integration of the virtual and physical, and companies across industries are already reaping the rewards.

1. Manufacturing: At Boeing, AR transforms the complex assembly of aircraft by overlaying wiring schematics onto real components, guiding engineers through intricate processes. This reduces assembly time and significantly cuts error rates. Lockheed Martin takes a different approach, using AR in training programs, allowing workers to practice with complex machinery before they ever step onto the factory floor.
2. Healthcare: Precision is critical in the healthcare industry, where a single error can have life-or-death consequences. Medtronic has integrated AR into surgeries, giving doctors real-time data and imaging as they operate, enhancing surgical accuracy. Osso VR has revolutionized medical training, enabling surgeons to practice procedures in virtual environments before performing them on real patients, ensuring greater skill and confidence.
3. Construction Industry: Saint Gobain offers augmented reality headsets that help installers locate and position studs in the correct order. No need to say this is a huge time-saver.
4. Logistics: DHL uses AR glasses to optimize warehouse operations. Workers are guided step-by-step through picking processes, ensuring that items are packed quickly and accurately. This AR-guided workflow has resulted in fewer mistakes, greater efficiency, and faster delivery times – an innovation with massive implications for the global supply chain.

These are just a few examples of how AR is revolutionizing entire industries, but what about its application to electrification? This sector – where even minor mistakes can lead to significant consequences – holds immense potential for AR-driven change.

Here are 4 areas where AR is poised to make an impact:

1. Error Prevention: By overlaying digital data on physical environments, AR can prevent human errors in cable installation and maintenance. It ensures that each task is performed with exacting precision, avoiding costly mistakes and rework.
2. Real-Time Problem Solving: Field technicians can use AR for immediate assessments of critical infrastructure. Whether it’s identifying faulty connections or conducting routine maintenance, AR provides real-time insights, minimizing downtime and improving overall reliability.
3. Remote Assistance: AR could allow experts to guide field workers remotely, offering live feedback as they troubleshoot issues on-site. This could drastically reduce response times and the need for expert travel, particularly in rural or hard-to-reach locations.
4. Enhanced quality and durability of installations: AR allows connections to be systematically checked. Furthermore, documentation is digitized, which improves maintenance. Digital assistance can also be systematically provided, fundamentally changing how installers are trained to use connectors and cables.

Given these potential applications, it’s clear that AR could change the game for electrification. And one innovation leading this charge is Infracheck – a solution that promises to revolutionize how cable management is handled.

Infracheck: Redefining Cable Management

Infracheck, developed by Nexans, marks a significant advancement in cable management through AR technology. This innovative tool allows technicians to verify cable connections instantly using a smartphone or tablet. By capturing images of cable installations, Infracheck overlays real-time data, offering immediate assessment of conformity with technical and safety standards.

The solution’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible for technicians at all experience levels, reducing human error and ensuring precise results. Infracheck not only streamlines the verification process but also minimizes the need for rework, ultimately saving time and resources while enhancing the reliability of critical infrastructure.

With Infracheck, technicians gain the ability to resolve issues on the spot, ensuring high performance and reducing system downtime – a crucial benefit in the electrification industry.

The Future of Electrification: Powered by AR

As AR continues to gain traction across industries, its impact on electrification is becoming more evident. The blend of real-time digital data with physical infrastructure is transforming how we think about everything from cable management to grid maintenance. In a sector where reliability and precision are paramount, AR is providing the tools needed to meet these challenges head-on.

The implications for the future are vast:

• Enhanced Training: AR could revolutionize how technicians are trained, offering immersive simulations that allow them to practice installations and repairs in a safe, controlled virtual environment.
• Improved Safety: AR can also enhance safety by providing technicians with real-time alerts and warnings about potential hazards during installations or repairs, reducing the risk of accidents.
• Faster Maintenance: With AR-guided systems, maintenance work can be carried out more quickly and accurately, minimizing downtime for critical infrastructure and keeping systems running smoothly.

The electrification industry is on the cusp of a digital transformation. With tools like Infracheck paving the way, AR is set to become an indispensable part of ensuring that our power grids remain efficient, reliable, and future-proof.

A New Era for Electrification

AR is no longer a futuristic concept. It’s here, making industries more efficient, safer, and smarter. From improving the assembly of aircraft to enhancing medical procedures, AR is transforming the way we work across the board. In electrification, the potential for AR is immense, offering real-time precision and reliability where it’s needed most. With innovations like Infracheck leading the charge, augmented reality is unlocking the future of electrification—one where infrastructure is not only reliable but also smarter, safer, and more efficient.

The digital and physical worlds are merging, and AR is at the heart of this revolution. Electrification, as we know it, is entering a new era – one where augmented reality drives the future of how we power the world.

Digital solutions are at the heart of this transformation, offering new ways to personalize services, deliver real-time support, and build long-lasting trust. The question is no longer, “What can we provide?” but, “How can we elevate the entire customer experience?” From AI-powered chatbots to data-driven insights and omnichannel experiences, the future of customer service is digital—and it’s already here.

Digital solutions are reshaping customer interactions, making personalization, real-time support, and transparency the new standard in electrification too.

The Electrification Customer of the Future Is Already Here

Today’s electrification customers demand immediacy, personalization, and transparency. Companies are responding with digital channels that offer real-time communication and tailored support. Tools like live chats, interactive demos, and data-driven insights help businesses anticipate customer needs and provide customized solutions.

Digital technologies are now essential for building strong relationships. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, companies can offer relevant solutions, increase engagement, and foster trust—turning routine interactions into meaningful, personalized experiences that drive loyalty.

5 Ways Digital Innovations Are Transforming Customer Journeys

The impact of digital technologies on the B2B electrification space cannot be overstated. These innovations are not just enhancing the customer journey—they are transforming it entirely. Let’s break down some of the most impactful changes:

1. Enhanced Content: Today’s customers are hungry for information, but they don’t want to be overwhelmed with technical jargon. Digital innovations like explainer videos, case studies, and webinars are helping companies present complex ideas in easily digestible formats. These tools provide valuable insights while simplifying decision-making, allowing customers to feel confident in their choices.
2. Omnichannel Experience: Gone are the days when customer interactions were confined to one or two platforms. Now, customers expect a seamless journey across multiple touchpoints—whether it’s through websites, mobile apps, social media, or even in-person interactions. The challenge for companies is to ensure that these touchpoints are not just consistent but interconnected, allowing customers to transition smoothly from one platform to the next without losing context.
3. Data Analytics and Personalization: Data is at the heart of digital transformation. Customer data allows businesses to craft personalized experiences tailored to individual needs. In the electrification industry, this could mean recommending specific sustainable solutions based on a company’s past energy usage patterns or offering tailored reports that highlight opportunities for improving efficiency. By using data insights to deliver relevant, personalized content, companies can strengthen their relationships with customers and improve engagement.
4. Real-Time Interactivity: Real-time support is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Live chats, interactive demos, and virtual consultations are becoming essential tools in the customer service arsenal. These real-time solutions not only build trust but also speed up the decision-making process. In the electrification industry, where the stakes are high, this ability to offer immediate support and guidance is invaluable.
5. Transparency Through Blockchain: Digital technologies like blockchain are also playing a critical role in enhancing trust. Customers want to know that the products they are buying are authentic and sustainable. Blockchain can offer a transparent, traceable record of a product’s lifecycle—from raw material extraction to final delivery. This level of transparency is particularly valuable in industries like electrification, where sustainability and regulatory compliance are top priorities.

Overcoming Electrification Challenges with Digital Solutions

Digital tools in electrification go beyond enhancing customer experience; they tackle key industry challenges like resource scarcity, sustainability mandates, and operational efficiency.

Here’s how:

Revolutionizing Electrification Through Digital Innovation

The electrification industry is at a pivotal moment. As digital technologies continue to evolve, they offer immense potential for transforming how businesses interact with their customers, how they manage resources, and how they address the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions.

From personalized customer journeys to blockchain-powered transparency, digital tools are reshaping every aspect of the electrification landscape. As we look ahead, the question isn’t whether digital technologies will continue to play a role—they already are.

The real question is how businesses can harness these innovations to stay ahead of the curve, meet evolving customer expectations, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Blockchain’s broad impact: A new era of certification

Blockchain’s unique structure allows it to certify and trace products with unparalleled accuracy, making it a game-changer across multiple sectors:

• Pharmaceuticals: Combating counterfeit drugs, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations like the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
• Food safety: Enhancing safety through transparent data sharing, rapid identification of contamination sources, protecting consumers and brands.
• Luxury goods: Protecting against counterfeiting, preserving brand value, providing consumers with confidence in the authenticity of high-end items.
• Aerospace: Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, reducing the risk of accidents and equipment failures.
• Energy: Promoting sustainable practices by tracking renewable energy certification, supporting initiatives to reduce carbon footprints.
• Agriculture: Verifying product standards and traceability, improving transparency and accountability in the supply chain.
• Manufacturing and electronics: Ensuring ethical sourcing, promoting responsible practices, avoiding conflict-ridden regions.

Blockchain is deeply transforming industries by providing enhanced trust, transparency, and safety.

How Nexans will leverage blockchain: A 5-year projection

Nexans is expecting to develop an anti-counterfeiting system and enhance safety and trust across the supply chain thanks to blockchain in the next few years.

Here’s how:

• Registering and encrypting certificates at each stage of a cable’s life cycle—from production to installation: These certificates would be recorded directly on the production chain, ensuring that every key event—whether a sale, change of ownership, or installation—is tracked on a secure, tamper-proof ledger.
• Preventing counterfeit products from entering the supply chain: They can lead to dangerous situations, such as electrical fires or system failures, due to substandard materials and manufacturing. Blockchain solution would help mitigate these risks, protecting both infrastructure and human lives.
• Collaborating with industry partners to drive blockchain innovation further: By partnering with other leaders in electrification and blockchain development, Nexans will contribute to the advancement of safer, more transparent supply chains. As this technology evolves, the company will continue to future-proof its operations, ensuring that blockchain becomes a central part of its strategy for years to come.

Blockchain: A must-have for the electrification industry

Blockchain’s role in certification and traceability extends far beyond its origins in cryptocurrency. Its ability to provide secure, transparent records is revolutionizing industries from pharmaceuticals to agriculture—and electrification is no exception. As Nexans’ anti-counterfeiting system shows, blockchain is enhancing product safety, quality, and transparency across the electrification sector, setting new standards for trust and accountability.

As we look ahead, the electrification industry’s adoption of blockchain will likely expand, ensuring that products and processes remain secure, reliable, and sustainable in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Here are two ways AI is a game-changer in this field.

AI in R&D

Generative AI is transforming how manufacturers design electrification products, rapidly analyzing millions of variables to identify optimal solutions that would take humans years to discover.

For example, companies are using AI to design cables with enhanced fire resistance, flexibility, and recyclability, all of which are essential for the energy transition.

By 2028, the demand for product innovation is expected to drive 50% of major manufacturers to leverage generative AI to analyze engineering archives and uncover new opportunities for existing innovations.

Revolutionizing product development

In another industry, Decathlon uses generative AI in combination with CAD software to introduce eco-design into their bicycle production process.

In the electrification sector, AI could also accelerate the development of sustainable, cost-effective products.

By driving AI-powered innovation, companies can create products that not only meet today’s demands but are also prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

AI is also expecting to play a crucial role in maintaining the infrastructure that supports electrification. The industry depends on vast networks of complex systems—like smart grids, wind turbines, and solar farms—where any malfunction could disrupt energy supply.

Here’s how:

Predictive maintenance in action

By analyzing real-time data from sensors embedded in equipment, AI can predict when machines are likely to fail, reducing downtime and avoiding costly breakdowns.

• Data-driven insights: AI learns from maintenance logs, sensor data, and historical failures to recommend proactive maintenance measures.
• Cost savings: AI-driven maintenance can cut costs by 10-40% and reduce breakdowns by 50%.
• Extending equipment life: AI can considerably extend machinery life, reducing the need for expensive replacements.

Optimizing smart grids

Beyond individual machines, AI optimizes energy grids by managing power flow and detecting faults before they disrupt service. AI can forecast grid demand based on weather patterns, cable conditions, and energy consumption, ensuring efficient power distribution.

For example, the American manufacturing industry generates a staggering 1,812 petabytes of data annually, much of which is essential for running predictive maintenance on critical infrastructure.

Imagine a power grid that predicts an issue with a cable or turbine days in advance. With AI, this kind of predictive power is becoming a reality, ensuring more reliable energy systems.

In electrification plants and factories, high-voltage cables, heavy machinery, and complex workflows can make the environment hazardous if rigorous safety protocols aren’t followed. AI is helping protect workers by identifying risks before they lead to accidents.

Here’s AI’s role in worker safety:

• Incident reporting and analysis: AI analyzes past incidents to detect patterns, allowing companies to identify potential hazards before they cause harm.
• Multilingual capabilities: For global companies, AI can translate safety reports across multiple languages, ensuring consistency in safety practices.
• AI-driven safety simulations: AI can simulate dangerous scenarios—such as electrical fires or equipment malfunctions—to test the resilience of safety protocols in real time.

Factories that use AI to enhance safety protocols have seen 15-20% fewer accidents, as AI systems detect risks that might go unnoticed by human operators. By predicting and mitigating risks, AI plays a vital role in keeping employees safe in hazardous environments.

To effectively sway decisions towards our electrification solutions, crafting compelling content that resonates with the audience’s expectations and level of understanding is imperative.

AI is revolutionizing how companies communicate complex ideas in several ways:

Personalized marketing with AI

AI enables companies to craft messages that resonate with diverse global audiences. It tailors marketing strategies to local regulations, cultural nuances, and even customer preferences.

• Localized content creation: Generative AI produces marketing content adapted for different markets, ensuring compliance with local laws and cultural preferences.
• Real-time adaptation: AI updates marketing messages in real time, ensuring they remain relevant as market conditions change.

Engaging global audiences

Imagine launching a global electrification campaign where AI ensures that the messaging resonates as well in Japan as it does in Spain, while staying true to the company’s values. Nexans, for example, uses AI to create personalized content that speaks directly to customers’ needs in various countries.

Data quality: the foundation for AI-driven success

To effectively sway decisions towards our electrification solutions, crafting compelling content that resonates with the audience’s expectations and level of understanding is imperative.

At the heart of every AI application lies one critical factor: data. AI systems can only be as good as the data they process. In an industry that generates millions of data points across its operations—from customer interactions to equipment performance—ensuring data quality is paramount. Without accurate, consistent, and up-to-date data, even the most advanced AI algorithms can fail.

AI tools assist in cleaning and organizing data, eliminating errors, and filling in gaps. For instance, Nexans used AI to process thousands of technical documents, which helped streamline workflows and improve decision-making across the organization.

Ensuring high-quality data is not just a best practice but a necessity for maximizing the effectiveness of AI in the electrification industry.

The human + AI partnership driving electrification

In every corner of the electrification industry—from designing fire-resistant cables to predicting power grid failures and safeguarding worker safety—AI is making significant contributions.

AI is not replacing human expertise but enhancing it. The future of electrification will be shaped by how well we integrate AI into our operations and decision-making processes.

By combining the power of AI with human ingenuity, we are on the cusp of an electrification revolution that promises a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world.

Nexans has embarked on a transformative journey, leveraging Generative AI not just as a tool for superior data quality but as a catalyst for human-AI collaboration, marking a new era of responsible data excellence. Our experience with Nexans AI has laid the groundwork for this evolution, streamlining operations and empowering our teams. As we integrate Generative AI, our focus on data quality becomes a cornerstone for innovation and efficiency.

By prioritizing data quality and integrating human oversight, we are setting new standards for data excellence. This partnership ensures that AI remains a force for good, driving innovation while upholding ethical standards and human values.

The world of electricity is about to undergo an unprecedented digital transformation similar to what industry has achieved by digitizing all its processes and supply chain in the great wave of Industry 4.0.

Traditional approaches, rooted in linear models of production, distribution, and operations like grid monitoring, are increasingly inadequate to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. These outdated methods fall short in addressing the growing complexities and challenges of modern electrification.

The future of energy management lies in data-driven, real-time monitoring solutions.

Nexans is poised to lead this transformation with cutting-edge technology that enhances grid efficiency, reduces downtime, and generates significant cost savings for utilities. Today, investing in power network monitoring is not just a smart move—it’s essential for the future of energy.

The major challenges of the energy transition are linked to the electrification of the growing demand for electricity, but it will be absolutely impossible to renew and modernize all power grids for reasons of resources, copper, aluminum and expertise. It is therefore imperative to increase the reliability and lifespan of existing grids, and this step is fundamentally linked to the digitization of the grid.

Building an ecosystem that transforms the existing cable manufacturing value chain into an intelligent, sustainable, and resilient electrification landscape is key.

One promising avenue lies in the realm of digital technologies.

A paradigm shift is actually underway. The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced data analytics is reshaping the way we design, manufacture and operate the power grid. This digital revolution offers a unique opportunity to create more efficient, resilient, and sustainable systems.

Digital technologies can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance quality throughout the entire electrical infrastructure lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to grid operations. By leveraging data-driven insights, companies can optimize their operations, identify new opportunities, and respond more effectively to market changes.

Moreover, digital technologies are also revolutionizing the customer experience. Through personalized digital platforms, companies can provide customers with real-time information, remote support and tailored solutions. This not only enhances customers’ ability to take the right decisions, but also fosters long-term loyalty and trust.

As the electrification industry continues to evolve, the companies that embrace digital transformation will be best positioned to thrive. By harnessing the power of data, automation and connectivity, these organizations can drive innovation, improve sustainability and create a more resilient and prosperous future.

Nexans, a leader in the electrification industry, believes that digital transformation is key to unlocking a more sustainable future. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we can optimize operations, improve grid resilience, and address the energy challenges of the 21st century.

Leveraging its decades of expertise, Nexans is highlighting 5 transformative innovations that will enhance customer, partner, and employee experiences while driving the industry toward a circular economy:

From AI to blockchain, digital offers unprecedented opportunities to optimize operations, improve the reliability of electrical grids, and address the energy challenges of the 21st century. By adopting these innovations, companies in the sector can not only strengthen their competitiveness but also contribute to building a more sustainable and intelligent energy future.

Nexans, as a pioneer in the field of electrification, is leading the charge in this digital transformation. By developing innovative solutions and collaborating with key industry players, we are paving the way toward a sustainable energy future.

Nexans’ digital innovations are more than just technological advancements; they represent our unwavering commitment to a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future. With each of these innovations, we are not only addressing the immediate needs of our stakeholders, but also laying the foundation for a circular economy that will benefit generations to come.

Join us on a journey into the future of electrical transmission as we explore the groundbreaking innovations that will redefine the industry.