The Future of Aviation: Insights from Aerogility’s Leadership Team
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The aviation industry is undergoing rapid change, driven by new technologies, evolving customer expectations, and an emphasis on sustainability. To gain insights into these developments, we held a roundtable with Aerogility’s leadership team. They shared perspectives on emerging trends, the role of AI in enhancing the industry, and strategies for navigating transformation. Below, they provide expert advice and foresight into aviation’s future.?
Roundtable Participants:?
Emerging Trends in Aviation??
Q: Gary, as CEO, how do you see Aerogility’s role in helping aviation companies adapt to current industry changes? What are some of the biggest shifts you’re watching, and how do you plan to address them??
I think all the old challenges continue as before and we have a few new ones. The airline business is always going to be intensely competitive and getting the business strategy right is critical to the commercial future of the airline. The Covid pandemic, the challenges of net zero, and all the recent technical challenges faced by the manufacturers in the industry compound the complexity of these decisions and the dramatic effect of unexpected events.??
All these challenges apply to the Defence industry equally and sit on top of the fundamental challenge that we need to be agile and move faster in responding to rapidly changing geo-political threats in the near term. In the longer term, the overall defence procurement process must be optimised in the face of tremendous pressure on budgets and affordability, and central to this is properly understanding the whole asset lifecycle from design through to retirement.??
What has changed over the last few years is that executive leadership in both the Defence and Airline industry recognise that they need better solutions to understand the future impact of their decisions, plans, and management policies and that AI and digital transformation is central to meeting these goals. Data driven analytics like machine learning has been ground-breaking and really helped to accelerate this strategic development.???
One of the biggest shifts we're also witnessing is the increasing need for innovation, not just within established companies, but from new, tech-driven players. As highlighted in McKinsey's recent report, A Rising Wave of Tech Disruptors: The Future of Defence Innovation, start-ups and commercial hyperscale in Europe and the United States are positioning themselves to fulfil critical needs that complement the traditional industrial base. These tech disruptors are helping fill capability gaps where traditional defence contractors may struggle to adapt swiftly enough. This is particularly true for sectors like aviation, where operational efficiency and responsiveness are paramount.?
To address these shifts, we are constantly innovating our solutions to ensure they remain adaptable and tailored to the changing needs of the industries. Increasingly, we at Aerogility are seeing the benefits of our trusted relationships with clients who recognise the value we bring.
We are winning the argument that model-based AI is not only explainable but essential for safe and confident decision-making. Our simulation digital twins and AI-augmented tools have already proven their worth, empowering our clients to tackle strategic, multi-million-dollar decisions with clarity and insight.??
Technology-Driven Customer Experiences?
Q: Patrick, what best practices does a company like Aerogility employ to ensure that customers not only adopt the technology smoothly but also experience ongoing improvements in their operations? How do you maintain a client-centered approach throughout the lifecycle of the relationship??
During the on-boarding phase, the Customer Success Team are fully engaged, ensuring that we are delivering the value our customer has seen during the sales cycle and the roll out of the platform is smooth. Also, during this phase, we are gaining a detailed understanding of our customers' operations and exactly how they intend to use the platform. This better positions us to help guide our end users on how best to use the tool to its full potential that aligns with their needs, both now and in the future.
We continue our support throughout the lifecycle with regular reviews that ensure we are on track with our commitments as well as reviewing the value that is being delivered to them.????
With a dedicated Customer Success function one of our responsibilities is to ensure our customers' needs are at the center of everything we do. Being close to each customer and continually listening to how they are using the platform allows us to identify additional improvements that could be made to deliver additional value to our customers. Additionally, each of our customers joins our Customer Community where best practices can be shared amongst customers, each customer can suggest new features for the tool, and they can also vote for features raised by other customers. This ensures that every one of our customers has a say in the future roadmap of the product.?
AI and Innovation?
Q: Simon, AI has been a game-changer within the industry. Could you elaborate on how Aerogility’s AI capabilities are driving innovation in this area? Specifically, how is AI transforming predictive maintenance and operational efficiency??
AI is being employed in diverse ways within aerospace, and through two angles in particular in aiding resilient, optimised maintenance planning to cut costs and carbon emissions while improving asset availability and reputation. First, there are narrow, tactical applications of AI in monitoring the condition of individual assets and extrapolating patterns to predict when and with what costs they would best next be maintained to maintain effective operation.??
Beyond and building on that, there is increasing use of AI at a broad, strategic level. Here, questions concern an enterprise's whole set of assets, such as multiple fleets of aircraft and the component parts that they comprise, along with the diverse constraints affecting their maintenance: varying operational demands, the capacity of MRO facilities, skilled personnel and their training needs, available spares and supply chains, unpredictable faults and large-scale events, etc.
While basic predictive maintenance may recommend an asset's servicing at a particular time, that doesn't mean either that the maintenance capacity will be available at that time or that it is optimal when considering the whole lifetime of an asset or sufficient availability of assets in a fleet at any given time.??
It is very challenging for any manual process to account for these complex multi-year future demands and constraints in determining how to support a fleet of assets, while the current reality also constantly shifts, and that is why applying AI makes sense. An AI tool can reason on vast quantities of interconnected data and enterprise-level constraints to provide the information needed for strategic decisions.?
Aerogility exploits this kind of AI for both planning - deciding how, where and with what resources to optimally maintain fleets of assets over their lives - and forecasting - playing out the multi-year consequences of strategic decisions into uncertain futures to see how KPIs may be affected and where resource shortfalls may lie. The user can test out different what-if scenarios to test different choices, e.g. which provider should I take a contract with, and situations, e.g. how well would we manage if there were another pandemic???
AI refers to a range of technologies and it is important to choose the right tool for each task, and to be aware that failures in applying AI by others may be due to poor choice. In the realm of predictive maintenance, reliability of AI predictions is key and, particularly at the strategic level, transparency is also critical: not only knowing why an option is being recommended or outcome forecast but being able to see the justification for this.?
Commercial Insights?
Q: Andy, what are the key factors driving client demand, and how is Aerogility positioning itself to meet those needs??
The key factors driving client demand in the aerospace and defence sectors, where Aerogility operates, focus primarily on the need for improved operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, digital transformation, and cost optimisation. Here’s a breakdown of these factors and how Aerogility is positioning itself to address these needs:?
Operational Efficiency and Fleet Availability??
Client Demand: Clients in aerospace, particularly fleet operators and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) providers, are focused on maximising fleet availability and minimising unplanned downtime. Ensuring aircraft or defence assets are mission-ready is crucial, and this relies on optimised maintenance schedules and streamlined logistics.??
Aerogility's Positioning: Aerogility leverages AI-driven simulation and modelling to create digital twins of fleet operations. This helps clients anticipate maintenance needs, manage parts and logistics, and optimise scheduling. By providing a predictive, real-time overview of fleet health, Aerogility enables operators to proactively address issues before they lead to downtime, ensuring higher availability and readiness.??
Predictive Maintenance and Asset Life Extension??
Client Demand: Predictive maintenance is a major focus as aerospace companies look to extend the life of their assets and reduce the costs associated with reactive repairs. By identifying potential issues before they become critical, organisations can significantly reduce maintenance costs and increase asset longevity.???
Aerogility's Positioning: Aerogility’s AI and machine learning capabilities are designed to support predictive maintenance through advanced analytics and forecasting tools. The platform uses historical and real-time data to model future performance and failure points, allowing clients to anticipate and schedule maintenance before issues occur. This not only extends asset life but also reduces unexpected maintenance costs.??
Digital Transformation and AI Integration??
Client Demand: Aerospace and defence companies are undergoing digital transformations to stay competitive, improve decision-making, and handle complex logistics. Integrating AI for scenario modelling, data analytics, and real-time decision support is essential for modern operations.??
According to a recent Deloitte survey, 81% of respondents from the aerospace and defence industry reported that they are either already using or plan to use artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technology in the near future. This highlights the growing reliance on AI/ML to navigate industry challenges and seize opportunities for improved performance and competitiveness.?
Aerogility's Positioning: Aerogility’s platform is inherently digital and integrates AI at its core. Its scenario modelling and simulation capabilities help organisations visualise potential outcomes of various operational decisions. By offering a modular, scalable platform, Aerogility supports the digital transformation journey of its clients, enabling them to handle complex logistics and resource management with greater agility.??
Cost Optimisation and Sustainable Operations??
Client Demand: Cost control is a perennial priority, especially in sectors with high operational expenses like aerospace. Additionally, the push toward more sustainable operations are leading companies to adopt strategies that reduce fuel consumption, minimise waste, and optimise resource use.??
Aerogility's Positioning: By offering tools that optimise maintenance scheduling, spare parts inventory, and operational decision-making, Aerogility helps clients cut unnecessary costs and reduce resource consumption. Its simulation models allow for cost-benefit analyses that support sustainable practices, such as fuel-efficient route planning and waste minimisation in maintenance processes.??
Compliance with Safety and Regulatory Standards??
Client Demand: Aerospace and defence companies must meet stringent safety and regulatory standards, often requiring thorough documentation, accurate maintenance records, and effective risk management strategies.??
Aerogility's Positioning: Aerogility supports compliance by providing a detailed audit trail of maintenance activities, decision-making processes, and operational outcomes. Its platform allows for precise tracking and documentation, making it easier for clients to meet regulatory requirements and maintain high safety standards.???
Aerogility is positioning itself as a forward-thinking, AI-driven solution that addresses critical pain points in the aerospace and defence sectors. By focusing on predictive maintenance, digital transformation, cost optimisation, and regulatory compliance. Our solutions align closely with the evolving needs of our customers, helping them achieve greater operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and readiness in a competitive industry.???
Leadership Advice for Navigating Change??
Navigating change successfully as a leader means more than just steering the team toward a new destination; it requires guiding them with empathy, clarity, and resilience. By balancing with adaptability and empowering team members to contribute, leaders can create a more resilient organisation capable of thriving in a constantly changing world aviation is advancing quickly.??
Looking ahead to the upcoming 2025, what strategies would you recommend for aviation leaders to remain adaptable and responsive to future changes??
Simon, head of AI at Aerogility, emphasises that to support adaptive decision-making, leaders must identify and address key points of frustration within planning and forecasting teams.
Speaking as a technology developer supporting the planning teams of our customers, I suggest it is important to identify points of frustration in those providing the long-term plans and forecasts on which high value decisions are being made and seek appropriate technology to mitigate that. The lack of comprehensiveness and reliability in planning work will often be very apparent and there may be day-to-day struggles with complicated spreadsheets in siloed departments working at cross-purposes. Technology exists that can address all these issues and means that strategic decisions can have a sounder footing and be updated promptly as circumstances change.
The care that needs to be applied is in knowing that software fully addresses what you need, rather than creating different hoops to jump through, is well-tailored to your domain, as generic domain-agnostic software will always omit something important, and has the reliability and transparency to ensure you can take decisions with confidence.
Patrick, head of customer success at Aerogility, also highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement in successful change management. He notes that listening to stakeholders across all stages of a process ensures a well-rounded understanding of their needs and frustrations.??
It is all about the stakeholder engagement and ensuring the pain points from everyone are fully understood. Taking the time to listen to all the stakeholders in a process gives you a clear picture of what issues or improvements that need to be addressed and identify where the most benefits can be realised.
Therefore, when a ‘change’ comes along, for example introducing a new piece of software, it can be properly assessed against the pain points and clearly shows each stakeholder how the product can help them. This increases their commitment to the roll-out as they can see the benefits specifically for them and is the best way to maximise those benefits.
In summary, aviation leaders who effectively balance technological advancements with meaningful stakeholder engagement are best equipped to navigate the changes ahead. By investing in customised solutions that meet specific needs and fostering consensus through authentic collaboration, leaders can cultivate a resilient and adaptable organisation that thrives in an industry marked by continuous innovation and transformation.?
Call to Action: Is your operation prepared to embrace the future of aviation? Discover how Aerogility can assist you in navigating the challenges of digital transformation and staying ahead of the competition. Connect with our experts today to learn how we can help you achieve new levels of operational excellence in the aviation industry.?
About Aerogility
The Aerogility platform has been designed from the ground up to help aerospace and defence professionals like you optimise your operations and plan for virtually any future. From how you maintain your aircraft and reduce costs to how you plan for the far-distant future and explore the boundaries of innovation — Aerogility is the decision support tool for modern aviation!