A Time for Industrial Superheroes: GE Digital User Conference 2020
Every year we set out to host a thought-provoking, peer networking event for the best industrial minds across the globe. Right now, it’s not easy to step away from the everyday challenges the global pandemic has introduced into our workplaces, and we’re honored many of our customers chose to spend their time with us last week. We knew 2020 would bring different obstacles as we transitioned our annual user conference to a virtual event; but we also hoped the new format would introduce new perspectives and opportunities. And, it did.
It was our pleasure to host more than 1,300 customers, almost 40 industry analysts, and more than 100 alliance partners from 107 countries. Our goal with this event was to bring together our customers and partners to tell their stories on how our software is helping them solve problems and deliver outcomes. Our software helps our customers boost production of critical goods in response to COVID-19, enables the global increase in renewables, and helps utilities mitigate the challenges of extreme weather. Our customers are who took “center stage” as the real industrial superheroes. We were honored to have 30+ customer presentations across a variety of industries share their stories of resiliency and innovation with our audience. These real-life stories show the power of putting industrial data to work.
Throughout our time together we shared our road map for a digital future that is both achievable and scalable. I can say with confidence that our teams are working each day to help our customers’ vision become a reality. Customers are always at the forefront of what we do. We’re listening carefully, and we’re making investments in the areas they need the most. We launched a number of new products at our Conference including Visual Intelligence from the Grid Software team, OPM for Power Generation, and an integrated Digital Plant release that covers Proficy Operations Hub 2.0, iFIX 6.5, Proficy Historian 9.0, and Proficy Plant Applications 8.2. Hundreds of attendees took advantage of our virtual networking and exhibit hall featuring our new products hosted by our product experts who make it all possible.
Finally, the User Conference gave us an opportunity to recognize and shine a spotlight on some of our customers who have inspired us with their creativity, innovation, grit and resiliency. Our award winners are keeping the lights on around the world, making sure essential goods are on shelves, maintaining critical infrastructure, and extracting resources responsibly.
I want to extend my personal congratulations to each of our 2020 Digital Innovator Award winners.
Future-Ready Award
Sonelgaz (SPE) investments in remote monitoring and commitment to digital transformation have led to best-in-class maintenance cost management.
Excellence in Manufacturing Award
Procter & Gamble is employing a centralized data approach to improve performance, reduce costs and provide a foundation for analytics and optimization across the enterprise.
Visionary Award
Suncor ‘s 4.0 vision for digital transformation has focused on operational excellence, capital discipline and sustainability leadership.
Reliability & Resiliency Award
Florida Power & Light (FPL) was recognized for managing mission critical systems using remote collaboration tools.
Excellence in operations
New York Power Authority (NYPA) used laptops as their only tools to keep analysts and managers connected from home executing tasks that are usually performed onsite at the monitoring center. 16 power plants and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines remained safely serving the community.
Digital Transformation Award
Air Asia is recognized for leveraging the latest technologies in automation, big data analytics, predictive maintenance, machine learning and artificial intelligence to become an industry leader in 4.0 digital transformation.
It has been a year that’s demanded creativity, leadership, commitment and heroics. You learn who you are when the pressure is on. Successful leaders are resilient, they create competitive advantage by streamlining their systems and processes, and by building sustained capabilities within their organizations. For us at GE Digital, it’s been an opportunity to streamline our own systems and processes, to create a lean culture and underscore our commitment to continuous process improvement. And this extends to our customers. It’s been our honor to support them – with the power of our products and the enterprise of our people.
We leave the conference committed, as always, to our customers’ success. No matter what the next year holds we will be here with you along your journey.
If you missed the conference or want to check out any of the highlights from the event, visit our User Conference webpage for more information