Compass Datacenters Finds its North Star for Navigating Change though Collaborative Innovation

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Schneider Electric™ knows that innovation is what enables companies to surge ahead of the competition — and so does Compass Datacenters. By adapting collaborative strategies that have worked for other industries, Compass and Schneider Electric are changing the way data centers approach the data center lifecycle, from the design and build phases to operation and maintenance and, ultimately, decommissioning.

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Undeniable pressures on the data center industry — such as the exponential increase in digitalization, artificial intelligence, and supply chain challenges — are accelerating the technological advancements needed for data centers of the future. Thanks to collaborative innovation with Schneider, Compass can meet the surge in data demand faster and more reliably, delivering accelerated speed-to-market services. That means end-user customers can grow more quickly and, through data-driven services, meet their expectations for increasing data-processing, storage, and delivery needs.

Together, Compass and Schneider are pursuing faster, more resilient data center solutions for the world.

Let’s take a closer look at how Schneider has eased some of the industry pressures:

Despite rapid changes across data center physical infrastructure, the industry has not fundamentally changed the way data centers are serviced. In fact, servicing models have remained largely the same for the past 30 years. Most data center builders buy their hardware, deploy their infrastructure, and then, about 10 months into manufacturer’s warranty, start thinking about services. That model simply won’t work anymore.

Given the dynamics of the market today, the industry must start thinking differently and learn from other use cases, such as the way jet engines in the commercial aviation industry are serviced. Years ago, this industry shifted from using a calendar-based approach to maintenance to a condition-based approach. What that means is that they now tap into the power of data analytics and data insights to know when maintenance is actually needed instead of servicing based on a predetermined date.

Scheduling service based on what the data says is much more cost effective and accurate than time-based maintenance cycles. It allows operators to reduce planned downtime and unplanned downtime since humans entering the data center raises the greatest risk.

The additional benefit of cost optimization cannot be overstated. By integrating a service-ready solution during the design phase and by significantly reducing the frequency of preventive maintenance interventions for the system and equipment of the modular data centers, Schneider’s condition-based approach to serving can deliver substantial cost-saving benefits amounting to an estimated 20% reduction in service costs.

Against this backdrop, Schneider Electric and Compass Datacenters have innovated services in the form of EcoCare, a forward-thinking way of enabling this shift from calendar-based maintenance to condition-based maintenance using predictive analytics. The growing amount of infrastructure in need of servicing today will propel an increase in servicing cost. At the same time, a massive workforce shortage threatens the industry. Turning to a condition-based servicing model that takes a multi-systems level approach to servicing (instead of asset by asset), therefore, will solve for both challenges.

Schneider and Compass have been working together over last few years to develop and finetune this new approach to operating and maintaining Compass Datacenters. As a co-creator and early adopter of EcoCare next-generation membership services plan, Compass is leading the way of changing the industry’s approach.

Not only did Schneider shift Compass Datacenters from a calendar-based maintenance approach to a condition-based one at the system level, they also changed their approach to service in the design phase. This new approach contrasts to the old way of servicing — that is, waiting until after hardware is deployed and coming out of warranty. Designing for condition based-maintenance so it can implemented in the build phase and deployed on day 1 of startup/commissioning enables that crucial shift from reactive to proactive servicing — an important change in mindset that helped drive down TCO. 

Old vs. new approaches to data center servicing
Traditional, reactive approach to servicing:
Start thinking of services after hardware is deployed
and at end of warranty period.
Deploy a calendar-based approach or on-demand
approach to maintenance.
Rely on non-connected preventative maintenance-based
contracts or on-demand reactive maintenance.
 
New proactive approach to servicing:
Design for system-level condition-based maintenance in
the design phase of lifecycle to enable a fully connected system level analytics value.
Adopt a proactive asset management approach
for greater cost optimization and system reliability.

With this new approach, Compass is realizing a 40% reduction of interventions vs. a traditional approach, as well as a 20% reduction in OPEX saving compared to a traditional calendar-based maintenance contract.* These savings were realized from integrating Schneider’s service-ready solution in the factory, equipment maintenance, and the use of the Connected Service Hub for monitoring support.

What’s more, by using advanced analytics to determine the condition of the assets and how the assets are working together in the system, Schneider and Compass can make better servicing decisions.

There is no question that data center demand is growing at an unprecedented pace. In its recent market analysis, Goldman Sachs found that, “[G]lobal data center power demand is poised to more than double by 2030 after being relatively flat between 2015-20.”

Pre-fabricated data centers, for example, give data center owners the ability to build faster to meet escalating customer demand. When generative AI opened the floodgates of rising demand for computing power, the data center industry accelerated efforts to meet the need. Accordingly, Compass Datacenters is actively working on an in-depth study with Schneider to get a quantified analysis of Compass’s prefab module vs. stick-build in the context of OPEX, CAPEX, and sustainability

As a leader in the pre-fabricated modular data center market, Compass leverages several advantages of these fast, flexible, sustainable, energy-efficient modular data centers — not to mention their agility in accommodating future growth. Accordingly, Compass has partnered with Schneider on a $3 billion, multi-year contract. In addition to accelerating build time, pre-fabricated data centers promise the following benefits as well, including:

  • Reduced waste: Waste is significantly reduced compared to building a data center on-site because of the vertical integration between the designers of the data center architecture, the procurement teams that obtain the components, and the assembly teams that put everything together in the factory.
  • The ability to right-size: Pre-fabricated modular data centers don’t require the renovation of an existing building or the construction of a facility that might be far too large for current requirements. The modular route provides right-sizing, so the data centers run at peak efficiency. The pre-fabricated choice also enables companies to scale their data center footprint in a modular, only-pay-for-what-you-need approach, thus not wasting resources.
  • Supply chain: Organizations not only want to know about the sustainability efforts and carbon footprint of their suppliers, they also want to follow the supply chain down to the companies that provide components to their first-tier suppliers. By their inherent nature, pre-fabricated data centers allow for this transparent tracking.  
  • Remote monitoring and management: Another key component of sustainability efforts is the capability of conducting remote monitoring and management of the data center with advanced software. This means that organizations don’t need to send IT staffers to a remote location to troubleshoot a data center because it can be handled remotely from a central management console. Remote monitoring capability also helps data center teams keep an eye on energy efficiency.
  • End-of-life reuse: Pre-fabricated modular data centers can last a long time, but everything reaches its end of life at some point. Prefab modular data centers can be taken off-site, and the components can be recycled or disposed of in a sustainable manner. There are also circumstances in which changing business conditions might render a modular data center expendable. In this case, the data center could be reused somewhere else.
  • Improved quality: Building a pre-fabricated data center in a factory under ISO9000 processes offers greater quality, less rework, fewer resources, and optimized testing. Schneider employees are trained to the specifics of building these prefab units vs. local (and different) contractors doing the work in the field.

Schneider has always been committed to transforming industries through the power of innovative collaboration. Compass Datacenters shares this same mindset. “We are extremely grateful for the unwavering support and unparalleled expertise that Schneider Electric has already provided in supplying us with pre-fabricated data center power rooms,” said Chris Crosby, CEO, Compass Datacenters. “Our collaborative efforts will allow us to meet the increasing demands from our customers to deliver cutting-edge data center solutions in an innovative manner.”

Indeed, through innovative collaboration with Schneider Electric, Compass Datacenters has found its North Star for navigating change across the data center industry, standing out as a model for others.

*Schneider Electric data, based on a 2-year observation within a 4-year contract, on a sample of 78 EcoStruxure Modular Data Centers in Compass facilities

About the author

John Muscatello,
Enterprise Account Manager

With over 27 years of experience in the data center space and the last 19 at Schneider Electric, John Muscatello has developed a robust career in both technical and strategic roles. Starting as a Systems Engineer at Schneider Electric, he honed his technical skills and gained a deep understanding of complex systems. For the past 17 years, he has excelled as a Strategic Account Executive, where he has been instrumental in driving strategic initiatives and fostering strong client relationships.
Since 2021, John has been dedicated to supporting the Compass account, utilizing his expertise to address unique client needs and deliver innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency. He is passionate about leveraging technology to drive business success and is committed to helping clients navigate the evolving landscape.

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