Schneider Electric, the global leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Microsoft India came together to host a virtual event ‘Buildings of The Future: Smart to Autonomous’ centred around creating secure and resilient buildings during a crisis. The session explored key differentiators which building management should embrace to facilitate cost optimisation, energy savings and safety of occupants. Technology intervention can make critical requirements like contactless management, predictive and remote operational efficiency, real in today’s environment. Led by Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India; and Anil Chaudhry, Zone President & Managing Director, Schneider Electric, India; and moderated by Bidisha Nagaraj, Vice President-Marketing, Schneider Electric India – the fireside chat delved into various facets of creating a resilient, secure and energy-efficient buildings. With IoT and AI enabling contactless management, remote operational efficiency and monitoring services – performance, safety and health of buildings become practical and viable. The future of buildings will encompass a smarter ecosystem through data management, empowered by software and analytics and technology-driven platforms. The talk explored how Microsoft and Schneider Electric, especially in the current scenario, have adapted to customers’ and partners’ expectations and supported employees. From building an inclusive, flexible communities to focussing on mental well-being of employees to skilling, reskilling and training, accelerated by digital platforms – both Microsoft and Schneider Electric have braced themselves during the crisis and responded efficiently. Schneider Electric and Microsoft have brought IT and OT and AI together to create a seamless and secure AIoT-enabled platform providing customers the tools they need to build resilience in these challenging times. Powered by Microsoft, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Building Advisor, EcoStruxure Power Advisor and Workplace Advisor are intelligent tools that enable condition-based monitoring and maintain power network operations along with building HVAC systems, while teams are operating with reduced strength or off-site.The partnership between the two companies will catalyse the expansion of digital capabilities; enable tools and platforms to build economic resilience; provide real-time insights for efficient and secure operations; make data-driven decisions; and allow taking disruptive measures for business continuity.Talking about the engagement with Schneider Electric, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, “In today’s world of remote everything, technology is playing a central role in building economic resilience. Technologies like AI, IoT, big data and machine learning are helping businesses transform, adapt and drive business success by providing real-time actionable insights for efficient and secure operations. Our collaboration with Schneider Electric reflects our commitment to help organisations build the digital capability required to pivot toward recovery and accelerate digital success for India.” Teams can continue making data-driven decisions, using powerful diagnostics to anticipate potential malfunctions in electrical and HVAC equipment. Microsoft’s technology that powers this platform gathers data from sensors to create parallel digital twins to drive insights, is scalable and can integrate with any digital environment. It helps in digitising power and building management systems, increases remote service capabilities, controls costs, and maintains operations when resources are low. “Building owners, operators, and facility managers in critical facilities, such as data centers, hospitals, and airports, today face a daunting task of keeping operations running smoothly at maximum capacity, with minimum resources and this can be only achieved through digitisation and the right use of technology. Organisations today need to become more resilient and adapt to disruptive measures to ensure business continuity,” said Anil Chaudhry, Zone President & Managing Director, Schneider Electric-India. Here are the highlights from the session:Partnership with Microsoft will strengthen our digital capabilities and help in offering higher resilience to partners and customers.Focus on partnership-based trust between Microsoft and Schneider Electric to build green, secure, safe and sustainable buildings.Partnership is core principle of sustainability and digitisation.Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure and Microsoft’s MS Azure will bring solutions to our buildings and real estate partners, allowing real-time data and insights.Buildings of the future will allow contactless operations and maintenance, ensuring security and safety of people.Integrating technologies into buildings will offer a seamless experience to occupants.The pandemic has led to big shifts within organisations. Cybersecurity will play a pivotal role in enabling the ecosystem.Digitisation enabling connect with 25K+ customers, virtual training, enhanced touchpoints with partners and customers, and redefining productivity, during the crisis time.Launch of Tomorrow Rising Fund to support communities.Expansion of offerings on our e-commerce platform.The event also highlighted measures to optimise operational efficiency without compromising on comfort and safety, discuss preventive checks on assets with digital tools and predictive maintenance of assets nearing breakdown and share insights around safeguarding premises from cybersecurity threats.