There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence adoption is on the rise, especially amongst smaller and mid-level companies who are looking to follow in the footsteps of their larger counterparts. The Global McKinsey Survey, released in May 2024, revealed that 65% of respondents’ organisations were harnessing Generative Artificial Intelligence, more than double the figure from the previous survey ten months ago in July 2023.
While the benefits are undeniable, AI Adoption can be an expensive affair, even for those who at first appear to have planned their investment accordingly. According to Gartner, CFOs of companies looking to integrate AI into their systems revealed their AI expenditure estimates were off by as much as 500 to 1000%.
There are two key elements to keep in mind where initial AI spending is concerned. Firstly, its rollout and experimenting starts out as a rather expensive investment but costs eventually begin to even out. However, operational expenditure eventually increases as a higher number of employees begin using AI.
Now, data centres are driving this adoption by supporting several basic, key elements of AI processes. To successfully bear this workload, however, data centers themselves have had to adapt, and they must now:
- Provide scalable infrastructure/high density racks to support AI workloads that consume much more power compared to conventional IT workload.
- Offer Advanced Immersion Cooling and temperature maintenance to deal with the rising temperatures that are a by-product of AI systems’ enormous power consumption.
- Increase security, encryption and their ability to process and store sensitive data from AI systems that are facing more stringent regulatory compliances.
- Minimize the environmental impact and regulatory compliance risks of the infrastructure, by implementing the best practices and standards for energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, data protection, and waste management.
This is where the agility and adaptiveness of data centre infrastructure gains even more prominence. Undertaking a complete overhaul or revamp of a data centre’s equipment and architecture is not only time-consuming but also an additional expense on top of already rising costs.
Fortunately, the right partner can help eliminate the need for this tedious and expensive process by meticulously maintaining the existing data centre infrastructure. This involves:
- Extending the lifespan of existing hardware equipment (server, storage, network), thereby empowering data centre operators to derive maximum value from the infrastructure at their disposal.
- Proactive monitoring for IT hardware can significantly reduce mean time to repair, as opposed to traditional monitoring that only reacts after issues have already surfaced.
- Repairing, Reusing and Recycling equipment with the help of spare parts and systems that prevent degradation and drastically reduce environmental impact and carbon emissions.
When deployed in tandem, these maintenance procedures can reduce the operational complexity and burden of the data centre. This frees up internal IT staff to focus on core business functions and strategic initiatives. Meanwhile, end-to-end managed services ensure optimal design and deployment of the infrastructure while helping avoid pitfalls such as overprovisioning or underutilisation.
AI integration becomes a much simpler and streamlined process when aided by the latest maintenance and monitoring practices that empower companies to accomplish it at minimal costs. Data centres use tools and platforms that help SMEs monitor and optimise their AI performance, such as cloud-based platforms that offer easy and affordable access to AI solutions. Additionally, AI management platforms also enable businesses to manage and monitor AI solutions from a single dashboard.
The quickest, most convenient, and affordable way to obtain these benefits is with the help of a well-rounded, capable Third-Party Maintenance (TPM) partner. When choosing a TPM partner, businesses must select a partner that can provide:
- Multi-vendor support: Allows for more flexibility and choice in selecting the best hardware and software solutions for business needs.
- Global coverage: A TPM provider that has a global presence and network can ensure organisations receive consistent and reliable service across locations and regions.
- Security and compliance: A TPM provider that follows the industry standards and best practices for security and compliance can help protect data and systems from unauthorised access and breaches.
- Customization and flexibility: The right partner can tailor its services and solutions to specific IT needs and preferences for optimal IT performance and efficiency. Flexible contract terms, service levels, and pricing options can also help you reduce IT costs and risks.
- Customer service and satisfaction: A provider with dedicated and responsive account management, a skilled and experienced technical team, and a proactive and transparent communication approach.
In conclusion, data centres are primed to play a critical role in the popular adoption of AI workloads by reducing various costs. However, data centre operators must pay careful attention to the infrastructure and architecture of the data centres already in place. By collaborating with the right IT partners, AI and data centres can continue to develop a mutually beneficial relationship that powers GenAI while addressing some of the most pressing concerns around it.
