Top 5 questions to accelerate your AI revolution in 2025

Successful AI implementation hinges on making the right infrastructure choices early. You can accelerate your AI revolution by critically evaluating infrastructure readiness before investing, ensuring genuine business transformation rather than disappointment.

Despite CSIRO research showing 68% of Australian businesses have already implemented AI technologies, adequate infrastructure remains a critical barrier to realising its full potential. Overdriving underpowered infrastructure can create unsustainable operational risks that dramatically increase energy consumption.

The five critical questions you should be asking

To accelerate your organisation’s AI revolution, ask these five essential questions when evaluating infrastructure investments:

1. Is your infrastructure agile enough to support evolving AI workloads?

The most transformative AI implementations leverage edge computing to process data closer to its source. This approach delivers the agility required to scale your AI revolution by strategically blending cloud and edge resources.

Your organisation likely faces significant latency challenges due to geographic distance from major cloud regions. Micro Data Centres at strategic edge locations enable local processing for time-sensitive AI applications. By distributing workloads between centralised data centres, cloud resources and edge locations, you can accelerate your unique AI transformation.

Your team’s ability to implement and manage these technologies is also just as important as the technology itself. Creating a culture that supports continuous learning, and adaptation will be essential as AI workloads evolve and your infrastructure needs change.

2. Does your power infrastructure support AI’s intensive energy demands?

Your technology team faces unique challenges with AI’s power requirements. Current systems likely lack the computational capacity and sustainability features needed for AI workloads, which demand 5-10 times more energy than traditional computing.

Schneider Electric’s energy procurement services help you source and manage the increased power requirements for AI. At the same time, its liquid cooling systems improve efficiency in heat-intensive AI environments, with Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) measurements as low as 1.03 in optimal conditions compared to traditional cooling methods.

With the belief that implementing AI shouldn’t require trade-offs between performance and sustainability, Schneider Electric’s energy procurement strategy is designed to empower you to cast off caution and to AI with intent across your hybrid infrastructure. At the same time, energy-efficient solutions like Smart-UPS Ultra with lithium-ion batteries offer a 50% lower carbon footprint than lead-acid alternatives.

Remember that your AI revolution depends on the human as much as the artificial if it is to deliver on its promise. Your energy strategy must account for both technological needs and your organisation’s sustainability goals.

3. Can your security framework protect AI data while meeting ANZ compliance requirements?

Your organisation faces distinctive regulatory requirements that impact AI implementation. Data sovereignty laws and the Privacy Act create challenges that require security solutions tailored to regional needs.

Schneider Electric’s NetBotz provides environmental monitoring and physical access control, while EcoStruxure IT Expert delivers real-time threat detection. Together, they address both physical and cyber vulnerabilities specific to ANZ compliance requirements.

Effective security also requires skilled personnel who understand both the technological and human elements. Your security framework should account for your team’s expertise and training needs to ensure they can effectively manage AI security risks.

4. Will your infrastructure scale efficiently without compromising sustainability goals?

Energy considerations represent a critical challenge for your AI implementation. Research shows 48% of businesses report positive Return on Investment (ROI) within the first year of implementing AI solutions. However, energy costs significantly impact these gains.

Successful AI implementation requires infrastructure designed for your unique requirements while supporting sustainability. This foundation must balance performance needs with environmental responsibility, and it must tread a fine line to succeed.

With each organisation’s AI revolution following a unique path, you must evaluate whether infrastructure solutions genuinely support your specific use cases and regional requirements while aligning with sustainability commitments.

As such, your leadership approach to creating sustainable AI infrastructure will set the tone for your entire organisation. By demonstrating commitment to both performance and sustainability, you can inspire your team to find innovative solutions that balance these priorities.

5. Does your proposed solution provide end-to-end integration from edge to cloud?

The marketplace has become saturated with “AI-ready” solutions that fail to deliver genuine capabilities. This “AI-washing” marketing creates significant barriers for your AI revolution.

Fragmented approaches create operational complexity and limit the effectiveness of your AI initiatives. End-to-end integration between edge computing resources, data centre infrastructure and cloud services is essential for seamless AI operations.

According to research, while 68% of Australian businesses have implemented AI, many struggle to realise its full potential. Organisations that successfully accelerate their AI revolution will create optimal conditions through strategically designed hybrid IT environments.

Your team’s ability to work across traditionally siloed departments is essential for successful end-to-end integration. Creating cross-functional teams with clear communication channels can help ensure your AI implementation is truly integrated across all components.

From vision to reality: thriving in your AI era

Your AI revolution is a human-led transformation that requires a careful balance of technological capability and human expertise. By implementing modular hybrid IT solutions specifically designed for AI workloads, you can create an environment where both your technology and your people can thrive. To learn more about powering your AI revolution with confidence, download our interactive guide to AI-ready hybrid IT infrastructure solutions.