Oriel Soupen, channel manager for Support Sales and SI at Schneider Electric South Africa.
Schneider Electric has announced a ‘re-boost’ of its Alliance Programme, which is branded ‘Alliance Partner Programme – SI Energise’ for 2024 and comes with numerous and compelling additional benefits for participating partners.
The Alliance Programme for industrial automation system integrators (SIs) is a partnership with Schneider Electric with a specific focus on technology and segment certification. It enables partners to not only master Schneider Electric’s technologies, but also become specialists in the different types of applications that the programme offers. Furthermore, the re-boosted Alliance Programme will equip industrial automation SIs with the necessary tools and expertise to grow into industrial technology experts.
Channel manager for Support Sales and SI, Oriel Soupen explains that the re-boosted programme introduces more benefits for partners. The Alliance Programme now refers to competencies, rather than certifications, and offers an increased number of 18 Schneider Electric competencies that focus on the EcoStruxure Plant and EcoStruxure Machine portfolios. “The programme now also offers 10 AVEVA industrial software competencies to industrial automation system integrators. Schneider Electric-owned AVEVA is the company’s industrial software hub,” he says.
Industrial technology experts
The Alliance Programme is a subscription-based partnership that runs for a year and consists of three different levels from entry-level Registered Partners to Certified Partners and Master Partners. In South Africa, Schneider Electric currently has a total of 60 participating industrial automation SIs in the programme, of which two are Master Partners, 16 are Certified Partners, and 42 are Registered Partners. “Advancement within the Alliance Programme is based on four pillars: performance, loyalty, experience and competency. Tthe requirements to move up the tiers vary based on the specialisation or the type of technology the partner is interested in,” says Soupen.
Specific requirements
“There are specific requirements for training in a given technology. and because it is a business-driven programme, there is also a sales commitment based on an agreement signed by Schneider Electric and the partner,” she adds. Participating SIs receive technical support, software packs, access to hardware and subject matter experts, product application engineers and system architects. This is all done to assist the partners and ensure that Schneider Electric stays top of mind. She explains that the Alliance Programme brings a unique value proposition to partners, namely increasing business cooperation between the SI and Schneider Electric to win more projects together. Furthermore, it improves the partner’s technical capabilities so they can become more competitive in the market.
“Not only do SIs get trained on what Schneider Electric’s hardware does, they are also trained on what our hardware is ultimately capable of doing with add-ons. However, it is not just about hardware, we want to throw in the software, the analytics and the services component as part of a full end-to-end solution,” concludes Soupen.
Africa’s net-zero ambition must become operational Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric’s Rohit Chashta argues that the biggest gap in Africa’s green transition is not ambition but execution, and outlines how advisory services, bankable project roadmaps, digital visibility and SF6-free switchgear can turn sustainability commitments into measurable progress.
Read more...Helping mines get results from water improvements
News
South African mines operate under constrained, water-scarce conditions where every investment must be justified. Xylem’s Chetan Mistry explains how the right water technology partner helps mines prioritise high-value water systems across the mining lifecycle.
Read more...Even in autonomous systems, human insight is important Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
As AI, IIoT and digital twins reshape industrial operations, Schneider Electric’s Kobus Vermeulen and Bafana Msibi argue that the operator’s role is shifting from controlling equipment to interpreting intelligence, validating AI recommendations and making decisions that improve
Read more...Designing the modern AI cooling stack Schneider Electric South Africa
Industrial Computer Hardware
As average rack densities in data centres climb from 16 to 27 kW in a single year, Schneider Electric’s Canninah Dladla outlines the six liquid cooling architectures available to operators, seven design factors, and three operational practices that determine energy and water efficiency.
Read more...Software-defined automation is overcoming hardware interoperability limits Schneider Electric South Africa
SCADA/HMI
Schneider Electric’s Kobus Vermeulen and Sydney Higgo explain how open communication standards and software-defined architectures are enabling industrial operators to integrate legacy equipment, new control systems, and cloud platforms without disrupting operations.
Read more...Calcamite partners with Schneider Electric and 4Sight for smart water management Schneider Electric South Africa
Editor's Choice
Schneider Electric, AVEVA and 4Sight OT Automation are helping South African wastewater specialist, Calcamite, digitalise its modular treatment plants through a scalable edge-to-cloud automation platform, with the award-winning Gourikwa pilot now scaling to hundreds of remote sites.
Read more...AI in industry is an early warning system, not a guarantee Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s Paul Steyn argues that AI in industrial maintenance is only as good as the infrastructure and people behind it, and explains the three layers a facility needs before predictive maintenance can deliver on its promise.
Read more...From the editor's desk: Pushing engineering to the limit Technews Publishing
News
Among the many things robots can do, it’s a lot of fun to follow how fast they are. They go from the Boston Dynamics cheetah, which first reached a record-breaking speed of 45,5 km/h, to the robot Charlie ...
Read more...Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme for energy and industrial tech startups.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version