As the energy sector navigates the complexities of energy security, operational resilience, and decarbonisation – all while striving to improve profitability - one thing has become increasingly clear: digital transformation is no longer a buzzword, it’s a necessity. However, the scale of this transformation is so vast that no single company can accomplish it alone.
The true competitive differentiator lies not just in adopting digital tools, but in building a collaborative digital ecosystem, the only mechanism capable of delivering the speed and scale required to simultaneously secure energy and assure resilience.
At Wood, we’ve embraced the power of strategic partnerships to deliver smarter, safer and more sustainable energy solutions. Whether it’s collaborating with established industrial software providers like AVEVA, digital twin solutions like Aize, or platform and solution enablers for AI and data-driven transformation such as Databricks, our approach is rooted in the belief that strengths combined are strengths multiplied.
Co-creating through partnership
Partnerships often begin with a simple need - a piece of software, a service, a solution. But when we align on client challenges and co-create value, the impact is exponential. This trust-based approach is vital in the Middle East, where complex digital transformation demands integrated solutions, not just tools. For a Middle East client, for instance, we went beyond simply providing tools for complex digital transformation. By bringing together the right technology partners, we implemented a digital reality model for new assets that enabled safe, remote operations, ultimately reducing travel costs by 50%.
When I caught up with Nayef Bou Chaaya, AVEVA’s vice president for the Middle East and Africa, he shared that 40 percent of their business is delivered through partners. It’s a mindset - and it’s one we share. Our clients benefit when we bring together engineering expertise, cutting-edge technology and deep regional insight.
In simple terms, Wood’s domain and technology experience ensures clients can release value from technology investments. We are the critical 'human in the loop', the domain translator who integrates best-in-class partner tools and applies deep engineering knowledge to generate verifiable outcomes. This is the secret to moving from simple software adoption to exponential impact.
Transforming safety and assurance with AI
Digital optimisation, AI, and decarbonisation technologies offer pathways to extend asset life, improve efficiency, reduce emissions and transform safety. One of the most exciting areas of digital transformation is safety assurance. I recently presented a case study where we used AI to analyse safety critical elements in rotating equipment and toxic gas detection systems. The results were remarkable:
- 100 percent accuracy in identifying safety control elements
- 57 percent efficiency gains in time spent reviewing safety data
- 90 percent reduction in time required to cleanse and categorise reliability data
AI now gives us the ability to ingest vast volumes of documentation, identify gaps and predict failures before they happen. In the oil and gas sector, predictive maintenance powered by AI has already been shown to reduce unplanned downtime by up to 20 percent and cut maintenance costs by 15 percent. At Wood, our maintAI solution has enabled clients to achieve even greater results, with one client seeing a 25% reduction in maintenance costs while significantly reducing operational risk.
It is crucial to remember that AI is not a silver bullet. We must always keep humans in the loop, especially when safety is at stake. Our subject matter experts validate AI outputs, ensuring decisions are grounded in hands-on working experience. AI is a strategic enabler. When applied to real-world use cases like predictive maintenance, safety assurance and capital project design, it unlocks new ways of working - and the return on investment is real.
We are not just preparing for the future; we are building it. We’re exploring how AI can generate safety performance standards, automate Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) builds and stay ahead of regulatory changes - fundamentally enhancing risk management. We recently demonstrated this by undertaking barrier reliability assurance work for a Middle East client. The AI-driven reliability optimization of their HSE Critical Equipment Systems (HSECES) barriers not only introduced rapid assurance of barrier integrity but also generated massive efficiency, removing over 60,000 work hours from the assurance cycle over five years.
Why digital transformation needs teamwork
Digital transformation in the energy sector is not a solo journey. It is a shared endeavour powered by trust, alignment and a commitment to long-term value across the energy value chain.
Across the global industry, we are seeing a shift toward collaborative ecosystems where digital partnerships are driving innovation. Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in these partnerships, enhancing how we work together to unlock efficiencies, streamline operations and deliver smarter solutions. Whether improving data visibility or accelerating decision making, AI amplifies the value we create, not by replacing human insight, but by supporting it.
At Wood, we believe that combining engineering expertise with digital intelligence, and working hand in hand with our partners, enables us to scale innovation and work with our energy clients to overcome their challenges.