African factories adopt AI as productivity race intensifies

Industrial operators across Africa are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and bridge persistent efficiency gaps. This strategic shift is reshaping operations in key sectors like mining, oil and gas, energy, and manufacturing, driven by global competition and the ongoing digital transformation.

The primary impetus for this change is the drive to equip frontline workers with real-time operational intelligence. By integrating AI, companies aim to reduce their dependence on fragmented systems and manual processes, which have historically hampered swift decision-making on industrial sites. Elijah Daniel, Country Sales Director for Process Automation, Sub-Saharan Africa at Schneider Electric, highlighted that industries effectively combining AI with their operational data stand to gain significant competitive advantages.

Daniel emphasized that the greatest potential lies not solely in AI itself, but in the capacity of organizations to leverage decades of accumulated operational information. This includes data from maintenance records, process logs, alarm histories, and equipment performance. "The goal was never more data. The goal is the right insight at the right moment, with a clear action attached," he stated.

These advancements align with global trends in AI deployment, where digital tools are increasingly used for decision support, predictive maintenance, and enhancing workforce productivity. The African Development Bank forecasts that AI could inject as much as $1 trillion into Africa's economy by 2035, with resource-intensive sectors expected to be major beneficiaries. Historically, a disconnect existed between control room operators with access to real-time data and field technicians. AI integration aims to bridge this gap, particularly crucial in Africa where skilled engineering expertise is unevenly distributed and facilities are geographically dispersed.

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The goal was never more data. The goal is the right insight at the right moment, with a clear action attached.