Press Release
Schneider Electric Announces New Cloud-Based Software
Development Capabilities Enabled by Microsoft Alliance
Offering combines StruxureWare™ Resource Advisor software and Windows Azure cloud computing to
create flexible, agile and cost-effective solutions for customers; Sustainable Apparel Coalition first
customer to receive custom-built tool for sustainability monitoring
PALATINE, Ill. – March 26, 2014 – Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today
announced another milestone in its alliance with Microsoft – the ability to develop custom, cloud-based
energy management and sustainability software for customers across diversified industries. By
combining the technology foundation of Schneider Electric’s StruxureWare™ Resource Advisor on the
Microsoft Windows Azure cloud platform, the companies can deliver best in class technology tools that
improve the performance of customer processes and operations. By expanding Schneider Electric’s
ability to rapidly deploy public, private and hybrid cloud solutions, the partnership with Microsoft enables
increased innovation in energy efficiency, accelerating development, reducing costs and increasing
reliability and security of global offers for customers.
“We are seeing a major shift in the industry away from one-size-fits-all solutions, and the cloud-enabled
capabilities of the combined StruxureWare Resource Advisor and Windows Azure technology allow us to
deliver right-sized tools based on customers’ specific energy management needs,” said Pascal Brosset,
Chief Technology Officer, Schneider Electric. “By leveraging key aspects of our respective technologies,
we’re able to produce high performance, cloud-based solutions, creating true value and competitive
advantages for customers across multiple industries.”
StruxureWare Resource Advisor is Schneider Electric’s enterprise-level cloud-based software application
that provides secure access to data, reports and summaries to drive customer energy and sustainability
programs. The software is configurable to meet specific customer needs, which allowed Schneider
Electric to customize the solution and deploy it on the Windows Azure cloud platform. Powered by the
Windows Azure cloud, StruxureWare Resource Advisor can offer:
Press Contact:
Schneider Electric
Martin Hanna
Press Contact:
Text 100 for Schneider Electric
Kristin O’Connell
Phone: 847-925-3482
martin.hanna@schneider-electric.com
Phone: 212-331-8414
Kristin.oconnell@text100.com
Press Release
•
Accelerated deployment with instant access to online, web-accessible sustainability and energy
management software
•
Global reach and low cost of entry as software tools can be scaled quickly, replicated and rolled
out globally with local language support
•
Reduced cost resulting from eliminating the need to install or maintain additional on premise IT
infrastructure
•
Ability to leverage installed investments with secure cloud connectivity to existing onsite facility
energy metering, monitoring and building management systems
•
Increased mobility for employees to access information wherever they are, rather than having to
remain at their desks
•
Flexible system architecture based on open standards and protocols, promoting systems
integration.
The first StruxureWare Resource Advisor development on the Windows Azure platform created the
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) Higg Index 2.0—the web-based tool that helps retail organizations
standardize how they measure and evaluate environmental performance of apparel products across the
supply chain.
By utilizing StruxureWare Resource Advisor as a foundation to build a proprietary application on the
Windows Azure cloud, the SAC’s groundbreaking sustainability assessment tool is now web-based and
accessible to the SAC’s global membership. As a result of the close partnership between Schneider
Electric and Microsoft, the companies were able to deliver a robust solution for SAC in a quick, efficient
manner. Schneider Electric will continue to roll out the Windows Azure platform globally to support the
StruxureWare cloud-based software offerings.
“We are pleased that Schneider Electric selected Windows Azure as the cloud technology to support the
Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s application on StruxureWare™ Resource Advisor,” said Tracy Issel, WW
General Manager of Retail & Consumer Goods from Microsoft. “The Sustainable Apparel Coalition will
benefit from the power of an outstanding sustainability platform designed to leverage the scale, security
Press Contact:
Schneider Electric
Martin Hanna
Press Contact:
Text 100 for Schneider Electric
Kristin O’Connell
Phone: 847-925-3482
martin.hanna@schneider-electric.com
Phone: 212-331-8414
Kristin.oconnell@text100.com
Press Release
and reduced infrastructure costs provided by Windows Azure; and, we are confident that the Schneider
Electric development team will be pleased with the performance, speed and stability of the platform.”
This capability builds on Schneider Electric and Microsoft’s Global Alliance partnership agreement which
allows the companies to leverage each other’s technologies and support of technical, sales and
marketing resources. The expansive relationship also incorporates Schneider Electric’s participation in
numerous Microsoft programs including: the CityNext Initiative, Global Technology Partner for the
Microsoft Technology Centers, Microsoft Systems Center Alliance, and Microsoft Partner Solutions
Center. Microsoft is also a member of Schneider Electric’s Ecostruxure Technology Partner program,
which enhances the relationship focus on the technical integrations between the two companies
StruxureWare is Schneider Electric’s platform of integrated software applications and suites that help
companies manage and monitor their sustainability initiatives, optimize their current operations and better
manage their sites and processes. For more information on StruxureWare software applications and
suites, please visit our website.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers
integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructure,
Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centers & Networks and in Residential.
Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company’s 150,000 plus employees
achieved sales of 31 billion US dollars in 2013, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations
make the most of their energy.
www.schneider-electric.com/us
Press Contact:
Schneider Electric
Martin Hanna
Press Contact:
Text 100 for Schneider Electric
Kristin O’Connell
Phone: 847-925-3482
martin.hanna@schneider-electric.com
Phone: 212-331-8414
Kristin.oconnell@text100.com