“It’s Not About Dashboards, It’s About Action”: AVEVA EVP Kim Custeau on the Future of Industrial Intelligence

Conducted at AVEVA World 2026, this interview explores how one of the world’s leading industrial software companies is redefining the future of industry through data, AI, and industrial intelligence.

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, helps organisations across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and utilities to connect, visualise, and optimise their operations using advanced data platforms, digital twins, and AI-driven insights.

At the heart of AVEVA’s portfolio strategy is Kim Custeau, Executive Vice President – Portfolio, who has spent more than 40 years with the company. She has played a central role in shaping AVEVA’s evolution from a niche engineering software provider into a global industrial intelligence leader.

Speaking to IT News Africa at AVEVA World 2026, Custeau discusses the company’s approach to innovation, the practical application of industrial AI, customer adoption challenges, and why Africa represents a growing focus for industrial digital transformation.

IT News Africa: Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at AVEVA.

Kim Custeau: I started with AVEVA 41 years ago through a small Canadian software company that was later acquired. Over the years, I’ve held many different roles, and today I’m responsible for AVEVA’s portfolio strategy.

That means we work closely with customers and the market to understand their challenges and priorities, and then translate those insights into the features and capabilities we develop in our software portfolio.

Understanding Customer Needs

IT News Africa: Can you give a practical example of how that works?

Kim Custeau: Our software spans the full industrial lifecycle — from engineering through to operations. We engage customers through advisory councils, forums, and “voice of customer” programmes to identify common needs and trends.

As an industrial software company, we don’t usually build for one specific customer. Instead, we look for patterns across industries. The more conversations we have, the more we realise certain needs are universal.

For example, many customers told us they wanted better integration across systems and easier access to data. That led us to invest heavily in data infrastructure and interoperability so information can flow seamlessly across operations.

We’re even starting to use AI to help identify these patterns and opportunities faster.

Defining Industrial Intelligence

IT News Africa: AVEVA has positioned industrial intelligence as central to the future of industry. How do you define industrial intelligence, and what impact are customers seeing today?

Kim Custeau: Industrial intelligence is really about bringing data together, putting it into context, and making it actionable.

A dashboard alone is not industrial intelligence. Many companies can create dashboards. The real value comes when people can make informed decisions and take meaningful action based on the data.

That action could be driven by human expertise, AI recommendations, or a combination of both. Ultimately, it’s about helping organisations operate more efficiently and effectively.

What industrial intelligence looks like will differ from one customer to another. A beverage manufacturer may focus on optimising production lines, while a refinery may prioritise asset performance and reliability. Our role is to provide the tools and visibility needed to support those different use cases.

The Future of Industrial Innovation

IT News Africa: Which emerging technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on industrial operations over the next five years?

Kim Custeau: AI is obviously a major trend, but I think the key will be pragmatic AI.

At AVEVA, we’re not approaching AI as hype. We focus on solving real operational problems. If AI is the best tool for that problem, we’ll use it.

I’d actually love for customers to say, “This workflow made my job easier and improved efficiency,” without necessarily even thinking about the AI behind it.

Another major transformation will be how people interact with industrial software. The next generation workforce needs more advisory support, contextual information, and intelligent guidance. The user experience will become critically important for adoption.

We work in industries involving critical infrastructure, so technology must not only be powerful, it also needs to be intuitive, trustworthy, and easy to consume.

Driving Adoption and Change Management

IT News Africa: Many organisations struggle with technology adoption. How do you drive adoption and manage change?

Kim Custeau: Adoption improves when users clearly understand what’s in it for them.

Sometimes it’s about simplifying workflows or eliminating repetitive tasks. If users can see that technology genuinely makes their jobs easier, adoption becomes much easier as well.

We provide a combination of online training, self-learning tools, instructor-led programmes, and partner support to help customers onboard successfully.

Evolving the CONNECT Platform

IT News Africa: CONNECT now supports more than 20,000 users. How is the platform evolving from simple data collection to actionable AI-driven insights?

Kim Custeau: We’ve spent years building strong data connectivity and infrastructure. The next step has been improving visualisation and usability so people can explore and understand their data more intuitively.

Historically, these systems required specialists or system integrators to build everything for customers. Today, we’re making the tools far more accessible. Users can drag, drop, visualise, and analyse information themselves without needing deep technical expertise.

As a result, process engineers and operational teams are becoming more data-driven. They may not be traditional data scientists, but they’re increasingly able to analyse performance, efficiency, and energy usage independently.

That accessibility is incredibly important for driving adoption.

Ensuring AI Delivers Real Value

IT News Africa: Industrial AI is becoming a global focus. How does AVEVA ensure AI delivers measurable value rather than becoming just another buzzword?

Kim Custeau: We focus heavily on practical use cases and customer validation.

We’ve actually been embedding AI capabilities into our products for many years, long before the current AI wave. But one thing we’ve learned is that AI is only as good as the underlying data.

For example, we tested an AI assistant with a customer that couldn’t identify compressors in the system. Initially, it looked like the AI had failed — until we discovered the customer labelled compressors as “CMPs” in their data structure.

That experience reinforced how important structured, trusted data is for successful AI outcomes.

Over the last 18 months, we’ve learned a great deal about refining AI responses, improving contextual understanding, and building more reliable systems.

The Purpose of AVEVA World

IT News Africa: AVEVA World has brought together thousands of industry leaders. Beyond showcasing products, what is the broader purpose of the event?

Kim Custeau: AVEVA World is really an industry event.

Of course, we want customers to understand our technology roadmap and see how we’re investing in innovation. But one of the most valuable aspects is the networking and collaboration between customers themselves.

We host industry-specific sessions where companies can share experiences, challenges, and best practices. In many cases, those conversations go far beyond products.

It’s also a strong reflection of the AVEVA brand. Bringing together over 4,000 attendees from around the world creates incredible energy and reinforces our position in the industry.

Modernising Legacy Infrastructure

IT News Africa: Many industrial organisations still struggle with fragmented systems and legacy infrastructure. What advice would you give companies trying to modernise without disrupting operations?

Kim Custeau: Don’t try to boil the ocean.

Start with the problem that will deliver the biggest operational impact. Identify the data you need to solve that problem, prove the value, and build momentum from there.

Modernisation doesn’t have to happen all at once. Today, accessing and integrating data is much easier and more affordable than it used to be.

Once organisations see success with one use case, it becomes much easier to scale.

Africa’s Industrial Transformation Opportunity

IT News Africa: Developing markets, including many African economies, are rapidly digitising their industrial sectors. How does AVEVA view Africa’s potential?

Kim Custeau: Our CEO is very optimistic about Africa’s potential, and AVEVA has made dedicated investments in the region.

Rather than grouping Africa into a broader Middle East and Africa structure, AVEVA now has dedicated leadership focused specifically on Africa and its opportunities.

We already work with partners such as IS3 in South Africa, and we’re building strategies to support customers across the continent through a combination of direct engagement and partner ecosystems.

There’s significant opportunity in Africa, especially as industries modernise and global companies continue expanding operations across the continent.

The Biggest Barrier to Digital Transformation

IT News Africa: What are the biggest challenges facing industrial digital transformation in sectors like mining, energy, and infrastructure?

Kim Custeau: The biggest challenge is still data.

At a recent executive summit, almost every leader around the table identified structured data access as the biggest barrier to successful digital transformation.

Without trusted, organised data, it becomes extremely difficult to scale AI, automation, and advanced analytics effectively.

Looking Ahead

IT News Africa: Having been with AVEVA since 1985, what excites you most about where the industry is heading?

Kim Custeau: What excites me most is seeing customers get excited about technology that genuinely solves difficult problems.

The most rewarding thing is when customers deploy something we’ve built and immediately see value from it.

Technology doesn’t need an “AI” label to be meaningful. Whether it’s AI, robotics, predictive analytics, or automation, what matters most is solving real operational challenges and delivering measurable value.

AVEVA has always taken a very pragmatic approach to innovation, and I think that’s one of our strengths.

Advice for Women in Technology

IT News Africa: Finally, what advice would you give to women, especially in Africa, who want to build successful careers in technology and leadership?

Kim Custeau: Stay curious.

Curiosity creates opportunity because it pushes you to learn, explore new ideas, and take on new challenges.

And don’t be afraid to use your voice. Share your opinions and perspectives, even if not everyone agrees with you. Your voice matters.

But the foundation of having meaningful opinions and contributions is curiosity. That’s where growth begins.

By Abe Wakama