“Africa Is the Next Industrial Growth Frontier” — AVEVA’s Jesus Hernandez on AI, Data, and Digital Transformation

As AVEVA hosted its AVEVA Day in Johannesburg, IT News Africa sat down with Jesus Hernandez, Senior Vice President for EMEA, to discuss Africa’s industrial future, the realities of digital transformation, and the role of AI and data-driven operations in unlocking growth.

Q: To start, can you tell us about your role at AVEVA and your current priorities?

A: I’m responsible for AVEVA’s business across the EMEA region, which is extremely diverse, with different levels of maturity and focus across countries. My role is to position AVEVA as the industrial data backbone for our customers across key sectors such as oil and gas, power, mining, and manufacturing.

My top priority is customer centricity; putting customers at the centre of everything we do. That means spending time with them, understanding their challenges, and ensuring our technology evolves to meet their needs.

The second priority is building a strong ecosystem with partners, system integrators, and developers, so we can deliver more value and scale faster, especially in regions like Africa.

Q: How significant is Africa within your broader EMEA strategy?

A: Africa is extremely important and it is one of the key growth regions for the future. We already have a strong footprint here, working with major organisations across oil and gas, power, and mining, including companies like Sasol and Eskom, as well as global players such as Anglo American, Rio Tinto, and Glencore.

What is particularly important is the scale of opportunity. Hundreds of millions of people in Africa still lack access to reliable energy. As infrastructure is developed to address this, there will be a massive need for digital technologies to operate and optimise these systems.

That’s why we’ve made Africa a dedicated focus region within EMEA, with increased investment and resources.

Q: AVEVA Day South Africa focuses on “accelerating Africa’s industrial future.” What does that future look like in practical terms?

A: Africa’s future will be driven by infrastructure development, especially in energy. As new infrastructure is built, it will need to be managed intelligently using data, AI, and advanced software.

This is where digital transformation becomes critical. It’s not just about building infrastructure, but about operating it efficiently, sustainably, and profitably. Over the next 5–10 years, we will see an increase in adoption of data-driven operations and AI to support this growth.

Q: What role can AVEVA play in helping Africa achieve its energy and industrial goals?

A: Our role is to support the entire industrial asset lifecycle, from design and engineering to operations and optimisation.

We help organisations collect, contextualise, and use their data effectively. Without proper data management, infrastructure cannot operate optimally.

We also provide tools, including AI, that help companies make better decisions, improve efficiency, and maintain their assets more effectively. This is particularly important as the industry faces a growing shortage of experienced talent.

Q: What are the biggest barriers slowing industrial transformation in Africa?

A: There are three main challenges.

The first is mindset. This is improving, and leaders increasingly understand the importance of data and digital infrastructure, but there is still work to be done.

The second is legacy systems. Many organisations are working with older infrastructure, which can make integration more complex.

The third is data itself. Successful transformation depends on having reliable, well-integrated data. At AVEVA, we focus on what we call the “three I’s”: integration, intuition, and intelligence. Systems must integrate data from multiple sources, be easy to use, and provide intelligent insights.

Q: How easy is it for an industrial organisation to deploy AVEVA’s solutions?

A: It depends on the solution, but our cloud-based industrial platforms can be deployed very quickly, often within days. Customers can start collecting and using data almost immediately.

That said, digital transformation is a journey. The platform evolves over time as more capabilities are added.

We support customers through training, both online and on-site, and through a global network of more than 5,000 system integrators and partners. Our approach is not to replace existing systems, but to integrate with them and add value.

Q: What common mistakes do African organisations make in their digital transformation journeys?

A: I wouldn’t call it a mistake, but many organisations are very cost-focused.

Digital transformation should be seen as an investment, not a cost. The returns, whether in efficiency, reduced downtime, or improved productivity, are often significantly higher than the initial investment.

Q: How significant is the skills gap in Africa?

A: I would describe it more as a resource gap than a skills gap. The knowledge exists, but there are fewer people available with the required expertise compared to more mature markets.

At the same time, Africa is growing rapidly and running many transformation initiatives in parallel, which increases demand for these skills.

Q: AI is a major theme globally. Where is it delivering real value in industrial environments today?

A: AI is already delivering real value, especially for organisations that have a strong data foundation.

For example, AI is widely used for predictive maintenance and operational optimisation. However, it’s important to note that AI does not operate in isolation. Decisions are still made by humans, supported by AI insights.

The key requirement is data. Without the right data, AI cannot deliver meaningful results.

Q: How does AVEVA ensure its AI solutions are relevant for African conditions?

A: The principle is simple; AI is only as good as the data it uses.

Once you have the right data infrastructure in place, the same principles can be applied globally. Our focus is on helping customers collect, organise, and contextualise their data so AI can deliver accurate insights.

This is at the core of our business; transforming data into actionable intelligence.

Q: Can you explain the role of CONNECT?

A: CONNECT is our industrial cloud platform that supports the entire asset lifecycle.

From the early stages, such as feasibility studies and design, through to construction, operations, and optimisation, data is generated at every stage. CONNECT brings all this data together, creating a continuous digital thread.

This allows organisations to make better decisions, optimise performance, and improve efficiency across the lifecycle of their assets.

Q: How do you address concerns around data sovereignty and cloud adoption?

A: We offer flexibility. Our solutions can be deployed in public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid environments, depending on customer needs.

We also work with leading cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, ensuring high levels of security and compliance. Every customer has different requirements, and we adapt accordingly.

//By Abe Wakama