Report from the 2025 IDEA E-Biz Conference in Nashville
Key Highlights
- AI adoption is accelerating faster than ever, moving from pilot projects to daily operations across various sectors.
- Experimentation and rapid iteration are key to learning and staying ahead in technological advancements.
- Success depends on educating teams, fostering curiosity and ensuring clear communication about the "why" behind AI initiatives.
- The electrical industry is rapidly catching up, with about 40% AI adoption, presenting opportunities to learn from other sectors.
At IDEA’s recent eBiz 2025 conference, industry leaders explored how artificial intelligence is shifting from experimentation to practical results across the electrical channel. Moderated by Scott Costa (TED magazine), the session featured Banu Ozkaya-Akbay (NAED); Martina Schubert (Van Meter); Jennifer Swem (Schneider Electric); Kiran Laxman (Legrand North & Central America); Stephan Fulop (DSG); and Shahan Syed (IDEA). Key takeaways included:
AI adoption is accelerating
Panelists noted that AI is following the fastest technology adoption curve in history, rapidly moving from pilot programs to daily operations across distribution, manufacturing, and data management.
Experimentation drives learning
Leaders emphasized the value of “playing, trying, and failing fast.” Allowing teams room to test and iterate creates long-term advantage as technologies evolve.
People remain the differentiator
Successful AI integration depends on education, curiosity, and communication. As Martina Schubert noted, change isn’t difficult when people understand the why behind it.
Governance and value alignment are essential. Organizations are moving beyond tool adoption to focus on usability, security, and measurable ROI. Jennifer Swem highlighted Schneider Electric’s focus on business transformation and eliminating non-value-added work.
The electrical channel is catching up fast
Banu Ozkaya-Akbay shared that AI adoption across the sector is roughly 40%, creating opportunity to learn from other industries and move forward efficiently.
The consensus: Companies that adapt early, experiment often, and focus on real business out-comes will thrive in the next phase of digital transformation.
