IFS partners with Echelon to scale industrial AI in Saudi Arabia

IFS, the leading provider of industrial AI and enterprise cloud software, is growing its footprint in Saudi Arabia through a new strategic partnership with Echelon, the Riyadh-headquartered AI company, to bring its industrial AI solution to Saudi-based enterprises

What is industrial AI?

Industrial AI is the application of artificial intelligence to the physical world and enables enterprises to analyse massive amounts of data from sensors, machines and networks. Industrial AI platforms then provide and execute actions to automate production optimisation, quality control, condition-based maintenance, and supply chain tracking.

Industrial AI uses machine learning, predictive analytics, and data processing to optimise complex industrial environments in real-time, enabling systems to anticipate issues—whether by foreseeing equipment malfunctions or adjusting supply chains dynamically. Examples include:

• Oil & Gas: AI-driven predictive analytics, can help operators better monitor and manage assets, reduce environmental risks, optimise energy consumption and facilitate regulatory compliance
• Utilities: Industrial AI for Utilities can optimise power grid performance, predict equipment failures, and enhance resource distribution, making energy delivery more reliable and efficient.
• Engineering and Service: Engineering AI and Services AI-driven maintenance schedules and PSO will allow these sectors to extend the life of critical infrastructure and streamline complex service operations.
• Manufacturing: In smart factories, Manufacturing AI is optimising assembly lines and reducing waste, leading to faster production times and lower costs. Machine learning models can predict and preemptively correct equipment malfunctions, increasing productivity.

How is Saudi Arabia embracing industrial AI?

Saudi Arabia is strengthening its position as a global hub for AI and advanced technologies, underpinned by robust digital infrastructure, continuous investments, and an enabling environment for innovation—driven by Vision 2030 objectives which including positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in AI by 2030 and transforming industry through technological advancements.
Saudi Arabia has witnessed rapid progress in the adoption of AI across its industrial sectors, including energy, manufacturing, and logistics.
With the largest industrial base in the Middle East and Africa, totalling 45% of the country’s US$1.1 trillion GDP in 2024 across verticals such as manufacturing, oil & gas, mining, construction and utilities, the Kingdom is actively promoting itself as an industrial hub and a gateway market for regional industrial supply chains as part of the country’s Vision 2030 strategy. To promote its competitiveness, the country is investing in advanced manufacturing and many of Saudi Arabia’s largest industrial enterprises are digitising their operations and integrating AI, IoT and robotics in manufacturing and supply chain management.

How is IFS driving the deployment of industrial AI in Saudi Arabia?

IFS has proven success with organisations across the Kingdom helping advanced manufacturers modernise operations and strengthen supply chains, telecommunications providers deliver services at scale, maritime organisations build their industrial capabilities, and critical infrastructure operators improve asset reliability.

Echelon will work with IFS to drive the deployment and localisation of its industrial AI solution, IFS.ai, across its heavy industry customers in Saudi Arabia, enabling asset-intensive sectors such as energy, manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace and defence, logistics and telecoms move beyond their legacy tech systems towards AI-embedded operations. Through IFS.ai, Echelon's customers will benefit from an AI enterprise layer across enterprise asset management, field service, maintenance planning, and asset investment decisions.

“Ever since we founded Echelon, our aim was to bring the most exciting AI solutions to Saudi Arabia, to benefit our economic diversification and growth,” said Prince Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud, founder and managing director, Echelon. “IFS offers cutting edge technologies to heavy industries and manufacturers, and the IFS.ai platform holds the promise of tangible, real-world benefits. Our customers are excited about the potential of IFS’s innovations for their operations.”

"Saudi Arabia is building some of the most complex, regulated and asset-heavy operations in the world. Running them successfully means making thousands of decisions every day, safely and at scale. That's exactly where Industrial AI delivers the greatest value, and it's where IFS thrives. For decades, we've helped the world's most essential industries turn operational complexity into competitive advantage," said Mark Moffat, CEO at IFS. "We're excited to work with Echelon and the Kingdom's industrial base to raise efficiency and help make Saudi Arabia one of the most competitive places in the world to manufacture."