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IFS, a  leading provider of Industrial AI software, has launched IFS Intelligence, which collates data from assets, systems and processes throughout an industrial operation and turns it into meaningful action in minutes

Built around everything the operation already knows – its assets, work orders, schedules and history – IFS Intelligence  understands how that operation runs, bringing Industrial AI to the point of work: people in the field, on the plant floor, on a rig or in the office can ask questions in plain language through a single conversational interface. IFS Intelligence reasons across live operational data to explain what is happening and plan what should happen next, with the sources shown. It can then act on that plan, governed by IFS’s Industrial AI Harness, and within the limits set by the business.

Customers are already using IFS Intelligence across a number of business-critical scenarios. One recent use case was experienced by a production manager who learned that a large order due next quarter was at risk. Finding out why, and what to do about it, meant connecting inventory, production capacity, supplier commitments, logistics constraints and the financial impact of delay. With IFS Intelligence, one question can identify the risk, surface likely causes and recommend the next action, which the manager can approve and set in motion. What used to take several reports, systems and specialists, or might not have even been possible, becomes one governed flow from question to action.

IFS Intelligence harnesses Industrial AI in three ways:

  • Ask and act with Cowork: question live operational data in plain language, investigate problems and prepare actions that run only once a person provides approval. Any answer can become a Lens, a live view that keeps updating as the operation moves, and work that succeeds once can be saved as a Skill for anyone to repeat. 
  • Delegate with Loops: hand defined workflows to digital workers that run in the background and escalate when judgment or approval is needed. 
  • Extend with Runway: use plain-language requirements to speed up the migration, configuration and extension of IFS, with less implementation effort and less risk.

Underneath all three, the IFS Industrial AI Harness applies the context and controls that industrial operations require.

Mark Moffat, CEO, IFS, commented, “We often see industrial organisations operating at around 60% of their potential. The missing 40% is already inside the business. It sits in the expertise of the control room, the knowledge of the night shift, and the data spread across every system. IFS Intelligence brings all of it together and puts it to work. People can ask a question, take action, or hand a task to a digital worker, all within the rules, permissions and approvals that govern their business. That is how industry closes the gap.”

IFS Intelligence was launched at IFS Unleashed, the company's flagship industrial AI event which took place in Orlando, USA, and brought together innovators and visionaries from the world’s leading Industrial businesses to redefine what AI-connected intelligence can achieve. Unleashed showcased how AI-driven insights and agentic automation can combine to unlock new levels of performance.

illie Morrison, Managing Director at Viking Completion Technology (left) alongside Abdulrahman Algosaibi, Chairman at AG Holding (right).

The drive towards a highly resilient, localised supply chain is rapidly reshaping the industrial landscape of the Middle East.

Viking Completion Technology (Viking) has officially established a formidable new manufacturing, testing, and service facility within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This strategic move represents a major milestone in localising the production of crucial completion tools. By establishing a formally recognised entity and an API-certified, in-country operation, the organisation is actively securing the regional equipment pipeline. It demonstrates a structural shift from relying solely on international imports to nurturing high-specification domestic manufacturing.

A strategic joint venture in Dhahran

To execute this ambitious in-country expansion, Viking has formed a pivotal Joint Venture with Abdulrahman Algosaibi Holdings (AGH). This collaboration is anchored by AGH’s regional expertise, operating locally established businesses that include Intelligent Energy Services (i-Energy) and Extreme Precision Company (XPRECISION).

Situated in Dhahran, a historical nexus for the Kingdom's energy industry, the newly launched operation complements Viking’s established premises in Dubai. For nearly three decades, the Dubai facility served as the sole international supply hub for the organisation’s global customer base. Now, the Dhahran base introduces a dual-hub dynamic, providing a dedicated commercial vehicle to directly supply locally manufactured equipment to Saudi Arabian end users, decisively mitigating lead times and logistics issues.

Elite API certification and localised manufacturing

The inauguration of the Dhahran site is the culmination of half a decade of intensive investment and effort. Over these five years, the primary objective has been to firmly establish Viking as a premier, locally stationed supplier of completion equipment.

Crucially, the new operation is distinguished by its elite industry credentials. It stands as one of only two facilities within Saudi Arabia to hold a highly specific suite of API licenses, which are essential for manufacturing products to the rigorous specifications demanded by end users.

The facility boasts the following capabilities and certifications:

  • Accreditations Held: API Q1, API 14A, API 11D1, API 19AC, and API 14L licenses.

  • Locally Manufactured Products: Advanced completion tools including Safety Valves, Packers, and Seal Assemblies.

  • Additional Components: Sliding Side Doors (SSD’s) and Landing Nipples.

Previously, Viking maintained a robust track record of out-of-country supply into Saudi Arabia. By shifting this capacity inward, the organisation is fundamentally altering how rapidly critical infrastructure can be deployed in the field.

Aligning with Vision 2030 objectives

The transition toward localised manufacturing carries profound economic implications for the region, aligning flawlessly with broader national industrial strategies and local value initiatives.

Willie Morrison, Managing Director at Viking Completion Technology, commented: "Achieving API-certified status and launching our Saudi Arabia entity is a huge milestone for our dedicated team, which I am immensely proud of, and would not have been possible without the support of our Joint Venture partner. With AG Holding's local manufacturing capability, Viking is ideally placed to deliver as an In Kingdom Total Value Add supplier in line with the key objectives, social and economic requirements and strategic importance of the Saudi 2030 vision."

This vision is shared by the Joint Venture leadership, emphasising the technical readiness and future capacity of the new site.

Abdulrahman Algosaibi, Chairman at AG Holding, commented: “This new facility is fully equipped with the latest capabilities for assembling and testing products, as well as for make-up and testing of completion assemblies. Skilled and experienced field personnel have been responsible for successful trial tests in Saudi Arabia over the last three years, meaning that in addition to our API Certification, we also have a wide range of catalogued products currently supplied from Out of Kingdom. Over the next 12 months, Viking will perform further trials while supplying several new product variations. We are proud to be part of such a significant development for Viking in nearly three decades of operating. We look forward to welcoming customers to the facility and to keep demonstrating what we are capable of in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

By establishing this API-certified footprint, the partnership ensures that top-tier completion technology is engineered and delivered right at the heart of the region's energy sector.

SLB's digital business is growing. (Image source: SLB)

As the oil and gas sector accelerates the deployment of AI and digital technologies to optimise operations, SLB has reported two collaborations as its digital business goes from strength to strength

SLB, which reported 18% revenue growth year on year for its digital division in its second quarter results, has announced that Chevron Technical Center, a division of Chevron, has joined the digital subsurface collaboration established by SLB and TotalEnergies in 2024, boosting capacity for the co-development of next generation digital technologies for reservoir engineering and geoscience.

As operators manage increasingly complex reservoirs and growing volumes of subsurface data, the collaboration, known as Arena, will focus on technologies that help improve decision-making across reservoir engineering and geoscience workflows. By embedding TotalEnergies and Chevron subject matter experts within SLB technology centres, the collaboration will shorten traditional feedback loops between operators and product development teams, bringing operational perspectives directly into technology development. This model progresses the delivery of scalable, open and extensible digital technologies.

Chevron will contribute investment, intellectual property and technical expertise to the collaboration, as well as its expertise in uncertainty analysis, optimisation and field development planning, that will help shape the roadmap for scalable digital subsurface technologies.

“This collaboration brings SLB’s digital and subsurface expertise together with operator knowledge to help develop technologies for reservoir engineering and geoscience,” said Rakesh Jaggi, president of SLB’s digital business. “Chevron adds valuable experience and perspectives that will help strengthen how we address complex subsurface workflows and field development decisions.”

“Chevron is working to advance digital capabilities to unlock greater value from our subsurface resources,” said Jitendra Kikani, Chevron vice president of Subsurface. “Through Arena, we are combining our world-class expertise in uncertainty analysis with digital technologies and AI-enabled workflows to improve decision quality, accelerate insights, and enhance operational efficiency.”

Optimising well construction

Meanwhile a 15-year agreement with TotalEnergies to use the DrillPlan well planning and engineering solutions will strengthen the digital collaboration between the two companies, supporting TotalEnergies’ transition to a digital planning environment. The collaboration will enabled subsurface insights to be connected with well planning and engineering workflows as operators move toward scalable, interoperable digital platforms to improve engineering and well construction execution.

The DrillPlan solutions will enable TotalEnergies to streamline well design and engineering activities by integrating offset well data, trajectory designs, casing and completion inputs, and planning assumptions used throughout the well construction process.

“Operators are increasingly looking for scalable technologies that can support more consistent planning decisions across large and diverse portfolios,” said Rakesh Jaggi, president of SLB’s Digital business.

“This agreement demonstrates how customers are moving toward digital solutions that improve consistency, strengthen collaboration and provide a foundation for future workflow innovation.”
Drawing on domain expertise from both companies, the environment is designed to connect workflows, integrate custom processes, scale across operations, and enable ongoing deployment of new digital technologies.

The initiative will help asset-intensive sectors move beyond their legacy tech systems towards AI-embedded operations. (image source: Adobe Stock)

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."

the new design enables safe intervention in confined environments previously inaccessible to standard BOP equipment. (Image source: Unity)

BOP (blow-out preventer) valves play a safety-critical role in stopping the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons from a well. However, the size and complexity of conventional BOP systems can constrain operations in environments where space is limited

Unity, the global well integrity and decommissioning specialist, has addressed this issue head-on with the development of a revolutionary ultra-compact blowout preventer (BOP) valve, named Unity Qb (‘cube’). Measuring just one-third the width of conventional systems, the new design enables safe intervention in confined environments previously inaccessible to standard BOP equipment, opening new possibilities across wireline, slickline, coil tubing and future drilling applications.

How does Unity Qb differ from conventional BOPs?

Conventional BOPs are placed at the top of a well and are large and cross-shaped by design, which limits where on a platform they can be positioned. In the event of a hydrocarbon leak, they seal or shear using rams that move in a straight line, clamping in from opposite sides of the well bore. In contrast, Unity Qb’s rams rotate around a central cartridge within the housing, making this proprietary technology a hybrid between a conventional BOP and a ball valve. It performs all conventional BOP functions in a fraction of the space and opens up the possibility of installing a BOP where historically only a Shear-Seal Ball Valve could fit.

The recently patented solution is rated to 10,000 psi, twice the pressure rating of Unity's existing compact shear (CSS) Valve and other traditional systems, while weighing the same. The higher rating means Unity Qb can be deployed on higher-pressure wells that lower-rated equipment cannot service. It is also stackable in single, dual or triple configurations.

Gary Smart, CEO at Unity said, “The future of well intervention will be defined by technologies that deliver more capability from a smaller footprint - Unity Qb represents exactly that step-change. Our engineering team reimagined the design from the ground up. The result is an ultra-compact BOP valve that delivers the performance operators expect while dramatically reducing the space required to deploy it.

“By unlocking access to constrained work environments and creating greater flexibility in system design, Unity Qb has the potential to reshape how intervention operations are executed offshore.”

He added that while the company will continue to offer its CSS Valve, the new Unity Qb is intended to extend the range of interventions it can support.

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