“The future of data center service goes beyond boots on the ground. We’re shifting toward digital operations and measurable outcomes.”
RYAN JARVIS, VP for Global Services, Vertiv
Artificial intelligence (AI) data center rack densities climb from 15 to 100+ kilowatts (kW), fragmenting cooling architectures across air, direct-to-chip liquid, and rear-door heat exchangers. Maintenance strategies must shift from scheduled technician visits to predictive analytics that determine uptime before failures occur.
The critical question: how do operators scale without proportional service overhead? Operators adopting digital twins, condition-based maintenance, and proactive partnerships gain infrastructure that grows efficiently. Those relying on reactive break-fix models face mounting downtime as complexity outpaces capacity.
During the first episode of Vertiv's Management & Operations Innovation Day 2025, hosted by DatacenterDynamics (DCD), Stephen Worn and Vertiv's Ryan Jarvis outlined how AI-assisted monitoring, real-time analytics, and proactive service partnerships are reshaping facility operations. The conversation revealed how data-driven maintenance strategies separate scalable operations from brittle ones.
Stephen Worn, Chief Technology Officer, DCD: Digital transformation continues to accelerate. Why does this industry shift matter for data center operations today?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Data centers enable digital transformation, but inside the facility, there’s still enormous potential to transform operations. AI adoption is accelerating, and traditional approaches to managing systems and equipment no longer suffice. We need to oversee the entire site, helping organizations scale and integrate new technology efficiently across their customer base.
Stephen Worn: How are service models evolving to meet these new demands?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Every service organization still needs a reactive muscle because things happen. What’s changing is the expansion into a broader digital reality—driving services based on data rather than events or time-and-rate models. By combining decades of domain experience with real-time equipment data, we can now perform prescriptive activities: predicting maintenance needs, optimizing commissioning, and managing operations directly on the data center floor. As service models evolve, technology plays a central role in enabling faster and more precise operations.
Stephen Worn: How are digital tools like digital twins transforming commissioning and maintenance?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
We’ve created high-fidelity digital twins that simulate the complete physics model of an AI data center. This enables us to virtually commission facilities before equipment arrives and apply simulations upstream in design, facility layout planning, and throughout the entire equipment lifecycle. We can stress-test systems, identify anomalies, and resolve integration gaps before any work hits the floor.
Stephen Worn: What changes were required in commissioning after COVID-19?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
We had to rethink commissioning to match today’s speed and scale. Simply adding more people isn’t enough—floor space is limited. Automation and digitalization are the answers. By utilizing digital twins and predictive maintenance, we’ve transitioned from reactive work to achieving measurable outcomes, including near-perfect uptime and operational efficiency.
Stephen Worn: Liquid cooling is known to be complex. How does Vertiv maintain reliable operations?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Liquid cooling involves narrow channels, fluid quality, and multi-loop systems that demand precision. Starting clean and staying clean is critical—monitoring coolant loops, sampling fluid, and installing the right components from day one. Even small impurities can create major problems.
This complexity requires deep competency. Through the Vertiv Academy, over 4,000 technicians worldwide receive training and certification via classroom, hands-on, and digital learning. Ongoing upskilling enables our teams to stay capable across evolving technologies and deliver consistent service globally. As technology advances, maintaining global support and skills becomes essential.
Stephen Worn: How does Vertiv balance internal and customer support worldwide?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Think of our network as a mesh. Engineers in our network operations centers (NOCs) and service centers provide real-time guidance to field technicians. Pressure and fatigue can affect even the most skilled team members, so this safety net of data and knowledge is critical. Customers accessing managed services benefit from the same support, creating reliability and responsiveness across the entire ecosystem.
Stephen Worn: How are managed services evolving for today’s operational challenges?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
We’ve been providing managed services regionally for years and are now scaling globally, including the U.S. Rapid technological change and skilled labor shortages make it difficult for customers to manage everything alone. Embedded Vertiv technicians operate facilities on their behalf, leveraging predictive maintenance tools to deliver turnkey service. This shift enables customers to transition from preventive to predictive maintenance without needing to develop internal capabilities.
Stephen Worn: How should operators think about value in this context?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Value is about outcomes, not just price. Uptime is everything—downtime directly impacts brand trust. The actual value comes from helping customers deliver continuous availability and efficiency to their end-users. By taking ownership of complex infrastructure management, we allow customers to focus on serving their own clients effectively.
Stephen Worn: How do new services and tools help mitigate risk differently?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Risk never disappears; it evolves. Today, foresight matters more than ever. Combining planning, academic knowledge, and predictive technology gives customers confidence in mitigating risk. We start with an advisory approach—understanding each customer’s critical key performance indicators (KPIs) and aligning mitigation plans and service delivery to those priorities.
Stephen Worn: How can customers collaborate most effectively with Vertiv?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
The earlier we’re involved, the more value we create. Moving from a traditional vendor relationship to a true partnership means collaborating from day one—in design, implementation, and ongoing operations. Understanding where customers need to go and the timing they face enables us to help them achieve their goals efficiently.
Stephen Worn: Data centers never stop. What’s your final message on keeping them operational?
Ryan Jarvis, Vertiv:
Service never stops, and neither do our teams. While most people are home for the holidays, our technicians are servicing data centers. Their dedication allows all of us to enjoy the benefits of digital transformation. Success depends on collaboration across the entire customer journey, facilitated by predictive maintenance, digital tools, and a workforce dedicated to achieving outcomes.
Watch the full discussion to understand what’s redefining data center operations
Gain a deeper view into the tools and service strategies enabling higher densities, faster deployment cycles, and more reliable outcomes across AI-driven data centers.
[Watch the full conversation: New maintenance models for scale and resilience]
