For the first time, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure IT Expert API is available for channel partners, the company said Thursday. This allows partners to integrate the power and monitoring platform into any preferred management system. EcoStruxure IT Expert is Schneider Electric’s cloud-based data center infrastructure management solution.

In a one-two punch, Schneider Electric also launched monitoring and dispatch Services to manage distributed IT.  The services include remote monitoring, troubleshooting and onsite remediation. They are available for partners to offer their customers.

Schneider Electric’s Kevin Brown

“We recognize that channel partners are so important in this. And they often have their own sets of tools where they may want to integrate that information with,” Kevin Brown, senior vice president, EcoStruxure, energy management business at Schneider Electric, told Channel Futures. “It’s a much more open approach and includes all of our algorithms, giving channel partners more visibility and insights into their customers’ IT infrastructure.”

Distributed IT and Edge

The vendor points to distributed IT and edge computing as driving the need for broader IT infrastructure management. Organizations are pressed to do more with less and face key challenges monitoring remote sites.

Schneider Electric EcoStruxure IT Expert uses AI, and leverages big data and the cloud. It monitors the core infrastructure, such as power and cooling, of multivendor physical infrastructure equipment. In addition to real-time monitoring, EcoStruxure IT Expert provides benchmarking, assessment and instant fault notification and escalation. It also creates a central repository of IT infrastructure information and reporting.

Schneider Electric’s global channel partner community includes many who are HPE and Cisco certified. Jamie Bourassa is vice president, edge computing and channel strategy at Schneider Electric.

Schneider Electric’s Jamie Bourassa

“These are the predominant partners who also buy and resell our hardware,” said Bourassa. “Those companies that historically bought and sold our hardware are shifting to service models. That includes some who buy and resell other services.”

Other partners are investing heavily in remote service management platforms, and processes and competencies to do post-issue remediation. Many MSPs, he noted, are looking to extend the types of assets they manage on their customer’s behalf.

New Services

The new monitoring and dispatch services focus on the partner yet to invest in managed services capabilities but wants to tell their customer that they can offer services on a product they sold.

“Schneider Electric will monitor the asset and we will manage the dispatch,” said Bourassa.

The benefits of monitoring and dispatch services include resource optimization, efficiency and reduced risk, and help preventing downtime.

For the more heavily invested partners with in-house tools, processes, practices and personnel, the new API gives them the power to understand the power and cooling of critical infrastructure.

“They need to know how to connect to those assets. They need to know which alarms they need action on. And they need to know how to be proactive and predictive with the management and maintenance they put in their service contracts,” said Bourassa.