GE industry experts answer questions

Ask the Expert question: What is GE's "Asset Intelligence" business all about, and what is your role with VeriWise Asset Intelligence?

Thomas Konditi, Asset Intelligence Business Leader, answers: The Asset Intelligence business was really born out of an Imagination Breakthrough effort with our GE VeriWise asset-tracking invention back in 2001 - primarily used for Trailer Fleet Services customers to track their trailer assets.

"Asset Intelligence" is the application of remote monitoring technologies and services to track, manage, secure and deploy valuable physical assets. For the trucking industry, this definition is applied to trailer assets to enable better billing, fleet sizing, security and compliance for our Trailer Fleet Services customers.

The VeriWise Asset Intelligence product is becoming the chosen tracking solution by more and more Trailer Fleet Services customers who realize we have a more reliable technology. The product line continues to expand as we continue to announce new functionality - like VeriWise for refrigerated trailers, or 'reefers'. We're also seeing growth globally - with our North American trailer product in Mexico and Canada, and in Europe as we launch the European version of VeriWise.

We knew that applying asset tracking to trailers was important and it soon became clear that there was a need for this service across other types of asset classes. The opportunity was there for us to make this more of a 'service business' than a stand-alone product and to support other GE businesses. 'Asset Intelligence' can also enable better management of power generators, oil pipelines, MRI equipment, service vans and a host of other valuable assets. Asset Intelligence enables valuable information to be gathered and analyzed for our customers, in addition to the assets we can supply them.

The Asset Intelligence team really consists of three key areas. Starting with the Technology and Engineering operation, we have the engineers and technologists who build new products and select the right technology for the right applications. Then we have an Operations team that is responsible for fulfillment, which includes the supply chain, installation and then customer service. And finally, the third area is IT Systems, which processes and delivers all of the data and applications to our customer base. We also have a full complement of new product introduction, product and service management team members. All the right experienced players to deliver a high quality product and service to our customers.

The Asset Intelligence business is a GREAT place to be right now. Asset Intelligence has grown from being a single product-focused team into a full-fledged service business that can and will deliver solutions to a truly massive market. There is a tremendous need for our services and that's exciting for everyone involved in this business.