No one doubts that smart grid advancement is on the rise and quickly evolving in the telecom industry.

So, it was no surprise when IBM launched a software platform – Solution Architecture for Energy and Utilities Framework, or “SAFE” – a system that will help utilities accelerate smart grid programs and help vendors in the smart grid industry make their applications user friendly and service ready. 

IBM (News - Alert), one of the larger companies to take the smart grid initiative, has created SAFE to provide standards-based software platforms for utility companies that use elements of existing IBM software.

Guido Bartels, general manager of IBM’s Global Energy & Utilities industry, said that the company was in a position to help the company’s utility customers shift to more energy-friendly networks. 

“The SAFE framework provides visibility, control and automation across the utility infrastructure as well as IT assets to help provide security and business agility as part of an intelligent network transformation," Bartels said.   

The new software system addresses a variety of utility operations. 

With seven focal points in particular, IBM has worked to create a smart grid software that hones in on the demands of utility companies to implement a system for smart grid advancement on the following:   

·         Asset, device and service monitoring

·         Asset lifecycle management

·         Informed decision making

·         Improved customer experience

·         Business process automation

·         Regulatory, risk and compliance management

·         Security solutions  

Building applications to be completely compatible with SAFE, IBM has created a system to help partners validate their products as SAFE compliant. 

Despite large utility vendors having their own tools for integrating their products, SAFE caters to SMBs with tools to associate with the IBM brand, such as Trilliant (News - Alert), a company whose smart grid networks is one of SAFE’s first.  

Other IBM business partners that have committed to becoming SAFE-validated include BPL Global, Coulomb Technologies, eMeter, Enterprise Information Management, Itron, OSIsoft, and PowerSense. 

Along with IBM’s SAFE product, telecom major Cisco (News - Alert) has also joined in with its Smart Grid end-to-end ecosystem.