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Innovation is not enough: why technology must focus on people
More speed, more data, more capacity. For years, the conversation around innovation has focused on technology as the end goal. But the real challenge is to ask ourselves: Why are we innovating? Who are we helping? What specific needs are we addressing? When it comes to critical industries like energy—where every decision can impact a country’s safety, environment or overall efficiency—these questions are not optional; they are essential.
When we talk about innovation, it’s common to think of technological advances, artificial intelligence, robotics or operational efficiency. But too often, something fundamental is left out of that narrative: people. Innovation happens when a tool, a system or an idea solves a real problem, improves a process or transforms an organisation in a meaningful way.
Innovation is not just about automation
In the energy sector, innovation is not just about digitising processes—it’s about understanding what technical teams need, how decisions are made in the field, and what obstacles people face every day.
At Uali, we develop applied technology for energy asset inspections. But more importantly, we aim to listen, observe, and understand what truly makes a difference in our clients' operations. Recently, during a drone inspection in a remote area, one of our clients told us: "This doesn’t just save me time, it gives me peace of mind. Before, we relied on reports that took days; now, I have exactly what I need in minutes to make a decision."
If you are interested in innovation in industries, we recommend you to read: “Uali at IA in LATAM 2024: Driving digital transformation with Artificial Intelligence”
That is innovation with impact.
Sometimes it’s about reducing risk. Other times, it’s about anticipating a failure—or simply making sure someone in the field has clearer, faster, and more useful information to make better decisions.
That only happens when we look beyond technology and focus on the human experience. The innovation of the future cannot be disconnected from the environmental and social challenges we face today. From climate change to the optimisation of resources and processes, what’s at stake is not just performance—but the impact we generate with what we do.
If you liked this article, read: “Energy efficiency: the 3 most important challenges in the energy industry”.
At Uali, we combine drones with IoT and artificial intelligence to provide the energy industry with accurate, actionable information—empowering decision-making while creating a positive environmental impact. Get to know us!
Amelia Bálsamo
CTO
