Siemens intensifies datacentre focus with launch of DCIM tool

Siemens has launched its first datacentre infrastructure management (DCIM) tool – Datacenter Clarity LC – in a bid to spread its focus into a broader datacentre arena.

Like most other DCIM tools, Datacenter Clarity LC combines management and facilities management functions. 

It will help datacentre managers to make smarter decisions and optimise efficiencies, according to Siemens. 

DCIM tools help professionals in capacity planning, asset visualisation, workflow management, applications management, real-time monitoring and IT lifecycle management to ensure energy and systems efficiencies.

As part of its datacentre strategy, Siemens has extended its collaboration with long-term partner Maya Heat Transfer Technologies, which owns the Clarity brand.

Not many companies can provide and integrate all the technologies and services needed for today’s datacentres, said John Kovach, global head of datacentres at Siemens.

In its DCIM tool, the company has brought together two of its core capabilities – enterprise technology integration and management, and datacentre-specific tools built on product lifecycle management (PLM) software.

Siemens’s PLM software has more than seven million licensees globally, including in mission-critical industries. For example, Nasa used the PLM software to digitally design, simulate, analyse and assemble the entire Mars rover Curiosity.

“While other companies are trying to patchwork disparate platforms together, we’re able to come in with a complete, scalable platform based on technologies already being used,” said Kovach.

DCIM, which had no market penetration until 2009, is said to be a hot area of investment for datacentre suppliers as users increase their focus on datacentre energy efficiency and cost savings.

According to analyst Gartner, the DCIM market will grow from its current value of $450m to $1.7bn by 2016.