SARI..BE

Simply put, SARI..BE is a comprehensive, customisable web-based software platform that discovers physical, logical, operational and human assets, imports, integrates and “cleans” data about those assets, presents a 3D global relationship asset and their sub-asset hierarchical connections. The “live” data is then used to identify, manage and improve business functions and select processes and workflows that can be automated. Assets, functions, workflows, people, etc. can all be monitored in real-time with alerts to managers or, in relevant cases, with automated remediations.

In reality, the breadth of SARI..BE functionality makes it difficult to classify. It contains broad elements of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) across 10 key business functions, in turn supported by, and augmented with, Artificial Intelligence (AI). Its ability to automatically discover IP based assets and also ingest a wide range of application and physical asset data give it a much broader asset management capability than, say, a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). It monitors and manages infrastructure performance in real-time, taking in a range of assets that would normally be covered by multiple enterprise management systems, and more technical applications including Building Management Systems (BMS), Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) and IT operations monitoring tools. It also provides what-if modelling scenarios, all this provided with a 3-D visualisation interface that delivers what is, in effect, a Digital Twin of your physical and logical business operations.

We have called SARI..BE a platform. NDI Executives refer to SARI..BE as an Business ecosystem. It doesn’t fit the normal IT industry description of an ecosystem of partners and marketplaces. However, the modular nature of the components on the SARI..BE platform and the way they interact with and complement each other does bring to mind some types of biological ecosystem.

Customer Quotes

“In 2020, increasing productivity and ensuring that technology and data better support operations were cited as
the top drivers for Digital Transformation.”
The 2020 State of Digital Transformation Report by Altimeter, A Prophet Company

“We can model and simulate past, present and future views for our whole environment.”
Alan Pultz, Data Centre Architect, JITC Agency, USA Department of Defense

At the heart of this ecosystem lies an Oracle 19 database that provides a single, authoritative view of all the physical, logical, operational, and human assets of the business that can be viewed in a visual, almost virtual reality-like, 3D format that aids understanding and optimises decision making, either by human or digital robot operations, or a combination of the two.

SARI..BE takes a wide range of direct digital inputs. Industry and de-facto standard network discovery tools are used to find, categorise, and map any device with an IP address or not. Data and AI processes can be ingested from Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), IT Service Management (ITSM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and a wide variety of other IT and business management systems. Further inputs can also be taken from Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems and Biometrics.

The SARI..BE platform contains modules covering 10 key business areas; – Governance, Legal, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, Technology, Operations, Customers, Partners and AI Management. Each come with a set of pre-defined functions and workflows to which users can add and modify additional functions and AI processes within SARI..BE itself.

All these inputs are used to feed SARI..BE’s Core AI Engine and provide data rationalisation, analytics, and automation functionality. Using customer-defined rules-based triggers, SARI..BE identifies and remediates issues with assets, configurations, rules, behaviours and processes proactively, and where possible, autonomously, using Robotic Process Automation and/or actual physical robot devices. The AI Engine continuously assesses interactions between assets and outcomes achieved to optimise operational outcomes.

SARI..BE has a strong simulation and what if scenario planning capability where its 3D graphical, business rules and AI processes views are particularly useful. In operations management use cases, SARI..BE data can be output to devices to provide site engineers with step-by-step guides for handling both routine maintenance or more complex problem resolution. Output can also be directly to Robotics and IoT Devices.

Currently, deployment is via cloud and on-premises installation. Services are provided to help customers with initial configuration requirements, process discovery and improvement, and support during early stages of operation.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has provided tangible proof of the imperative for businesses to be agile and resilient. In just a few short days and weeks, organisations had to pivot their operations, often with the help of digital technologies. The 2020 State of Digital Transformation Report by Altimeter observed that “operations support, agility, and revenue are top priorities given Covid”. In such an environment having a single, authoritative view of all the assets in the business, both logical and physical, and the interactions and interdependencies between them, is critical for rapid, risk-assessed decision making and, ultimately, the survival and success of the organisation.

For Data Centre Architect, Alan Pultz, at the JITC Agency, USA Department of Defense, SARI..BE enables them to “model and simulate past, present and future views of our environment”, while for an Executive Director at a U.S. Government Agency, SARI..BE has become their Manager of Managers “supporting decision making, improving quality assurance and helping gain efficiencies”. Today all businesses need that same sort of capability.

The Bottom Line

The ability to integrate, understand and optimise the physical, logical, operational, and human assets and Artificial Intelligence processes that support your business, and how to change and optimise them at pace, is critical in an environment of perpetual, and sometimes unexpected change. Increasingly, we believe the ability to view this in Digital Twin Platform that combines realistic 3D of the physical environment will provide an extra level of competitive advantage. The capabilities of SARI..BE, as demonstrated in several Government and Commercial large and complex operational environments offer an interesting entry point to such a Digital Twin Augmented Reality Ecosystem environment.