In this interview, we speak to Ankush Malhotra, President of Fluke Reliability, as he reveals what he’s most excited about ahead of Xcelerate24 in March. Ankush says he’s more enthusiastic than ever about the future of maintenance and reliability, and this year’s Xcelerate conference is a showcase of all that’s possible with AI, IIoT, and the technologies driving industry innovation.
To register for Xcelerate24, visit flukereliability.com/xcelerate.
What are your favorite pastimes from Xcelerate?
Ankush: What I love about Xcelerate is the firsthand opportunity to learn from our customers. Everyone is there benchmarking each other and sharing insights. It also always energizes me to engage with users and hear the impact of our technologies and strategies. The feedback from this customer community is a major driver of progress across our platforms, which ultimately benefits all. This year, I’m especially excited to talk about how AI and predictive maintenance can transform our customers’ businesses.
Who are you most excited to hear speak this year?
Ankush: With this year’s theme of simplifying connectivity and everything going on with AI, I’m particularly excited to hear from industry leaders. Our customers often tell us how much they look forward to Xcelerate, but this year really is one not to miss. We have these people who are pioneering the integration of AI and predictive maintenance into their operations. Like everyone else, I’m looking forward to hearing their insights firsthand. I think the sessions offer valuable lessons and innovative strategies that align with our own mission to advance operational excellence through technology.
What does simplifying connectivity – this year’s theme – mean to you?
Ankush: To me, “simplifying connectivity” embodies the goal of making our complex industrial systems more accessible, understandable, and manageable through technology. It’s about breaking down barriers between different data sources and systems to create a seamless, integrated operational ecosystem. The theme really emphasizes how important it is today to harness the power of connected devices, cloud computing, and AI to facilitate easier, more effective decision-making and operational efficiency. Ultimately, this is what’s driving the future of maintenance and reliability forward in a way that’s both innovative and user-friendly.
Are there sessions attendees shouldn’t miss?
Ankush: I could never play favorites. I’d love to go to them all. But, for me, my passion is about leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges in maintenance and reliability. I think the “Innovation Through Connectivity” track will offer a glimpse into the future of our industry and how integrated solutions will drive efficiency and productivity. The “X5 Customer Panel” should offer valuable insights from users who have successfully implemented these technologies. Also, “AI/ML-Backed Remote Condition Monitoring” should highlight the practical applications of advanced technologies in improving operational outcomes, which is at the heart of what excites me about our field.
Learn more about all the Xcelerate24 tracks and see the full agenda.
How do you think attendees can apply lessons from Xcelerate back home with their teams?
Ankush: What we see with our customers is that so many of them face similar operational challenges. By engaging in workshops and discussions at Xcelerate, they often leave with new ways to think about problems – or even hear about how others solved for the same pain point. Of course, Xcelerate also offers training with practical knowledge on implementing advanced technologies and strategies within their teams. So, when they go back home, they share these learnings with their teams and integrate new best practices into daily operations that can drive significant improvements.