Exploring DCIM’s role in data center evolution, with insight from an Uptime survey

The data center industry is evolving rapidly, driven by increasing capacity demands, new infrastructure management solutions, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

Understandably, this unprecedented growth is simultaneously driving increasing investment in technologies that optimize efficiency, improve visibility, and support sustainability goals. At the heart of this transformation is Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software, which has emerged as a critical tool for managing the scalability, regulatory, sustainability, and supply chain resilience-related challenges shaping the data center industry's future. However, the ability to effectively leverage these tools will depend heavily on how well they are integrated into broader infrastructure strategies, with automation, monitoring, and predictive analytics needing to work cohesively to address operational challenges effectively. Ultimately, success will depend both on how effectively data centers adapt and how inherently adaptable they actually are, with the latter necessitating a strategic approach that balances growth with efficiency, reliability, and environmental responsibility.

DCIM’s Role in a Changing Data Center Landscape

With these challenges wreaking increasingly complex data center infrastructure, it should hardly be seen as surprising that operators are turning to more robust tools for monitoring, analysis, and optimization purposes. Results from a recent Uptime Institute survey, show that nearly nine in ten organizations use DCIM to manage their physical infrastructure, with a 72% overall satisfaction rate. Of these operators, 72% of respondents say they utilize DCIM for infrastructure monitoring, namely the examination of key performance indicators such as power consumption and cooling efficiency, with 65% citing improved visibility into the operational performance of their assets as the top DCIM benefit. Similarly, nearly half of all respondents identified asset management as a key driver, with DCIM used to provide detailed insights into the status and lifecycle of IT and facility assets in such a way as to enable operators to make more informed decisions about capacity planning, resource allocation, and infrastructure investments.

Balancing Standardization and Customization in DCIM

Utilizing these benefits, however, requires an immediate recognition that DCIM doesn’t provide a one-size-fits-all solution, as highlighted in the Uptime survey. Uptime Institute’s findings reveal that while 71% of organizations utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, which provides a standardized approach and faster deployment, just over half have nevertheless sought to develop custom-built solutions to better align with their specific infrastructure needs, either to be utilized alongside or as a replacement for COTS software. Though caution should be exercised to avoid editorializing here, it hardly seems unreasonable to interpret this near-even divide as reflecting a longstanding broader industry tension- one in which operators recognize the benefits or even need for customization but remain wary of the resulting higher costs, longer implementation timelines, and ongoing support and maintenance demands. Indeed, this precise concern has been long recognized by RiT Tech, as attested to by its bid to offer tailored yet cost-efficient automation, provisioning, and monitoring capabilities as part of its XpedITe platform.

On-Premises vs. Cloud-Based DCIM Hosting

Whether to host DCIM on-premises or in the cloud further illustrates why a one-size-fits-all approach is often impractical. Security concerns and the need for control have led 80% of organizations to keep their DCIM software on-premises, according to the survey. In comparison, only 13% have moved to the public cloud, even if 27% of respondents say they would consider making the switch with consideration to advances in cloud security and remote management. In doing so, however, much as is the case with needing to weigh the trade-offs between standardized and customized software solutions, DCIM operators must consider whether the benefits of flexibility and scalability in cloud-based deployment outweigh the security and reduced control-related concerns, particularly as remote management capabilities evolve. Again, this attests to a problem that RiT Tech has actively sought to allay by integrating more unified visibility, workload optimization, and resource allocation across distributed environments into its signature UIIM platform. By enabling organizations to incorporate cloud scalability with on-premises security and control, UIIM ultimately seeks to supports a more flexible approach to DCIM deployment aligned with the industry's growing need for hybrid infrastructure solutions.

The Surge in Data Center Capacity and Expansion

The unprecedented growth of data centers has intensified the need for adaptability, introducing challenges related to scalability, resource allocation, and operational efficiency. Uptime Institute’s findings show that 67% of enterprise data center operators report facility expansion driven by rising IT workloads, evolving business demands, and growing AI adoption. This trend is even more pronounced among colocation providers, with 95% scaling to meet enterprise demand for additional space and power. Moreover, the fact that 52% of colocation respondents and 36% of overall operators are also considering the necessity for new builds suggests that even expansion may not be enough to satisfy demand, with new construction seemingly viewed by many as a strategic necessity for colocation providers looking to accommodate long-term demand, offer greater customization, and establish data centers in high-demand regions. Again, it is for these reasons that RiT Tech has sought to integrate predictive modeling, automated provisioning, and real-time workload alignment tools into its XpedITe platform. By doing so, XpedITe seeks to ensure greater efficiencies that mitigate the need for frequent expansion or new construction by more cleverly reducing overprovisioning, thereby minimizing disruptions and improving resource efficiency.

The Impact of AI on Data Center Infrastructure

These efficiencies are becoming even more critical as AI adoption reshapes data center infrastructure, requiring facilities to support significantly higher power densities than traditional IT applications. Uptime Institute’s findings indicate that 30% of organizations report IT growth rates exceeding 20%-megawatt annual growth, underscoring AI’s escalating impact on capacity planning and resource allocation. As RiT Tech has sought to demonstrate through its signature UIIM platform, however, it is of note that while AI workloads can drive up energy consumption, they also present opportunities for optimization—enabling more intelligent workload distribution, predictive cooling, and real-time power management that mitigates some of the added strain. When integrated effectively, these capabilities could allow data centers to allocate power and cooling resources more proactively, significantly reducing unnecessary energy consumption by maintaining and ensuring optimal performance.

Supply Chain Challenges and Infrastructure Readiness

These same AI-driven forecasting capabilities could also play a role in addressing supply chain resilience concerns as infrastructure demand continues to rise. AI-enabled solutions- such as those integrated into UIIM- have the potential to ease supply chain pressures by not only reducing the frequency with which expansion or new builds are required in the manner highlighted earlier but also by leveraging predictive analytics to proactively anticipate component shortages, thereby optimizing inventory management and consequently streamlining supplier coordination. This could prove particularly valuable given the inherent volatility of global supply chains, which often forces operators to constantly reassess sourcing strategies, diversify supplier networks, and stockpile essential components to safeguard against shortages. With the increasing sophistication of data center infrastructure- driven by AI adoption, higher power densities, and evolving cooling technologies- likely to complicate procurement strategies further courtesy of an intensified demand for specialized equipment and expertise, operators will naturally need to focus on securing resources more rapidly, requiring an adaptable approach that fully leverages predictive analytics as well as strategic partnerships and diversified sourcing strategies.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Data Centers

As the data center industry evolves, the ability to adapt and remain adaptable will be critical to long-term success, with operators needing to ensure infrastructure strategies remain flexible enough to accommodate shifting market demands, regulatory pressures, and technological advancements. The increasing complexity of AI-driven workloads, high-density computing, and evolving cooling and power requirements necessitates a more agile approach to design and operations, further complicated by supply chain volatility and sustainability concerns. At the same time, the growing interdependence between IT and facilities teams highlights the need for integrated management solutions that bridge infrastructure and operations. Uptime Institute’s survey findings reinforce this shift, with DCIM adoption expanding, capacity growth accelerating, and AI adding new layers of complexity to long-term infrastructure planning. Ultimately, those who embrace modular infrastructure, hybrid hosting strategies, and dynamic procurement models will be best positioned to navigate an increasingly complex and resource-intensive landscape while ensuring efficiency, resilience, and scalability.

If you would like to read more about how DCIM is evolving to meet the complexities of modern data centers, you can read more here.

RiT Tech: A Strategic Partner in Data Center Evolution

As data center operators navigate growing complexities, having a strategic partner that delivers both expertise and technology-driven solutions is essential. By offering end-to-end visibility, automation, and predictive insights to optimize capacity, streamline operations, and enhance supply chain resilience through our XpedITe and UIIM platforms, RiT Tech empowers operators to make data-driven decisions that drive efficiency, scalability, and long-term resilience. Find out more about how RiT Tech’s solutions can help future-proof your data center infrastructure in an increasingly AI-driven, high-density environment.