Emerson network power advances battery infrastructure visibility and power availability with next-generation Alber Battery management software platform

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure, today introduced the Alber Battery Xplorer software platform. This new software improves visibility and maximizes the availability of critical power systems dependent on stationary back-up batteries by translating data into actionable insights that enable smarter, faster decisions. Emerson Network Power launched the user‑friendly software platform at Battcon 2015, which runs through May 14 in Orlando, Florida.

Unplanned downtime is a costly challenge for organizations. A 2013 study conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Emerson Network Power identified battery failure as the leading cause of unplanned outages. The Ponemon Institute also has reported that companies using monitoring and data center infrastructure management recover from outages 85 percent faster than those without it. The new Alber Battery Xplorer software platform provides real-time visibility across the entire battery infrastructure so organizations can view issues that previously were unseen and address them before they become problems that threaten the availability of critical power systems.

The Alber Battery Xplorer software platform is comprised of two software suites, Battery Xplorer (BX) and Battery Xplorer Enterprise (BXE). The Alber BX comes standard with Alber battery monitoring systems and is used to set up and configure these systems. Both the Alber BX and BXE provide real-time monitoring, alarm and event management, report generation, and data management capabilities. Reports have built-in decision support that analyzes the data and provides suggestions for the best corrective action. The Alber BXE software is web-based and includes additional functionality and management capabilities for enterprises with battery systems located at multiple sites. For example, it enables customers to manage distributed battery assets by centralizing alarms and notifications and aggregating and storing data from multiple sites or systems in a centralized database.

"The new Alber Battery Xplorer software platform simplifies the process of monitoring and proactively managing stationary batteries," said Enzo Greco, vice president and general manager, software, Emerson Network Power. "The new intuitive interface shows more data on one screen for analysis during real-time viewing, and it has enhanced graphical views that make it easier to identify and diagnose impending issues before they become costly problems."