Company Invests in Technology to Improve Operational Safety and Promote Employee Well-being.
The adoption of technological innovations is intensifying in the oil and gas sector. The advancement of digitalization, driven by solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), promises to bring significant transformations to this industry, with the potential to generate substantial operational savings. According to Allied Market Research, the AI market in the oil and gas sector is expected to reach $7.99 billion by 2031, with an annual growth rate of 13.5%. Key applications include predictive maintenance, which anticipates failures, and the optimization of drilling operations, leading to more efficient and safer processes.
Following these trends, Seagems, a Brazilian company specializing in subsea engineering solutions, is betting on these changes. The company has invested in technologies to enhance the safety and efficiency of its offshore operations. Among the initiatives is the integration of Operational Technology (OT) with Information Technology (IT), enabling real-time monitoring of its vessels through cameras and sensors, preventing failures and ensuring compliance with protocols. According to the company, both must increasingly be connected to the organization’s strategy, with the leaders of these areas prioritizing what truly matters: the business first, followed by technology. This alignment ensures that technology genuinely serves as a solution that adds value.
Fillipe Ferreira, CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Seagems, emphasizes that despite technological advancements, cultural transformation is the essential first step for successful innovation. “We are experiencing a transition in the sector, but the effectiveness of these technologies depends on an internal environment that encourages innovation. At Seagems, we promote collaborative platforms that allow all professionals to share their ideas simply and structurally, ensuring that all contributions are evaluated and considered,” says Ferreira.
The director stresses the need for caution with the “tech-for-tech” culture. According to Ferreira, technology should be seen as an enabler of solutions that meet business needs. Therefore, understanding the company’s goals and core business is crucial to integrating technology effectively and strategically.
This view is supported by a study from Mendix, which indicates that 70% of digital transformation initiatives fail due to a lack of cultural adaptation. Companies that prioritize mindset change and build a culture open to innovation are 1.5 times more likely to succeed in their digitalization projects. By fostering this cultural change, Seagems ensures that its investments in technology not only keep pace with industry trends but also generate concrete and sustainable results in various areas of the business. According to the executive, the company’s focus is on safety, operational excellence, and employee quality of life by simplifying and automating processes in one of the world’s highest-risk work areas – Risk Level 4, according to NR-4 regulations.
Another important fact is that resistance to change remains the biggest obstacle. Strong leadership and cultural change are crucial to overcoming this barrier. In 2023, Gartner released another study predicting that by the end of this year, 80% of organizations without clear KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for digital transformation will not achieve the expected results. This highlights the importance of defining clear metrics to guide these projects.
Ferreira also emphasizes the importance of data quality for the success of AI initiatives. “Collecting data is easy, but the real challenge is analyzing it strategically. Artificial intelligence only delivers significant results when we work with accurate data and understand how to transform them into insights that guide operational and strategic decisions.” The executive also points out that ensuring the cost of a technological solution and its implementation is lower than the cost of the challenge it aims to solve is crucial for the success of the investment. “This is essential for determining the relevance of adopting a specific technology, always seeking a balance between innovation, cost-effectiveness, and impact on the core business,” he adds.
Trends for 2025 in the Oil and Gas Sector
Looking ahead, Fillipe Ferreira shares some trends that are expected to transform the landscape in 2025. “The integration of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning will be key to driving automation and operational efficiency. Additionally, the use of digital platforms for advanced drilling simulations and real-time remote monitoring is growing.”
Ferreira also highlights the increasing adoption of renewable energies in the sector’s energy mix. “Companies are increasingly seeking to invest in clean energy solutions and carbon capture technologies to reduce their carbon footprint and meet stricter environmental targets.” With this, he reinforces the importance of a cultural environment that fosters continuous innovation. “For these trends to be applied effectively, cultural transformation will be essential, as it is people who will drive these technological changes.”
Artificial Intelligence and Employee Well-being
Since 2023, Seagems has adopted the “Adding by Subtracting” philosophy, focused on simplifying processes and improving both productivity and employee quality of life. In partnership with the SaaS platform Fiter, the company implemented the “Happiness Pulse,” a system that uses AI and neuroscience to measure employee well-being in just eight clicks. The tool assesses indicators such as job compatibility, institutional pride, and cultural fit, offering a personalized and precise diagnosis that facilitates continuous improvements in the work environment.
As part of this initiative, the company uses a collaborative platform based on the E.S.S.A. (Eliminate, Simplify, Standardize, and Automate) methodological approach, encouraging employees to propose improvements in their daily work. This approach stimulates employees to think about how to take care about various stages of daily processes, optimizing operations and creating a more efficient and safer environment.
As new technologies continue to evolve, Seagems seeks not only to keep up with these changes but also to stand out for its effectiveness in applying innovations. The company’s management understands that cultural transformation is essential to align new technologies with its strategic objectives, ensuring that the potential of these innovations is maximized.