Midyear Musings: Insights from Our Customers

It's hard to believe we're already approaching the end of the third quarter. This year has sparked meaningful conversations about the future of aviation, while also prompting reflection on the progress we've made as an industry.

Across several discussions with our customers, there was an underlying hard truth: The industry is navigating one of its most challenging eras yet. With the pace of innovation accelerating, constrained resources, and steady supply chain woes, companies all across the globe are confronting more challenges than ever before.

In this environment, one truth rings clear: There is a demand for technology that actually solves these pressing problems.

"Across the board - from airlines to lessors to MROs - operational complexity is increasing, while resources remain constrained. There's an urgent need for data-driven insights and process automation to drive greater predictability and efficiency."

- Andrew Coleman, general manager, GE Aerospace Software as a Service

How can we harness the power of innovative technology, not just for the sake of innovation, but to address the pain points present in the industry? Here are just a few of the answers GE Aerospace's Software as a Service (SaaS) team has heard from customers wanting to simplify operations without creating further strain:

Use AI to Do More with Less

It's no secret that artificial intelligence is everywhere, and we're all eager to know what's next for the future of AI in aviation applications.

The consensus is that the "next big thing" in AI is agentic AI - AI-powered "agents" capable of performing tasks that were once manual, repetitive, and time-consuming across multiple systems. It has the potential to enhance the efficiency of human teams, which in turn alleviates user and developer workloads.

One emerging advancement in agentic AI is the rise of chat-based interfaces that allow users to interact with data in multiple, disconnected systems, all through a chat-style interface. These systems can perform automated checks for data quality and compliance, all within a single conversational workflow, which can create further efficiencies.

"The possibilities for agentic AI are endless. Imagine an AI solution that doesn't just respond but proactively solves problems and lightens your team's workload. Additionally, agentic AI can be orchestrated across different systems through a single end-user chat-style interface. This would be powerful for so many different use cases, and this is what is really exciting to me."

- Nate Hicks, vice president of product management, GE Aerospace Software as a Service

Adopt Unified Solutions

There is a growing demand for tools that can help reduce waste, enhance fuel efficiency, and extend the useful life of aircraft. At the same time, many of the people and organizations we spoke with expressed frustration with the complexity of their current tech stack. The consensus is that aviation needs more unified solutions that enable more streamlined operations.

"Many of our peers expressed concern around asset efficiency. Particularly, how can we maximize fleet efficiency and reduce complexity all at once?"

- Adam Ward, vice president and global commercial leader, GE Aerospace Software as a Service

Embrace the Power of Partnership

The complexity of aviation, combined with the pressure to modernize and meet evolving regulatory standards, demands technological solutions that are reliable, secure, and built for long-term performance.

Choosing partners that are tried and true gives organizations access to proven technology, deep expertise, ongoing support, and a clear understanding of industry-specific challenges. This ensures that innovation doesn't come at the cost of risk - easing minds and easing operations.

"There's momentum to work together - because solving aviation's toughest problems will take more than just great software; it will take trusted partners."

- Andrew Coleman, general manager, GE Aerospace Software as a Service

Despite the challenges facing the aerospace industry, we're all banding together to reaffirm a collective commitment to creating a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future. Real progress begins with purpose-built technology. If you're ready to elevate your organization and explore a new partnership, connect with GE Aerospace SaaS. Together we can collaborate, innovate, and start shaping the future today.