- Vertiv adds Waylay NV’s generative AI and automation tools to its portfolio.
- The deal answers growing pressure on data-centre power, cooling and uptime as AI reshapes digital workloads.
What happened: Vertiv buys Belgian AI software firm Waylay NV
Vertiv, the Ohio-based infrastructure provider has acquired the Waylay NV, a Belgian software firm known for its hyperautomation and generative AI platform. Waylay which founded in Ghent in 2014 is built a low-code environment that links machines, apps and the cloud to automate workflows and analyse live data streams. the software reads signals from connected devices, finds patterns, and then triggers actions to optimise system performance or avoid outages.
The company has a track record in telecoms, industrial firms, and service providers in Europe and beyond. the tools are designed to make sense of large volumes of data in real time, which is vital for complex systems that need to be stable and efficient. Vertiv said Waylay’s team will stay in Belgium and continue developing its software stack as part of the global group.
The deal follows a run of expansion moves by Vertiv. In early 2025, the firm bought Great Lakes Data Racks & Cabinets for about US $200 million, strengthening its rack and enclosure business. Vertiv is already a key supplier of UPS systems, thermal management, racks and digital management platforms across more than 40 countries, with 31,000 staff worldwide.
Also read: Vertiv to acquire Great Lakes in major data centre expansion
Also read: Oklo and Vertiv join forces for AI data centres
Why it’s important
AI adoption has changed the way of data centres operate. Training large models consumes high amounts of power and cooling, and operators facing growth energy bills and sustainability targets. In the US and Europe, utilities and regulators are already warning that AI demand may triple data-centre energy needs within a decade. This has put pressure on vendors like Vertiv to deliver more intelligent systems that can adapt to shifting loads.
the platform of Waylay adds a layer of intelligence that sits above the hardware. With predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring and automation, operators can squeeze more value out of their existing systems. A cooling unit can run harder when needed and slow down when idle. A UPS can warn before it fails. Workflows can be adjusted on the fly without human engineers on site.
For Vertiv, adding this AI software gives it a stronger position against rivals such as Schneider Electric, Eaton and Huawei. These companies are also pushing into smart data-centre management, but Waylay’s low-code and generative AI focus could give Vertiv a sharper edge in automation.
The deal also highlights Belgium’s role as a growing tech hub in Europe. Ghent, where Waylay was founded, has become known for spin-offs and start-ups in software, biotech and engineering. Vertiv’s choice to keep the team in place suggests it values that ecosystem and plans to build on it.
Industry watchers say this step is less about short-term revenue and more about long-term positioning. As AI reshapes digital workloads, infrastructure companies cannot rely only on selling more hardware. They need to add intelligence, automation and services. Vertiv’s latest move is one sign of that shift, blending heavy engineering with advanced software.
