Fischer Panda on the challenge of combining specialist knowledge with accessible expertise

As onboard power systems bring together more components, the challenge is increasingly to make them work as a complete, connected installation. Fischer Panda UK | Power Solutions explains how software, data access and digital support are changing the way equipment is specified, integrated and maintained –  while highlighting the continuing importance of engineering expertise and customer relationships.

Growing expectations around ease of use, access to information and the speed of support is changing as customers want systems that are straightforward to operate and understand, with less time spent navigating technical documentation or dealing with avoidable complexity. So says Chris Fower, MD at Fischer Panda UK | Power Solutions.

“At the same time, marine installations can be technically demanding, and specialist knowledge remains essential for safe specification, integration and troubleshooting. Our challenge is to use technology to make that expertise more accessible, while maintaining the quality of engineering advice and personal support customers rely on.”

The shift towards connected systems

With these expectations around ease, access and speed underpinning customers’ needs, Fower is expecting the industry to think increasingly in terms of complete, software-enabled systems rather than individual pieces of equipment.

“Physical hardware will remain fundamental, but data, monitoring, automation and access to technical information will play a greater role in how systems are operated and supported,” he says.

Making onboard power systems work together

Fischer Panda UK supplies, designs, installs, and services integrated onboard power, climate control, and water production systems for the marine, specialist vehicle, and defence sectors (its marine offering is available on its website).

“We anticipate that remote visibility and better access to relevant information could help make fault-finding and maintenance more efficient, although the practical benefits will depend on the system and application.

“For FPUK, the priority is to work with our brand partners to identify useful developments and bring them together into solutions that improve the customer experience, rather than introducing technology simply because it is available.”

Broadening knowledge base

Fower says the move towards software provision alongside equipment has broadened the knowledge required across the business, rather than removing the need for traditional engineering expertise.

While FPUK’s core products remain rooted in power generation and management, the systems around them are becoming increasingly connected and software-enabled.

“As a distributor, installer and system integrator, we need to understand not only the physical equipment but also its interfaces, control systems, monitoring capabilities and the information required to support it.

Customers want to understand how systems work together

Fower says that today’s customers are looking beyond the individual generator, battery or power-management component. “They want to understand how everything works together, how the system can be monitored and how quickly they can get the right support when they need it.”

This means FPUK works closely with its brand partners, sharing feedback from customers, installers and its own engineers to help ensure that new products and digital capabilities address real-world needs.

“For us, this evolution is not about adding technology for its own sake. It is about bringing the right equipment together and making it easier to specify, operate and support as a complete system.”

Integration has always been central to FPUK’s work, but it is becoming more significant as onboard power systems incorporate multiple sources of generation, battery storage, charging, distribution, monitoring and control. A component can perform well in isolation, but the overall installation also depends on how effectively the different elements communicate and work together.

“We work with our brand partners to understand the available interfaces and compatibility requirements, then help specify and install combinations that meet the needs of each application,” explains Fower. “As systems become more connected, interoperability, clear system architecture and the ability to support the installation as a whole become increasingly important alongside the performance of individual products.”

AI-powered technical support

One practical example of bringing knowledge and use together is ‘Ethan’. That’s an AI chatbot introduced by Fischer Panda to help technical partners find relevant information through its database of technical manuals and knowledge.

“Our own team uses Ethan to find answers more quickly and efficiently, helping us provide better support to our customers,” Fower says. “However, technology will never replace the value of personal relationships. We pride ourselves on supporting customers over many years, often with the same member of our team who knows their boat, understands how they use it and is familiar with the equipment installed. Having that background makes a real difference when providing relevant advice and resolving technical queries.”

Digital tools across the business

Digital transformation extends beyond the equipment FPUK is supplying. The organisation’s reviewing how it uses automation and digital tools across its own operations, from streamlining internal processes to improving customer communications and making technical information easier to access.

“We also feed back observations from customers, installers and our engineering team to our brand partners, helping inform the development of products and digital capabilities that address real-world needs. As a system integrator, our value increasingly lies in bringing the right technologies together, supporting them throughout their working life and making the overall experience as straightforward as possible for the customer,” Fower concludes.

Separately, FPUK is working with a UK technology company to develop a remote-monitoring system for specialist vehicle fleets, with the potential to explore applications in the marine sector in the future. Although this work is still in development, it reflects the wider interest in using digital tools to improve system visibility and enhance the support FP provides throughout the equipment’s working life.

Visit Fischer Panda at Metstrade: 02.500 (generators marine & yacht); 05.561 (electric motors & drive systems).