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EcoFlow New Product Launch Roundtable Forum Focuses on Self-Evolving Smart Energy

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From ‘User-Managed Energy’ to ‘Energy Serving Users’: Whither the Next-Generation HEMS?

MUNICH, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In recent years, with the rapid adoption of residential photovoltaics, energy storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and dynamic electricity tariffs, home energy systems are undergoing a significant transformation from device management to energy orchestration. Concurrently, a new wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic AI, is shaping the future of next-generation Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS).

On June 22, EcoFlow hosted a new product launch event in Munich, officially unveiling its next-generation smart home energy management system – OASIS 3.0. As the central pillar of EcoFlow’s intelligent energy ecosystem, OASIS evolved from the energy management capabilities of the EcoFlow App first released in 2020, before undergoing a systematic upgrade in 2023 to formally establish the OASIS system architecture. Powered by the EcoFlow App – the world’s NO. 1 smart home energy App with 3.4 million users, EcoFlow is shifting the industry focus from device connectivity to deeper user understanding. This marks a new era: moving from user-managed energy to energy that proactively serves the user.

Against this backdrop, EcoFlow concurrently hosted a roundtable forum during the launch event. Representatives from academia, industry, user communities, and corporate technology sectors were invited to discuss Towards a Truly Proactive and Self-Evolving Home Energy System. The forum explored core challenges in home energy management, new opportunities presented by Agentic AI technology, and the future development of smart home energy systems.

The forum’s distinguished panelists included Dr. Anurag Mohapatra, Group Leader at CoSES, Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering (MEP), Technical University of Munich (TUM); Thomas Haupt, Initiator and Project Manager of the HEMS-Finder research project; Felix Goldbach, a YouTuber, speaker, and podcaster, best known for his channel Money for Future; and Dr. Xiaoke Yang, EcoFlow’s AI Technology Lead. Their perspectives offered comprehensive insights into the evolution of next-generation HEMS.

HEMS: A Major Building Block of the Future Energy System

Before the panel discussion, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Hamacher, Chair of Renewables and Sustainable Energy Systems and Director of the Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering (MEP) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), delivered a keynote speech titled “HEMS: A Major Component in a Smarter and More Flexible Power Grid.” He noted that HEMS will become a major building block of future smart grids and power systems. As electricity becomes the central final energy carrier, economic competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience will be key priorities for the future energy system. Future power grids may be organized through a hierarchical structure of “Energy Cells”, ranging from individual devices and households to buildings and districts. Within this structure, HEMS will play an important role in coordinating active energy resources, providing flexibility, and enhancing system resilience. Looking ahead, the future power system could be simpler and more resilient than many expect, with the key challenge being to think simple and focus on real tasks.

From ‘Device Connection’ to ‘User Understanding’: The Real Challenges of HEMS

During the roundtable discussion, panelists highlighted the practical challenges still facing current home energy management systems.

Dr. Anurag Mohapatra noted that device integration and system interoperability remain widespread industry challenges. Despite claims of support for open protocols, compatibility issues between different devices and installation complexity continue to compromise user experience. He further emphasised that there is still a lack of industry benchmarks, making system comparison difficult and preventing clear technical baselines across vendors.

Thomas Haupt offered a market-centric view, noting that the primary concerns in the German home energy system market revolve around device communication capabilities, installation service infrastructure, and cross-system compatibility. He further added that it is often unclear what each system is actually designed to do, making it difficult to compare solutions and effectively transfer knowledge to installers, which in turn led to his initiative, the HEMS Finder project. For most users, a system’s stability, reliability, and ease of installation often outweigh its complex intelligent features.

Felix Goldbach, a content creator and user representative with a long-standing focus on home energy applications, shared observations from a user’s perspective. He emphasized that most users do not want to constantly monitor or adjust systems, and that AI can meaningfully help by keeping interaction simple and minimal.

From a technical standpoint, Dr. Xiaoke Yang observed that many HEMS still suffer from “functional silos”, where prediction, optimisation, and user interaction are fragmented. Furthermore, there is a significant gap between system operation and user understanding. Making system complexity transparent and comprehensible to users remains a major challenge.

From Rule Execution to User Understanding: HEMS Enters the Agentic AI Era

The rapid advancement of AI has frequently brought up discussions about the impact of LLMs and Agentic AI technology on the home energy sector.

Dr. Yang stated that over the past decade, HEMS has evolved from rule-driven to AI-prediction-driven stages. With the rapid advancement of LLMs and Agentic AI, home energy systems are poised to enter a new phase.

In this new phase, systems will no longer merely execute predefined logic and algorithms. Instead, they will comprehend user intentions and dynamically reconfigure functional units. For instance, users could simply express needs like “I’m travelling next week, please minimise electricity costs” or “We’re hosting a party this weekend, prioritise comfort.” The system would then automatically translate these into energy optimisation goals, intelligently coordinate generation, storage, charging, and household loads, and execute the resulting plan after user confirmation.

This “Agentic HEMS”, capable of self-evolving based on user needs, ensures that AI serves user decisions rather than making decisions for them.

This self-evolving approach is also designed to address some fundamental challenges facing modern home energy systems, including fragmented device ecosystems, dynamic and unpredictable external conditions, and diverse energy needs across households. Rather than following fixed optimisation strategies, the system continuously learns from user preferences, adapts to changing conditions, and intelligently coordinates energy assets across the home. Over time, it becomes increasingly personalised, resilient, and autonomous, helping users achieve their goals with less effort while always keeping them in control.

Dr. Anurag Mohapatra also suggested that it makes sense to apply AI in a data-native environment. At the same time, he stressed that fallback layers and engineering backups must be in place. The verifiability of system decisions must also be clearly demonstrated.

What Users Care About: Beyond the AI Label

How AI capabilities translate into tangible user experience was also a key point of discussion.

Anurag agreed that the most important systems are those users barely notice, operating reliably in the background. He further noted that In Germany, where grid reliability is already high, HEMS must integrate into infrastructure-level expectations, becoming invisible background intelligence rather than a constantly visible tool.

Thomas Haupt further elaborated, suggesting that the ideal future home energy system might be the one that requires as little user input as possible. He added that AI-driven HEMS can bring benefits to end users.

Felix Goldbach engaged the audience by asking how many installers are already selling equipment bundled with a HEMS. He noted that, driven by the rise of dynamic tariffs, HEMS is rapidly becoming a standard feature rather than a niche offering.

Dr. Xiaoke Yang concurred, stating that the key to next-generation HEMS lies in AI truly understanding users, making complex decisions effectively, and returning every critical decision-making power to the user. This involves a technical pathway where users set goals, AI develops plans, users confirm, and the system executes. He emphasised that continuous learning and optimisation should ultimately aim to alleviate the user’s energy management burden. Beyond operational efficiency, data security is another critical requirement: all user data must remain user-owned, locally operable and controllable, and protected through robust security mechanisms. Together, these principles define an “AI you control”.

From Smart Systems to Open Ecosystems: Next-Generation HEMS Needs Common Standards

Achieving worry-free and user-friendly energy management requires more than just AI capabilities. Fundamental functionalities like device interconnection, energy service access, and grid coordination still necessitate unified, open industry standards.

As previously noted by Dr. Anurag Mohapatra and Thomas Haupt, a core challenge lies in communication interfaces and device interoperability. While intelligent capabilities are crucial for HEMS, their value can only be fully realised within a unified, open, and sustainable ecosystem.

Dr. Xiaoke Yang stated that as home energy systems progressively move towards an AI Agent-driven era, technical innovation from a single company alone cannot resolve industry coordination issues. To foster long-term healthy industry development, EcoFlow has received official approval for an LF Energy project and plans to collaborate with industry partners to co-create next-generation HEMS benchmark scenarios. The goal is to address long-standing industry pain points such as device interconnection, data interoperability, and transparency in system validation scenarios by promoting an benchmarking platform. He concluded that future home energy systems should not be closed silos. Instead, they should be built upon open ecosystems and unified standards. Also with the increasing number and diversity of flexible resources, HEMS plays an increasingly important role in providing flexibility and enhancing the resilience of larger power grids. Only when devices, energy service providers, and grid systems can coordinate efficiently can the full value of smart energy management be unleashed.

Future HEMS will gradually evolve from energy scheduling tools into intelligent energy agents capable of understanding user needs, proactively formulating strategies, and continuously optimising their own capabilities within open ecosystems and unified standards.  As an important pioneer of this transformation, EcoFlow is advancing this vision through OASIS 3.0, driving home energy management toward a smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable future.

ABOUT ECOFLOW

EcoFlow is a global pioneer in eco-friendly energy solutions, driving the transition toward smarter, cleaner and more independent power. Founded in 2017, EcoFlow is No. 1 in smart home energy storage solutions, empowering millions of users to take control of their energy at home and beyond. With operational headquarters in Seattle, Düsseldorf, Irvine, Tokyo and Birmingham, and a business and data centre in Singapore, EcoFlow operates as a global ecosystem spanning research, operations, and manufacturing. Its innovative technologies serve over 6 million users across 140 markets and redefine how the world takes control of its energy. https://www.ecoflow.com/eu

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DIGITIMES Intelligence: Chip Controls Are Reshaping China’s Auto Supply Chain — BYD Shows What Comes Next

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September 7, 2026

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TAIPEI, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global automotive industry is entering a new phase in which semiconductors are becoming as strategically important as batteries, motors and manufacturing scale. As vehicles evolve into software-defined, AI-enabled platforms, chips increasingly determine everything from power management and cockpit functions to advanced driver-assistance systems. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and technology restrictions are pushing automakers to rethink where those chips come from — turning semiconductor supply into a strategic issue for the global auto industry.

China sits at the center of that shift. U.S. and allied export controls introduced since 2022 were designed primarily to restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies and manufacturing equipment. Yet the restrictions have also added urgency to Beijing’s long-running localization strategy. A March 2026 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that the controls have accelerated the adoption of domestic chips and equipment, while strengthening coordinated efforts across government and industry to localize semiconductor design and manufacturing.

The automotive sector is becoming one of the clearest testing grounds for that strategy. Chinese automakers are accelerating efforts to increase domestic chip sourcing as Beijing pushes for greater semiconductor self-reliance across strategic industries. The shift is especially significant because modern electric and intelligent vehicles depend on a broad range of semiconductors — from mature-node power devices and microcontrollers to increasingly sophisticated computing chips for smart-driving systems.

Against this backdrop, a new DIGITIMES Intelligence report identifies BYD as a particularly revealing case of what happens when policy-driven localization meets years of prior corporate investment. Unlike automakers that are only now accelerating their semiconductor strategies, BYD began building in-house chip capabilities more than two decades ago, initially focusing on power-control semiconductors needed for electric vehicles.

That strategy has steadily moved up the semiconductor value chain. BYD’s early work in IGBT and silicon carbide (SiC) power devices helped secure critical electronic-control components for its EV business. Its semiconductor roadmap has since expanded toward higher-compute smart-driving SoCs, culminating in the Xuanji A3, which the DIGITIMES Intelligence report identifies as entering scaled production on a 4nm automotive-grade process.

The difference is not simply chip design. DIGITIMES Intelligence finds that BYD has spent more than two decades building an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model spanning chip design, wafer fabrication and mass-production deployment, supported by multiple in-house fabs and a dedicated semiconductor engineering organization. That vertical integration gives BYD a different starting point from automakers now entering custom silicon primarily in response to supply-chain pressure.

The strategic value of that investment may ultimately extend beyond cars. DIGITIMES senior analyst Jessie Lin notes that intelligent vehicles and humanoid robots share many of the same foundational technologies, including AI processors, sensors, motors, batteries and control systems. BYD’s accumulated expertise in smart-driving silicon and algorithms could therefore provide a foundation for expansion into robotics and other physical AI applications.

That possibility is becoming more relevant as China accelerates its push into embodied and physical AI. At the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, more than 300 companies showcased over 2,000 robotics exhibits, with humanoid robots increasingly demonstrated in manufacturing, logistics and household applications rather than simply as prototypes. The growing overlap between China’s EV and robotics ecosystems could make capabilities in batteries, motors, sensors, manufacturing and AI increasingly transferable across the two industries.

BYD’s trajectory also illustrates why the long-term impact of semiconductor export controls is difficult to assess in simple terms. Restrictions can constrain access to frontier technology in the short term, while simultaneously strengthening incentives for domestic substitution and investment. CSIS has argued that although export controls have limited China’s access to some leading-edge technologies, they have also added momentum to domestic semiconductor innovation and localization.

The implications extend beyond BYD or even China’s auto industry. As cars become more dependent on advanced computing, semiconductor capability is increasingly becoming part of automakers’ competitive strategy — alongside software, batteries, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. The rise of vertically integrated players such as BYD could therefore reshape not only automotive semiconductor sourcing, but also the boundaries between automakers, chipmakers and emerging physical AI companies.

The new DIGITIMES Intelligence report examines BYD’s semiconductor evolution from power devices and SiC to smart-driving SoCs, the structural advantages created by its IDM model, and how those capabilities could position the company as China’s automotive semiconductor localization accelerates and physical AI emerges as a new growth frontier.

For more information: DIGITIMES Intelligence – BYD Semiconductor Report
https://dgt.ms/reportBYDchips_prnewswire

About DIGITIMES

DIGITIMES is a Decision Intelligence platform rooted at the core of the industry, dedicated to helping global decision–makers navigate change and formulate strategies through first–hand insights and AI–driven analysis. We integrate intelligence services, forward–looking research, and influence marketing to provide comprehensive support from insights to execution—continuously defining the future with clarity and serving as a long–term strategic partner for businesses moving forward.

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AI, Connectivity and What Comes Next: Inside Asia Innovation Summit 2026

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September 7, 2026

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Globe Teleservices (GTS), a global telecom solutions provider, hosted the Asia Innovation Summit 2026 on 20 August in Singapore, bringing together 50+ industry leaders from 30+ companies across MNOs, technology providers and enterprise ecosystems to discuss the forces reshaping digital communications.

The expert-led panels focused on the key shifts reshaping digital communications, including the convergence of telecom, cloud and OTT, and the rise of Agentic AI in business messaging. Speakers explored the move from campaign-led communication to continuous, intelligent and context-driven interactions, with identity and consent becoming critical to trusted engagement.

The Summit also addressed the changing economics of A2P SMS, as the industry moves from volume-led models towards subscriber engagement, sustainable value and measurable outcomes. Together, the sessions pointed to a clear shift in communication – from delivering messages at scale to creating greater value from every interaction

“Telecom and digital communications are entering a new phase, driven by AI, Network APIs and evolving communication models. The Asia Innovation Summit has become a platform for industry leaders to share perspectives, exchange ideas and collaborate on the opportunities shaping this next phase.” said Ashutosh Agrawal, Group CEO, Globe Teleservices.

With diverse perspectives spanning telecom, technology and enterprise ecosystems, Asia Innovation Summit 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of digital communications. The summit served as a forum to share industry insights and identify new opportunities for innovation across Asia and beyond.

About Globe Teleservices

Globe Teleservices Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based global telecom solutions provider with a presence across Malaysia, USA, Dubai, Tanzania, Ghana, India and Hong Kong. GTS provides next-gen solutions in A2P monetization, omnichannel messaging, anti-fraud and cloud services. GTS is a member of MEF, GSMA and GLF. Its recognitions include Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies 2026, 2025 and 2024, AI Initiative of the Year – Malaysia & Telecom Technology Solutions Provider of the Year – Malaysia at the Asian Telecom Awards 2026.

 

 

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AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation, New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments Named 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award Winners

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September 7, 2026

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Four organisations recognised for transforming mission-critical operations through process and AI

SYDNEY, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Appian [Nasdaq: APPN] today announced AIA Australia, Long Service Corporation New South Wales (NSW), New Zealand Police and RMBL Investments as the winners of its 2026 Asia Pacific and Japan Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards celebrate customers driving AI automation and process transformation with measurable results on the Appian Platform.

The entrants span financial services, government, public safety, land administration and worker entitlements. The four Australian and New Zealand organisations were recognised for leveraging the Appian Platform to accelerate insurance claims, administer portable long service leave at scale, transform non-emergency police case management, and support the growth of investment and lending operations. They demonstrate how organisations can redesign complex processes, connect fragmented data and apply AI to deliver measurable improvements for employees, customers and communities.

“Real innovation earns its place in an organisation by making critical work faster, simpler and more accountable,” said Charlie Hutchinson, SVP Asia Pacific and Japan at Appian. “This year’s winners have moved beyond incremental improvements to redesign the processes at the heart of their operations. They demonstrate the measurable impact that process and AI can deliver when applied to work that really matters.”

The 2026 Appian APJ Innovation Award winners are:

AIA Australia

AIA Australia, a leading life and health insurer that protects the lives of more than 3 million Australians, is transforming claims management through a digital-first approach that makes the claims experience simpler, more transparent and easier to navigate.

Leveraging the Appian platform, AIA has created a connected ecosystem that streamlines interactions between customers, fund partners and claims teams, enabling greater efficiency and more personalised support for its customers when they need it most.

By innovating across the end-to-end claims journey, AIA is strengthening its ability to deliver timely assistance at critical moments while establishing a foundation for ongoing innovation and future growth.

Long Service Corporation (LSC) NSW

Long Service Corporation, working with Deloitte, built a digital application on Appian to administer the NSW Community Services Industry portable long service leave scheme.

The application connects workers, employers and Long Service Corporation through dedicated digital portals supporting registration, identity verification, worker nominations, service returns, payments and notifications. By bringing these functions together in one platform, the application enables Long Service Corporation to administer the scheme more efficiently and at scale. Since its launch in April 2026, more than 2,200 employers have submitted over 8,800 service returns and more than 220,000 workers have been nominated into the scheme. The platform has also processed more than $110 million in levy payments to fund workers’ portable long service leave entitlements.

New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police built a nationwide case management system on Appian for its 105 non-emergency service, replacing separate regional processes previously managed through Microsoft Outlook and shared folders.

The Appian Platform centralises incoming emails and case information, applies 35,000 assignment rules and intelligently directs cases according to factors including offence type and location. The solution has reduced case processing time from up to two weeks to four hours, cut backlogs from approximately 4,000 cases to fewer than 50 during most shifts and saved 18,000 hours annually in email management. It has also enabled the equivalent of at least 10 full-time employees to move from administrative triage into higher-value frontline support.

RMBL Investments

RMBL Investments, working with Persistent, has used the Appian Platform to connect its investor, borrower, introducer and employee operations.

The Appian environment spans customer self-service, investment and loan applications, portfolio management, servicing, communications, IT service management, document generation and AI-enabled processes. It now supports more than 5,000 clients and approximately A$3 billion in funds under management. The multi-year transformation has helped streamline operations, with efficiency improvements of up to 72% in some areas, giving RMBL greater capacity to grow without manual effort increasing at the same pace.

About Appian

Appian provides AI automation for the most important business processes at the world’s largest organisations.

On the Appian platform, customers build AI-powered processes that accelerate work, reduce cost, and manage risk. Our platform is known for its unique power, reliability, and scale. We’ve been automating processes for more than 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

Follow Appian: LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

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