Celebrating 9 Years of Sensat: Reflecting on Transformation, Culture, and Future Horizons

As Sensat marks its 9th anniversary, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer Harry Atkinson shares insights into our recent journey and the exciting path ahead, focusing on our work with transformative sectors and the culture that underpins our success.

Societal and Economic Transformations: Water and Energy

In 2024, we’ve concentrated on two critical sectors undergoing significant change worldwide: Water and Electricity. With rising populations and living standards, these resources are essential for sustainable development but come with environmental challenges. The public and private sectors are investing heavily in modernisation and meeting new demands.

Energy Transmission: Across the UK, US, and Australia, the shift to renewable energy is reimagining ageing energy grids. For example, the UK’s National Grid has launched a £16bn “Great Grid Upgrade” to ensure energy stability and support the transition to renewables like wind and solar. Increased electricity demands, from electric vehicles to data centres, make modernising these systems essential.

Water Systems: Climate change is impacting water management globally. Some regions experience increased rainfall, while others face droughts. These variations put pressure on outdated water and wastewater systems, necessitating storage, leak prevention, and overflow management investments to prevent pollution and ensure reliability.

In the past year, both sectors have rapidly adopted new technologies, including Sensat, to meet current and future demands. Asset owners worldwide are spearheading generational investment programs, embracing new ways of working to build a sustainable future. Across both water and electricity, we encounter some of the most passionate, dedicated professionals, united by a common purpose.

Working alongside these teams, who share Sensat’s values, has been both inspiring and rewarding. Seeing Sensat’s impact extend beyond individual projects to create meaningful societal and environmental benefits is a reminder of why we do what we do. 

Reflecting on almost a decade of our people and culture

As we look back on nearly a decade at Sensat, we’re reminded of the exceptional individuals who have dedicated their time and energy to our mission: to “Digitise the world.” Since our founding, over 200 Sensateers have joined us, each driven by a shared commitment to make a difference, recognising the positive impact Sensat is working to create in the world.

On average, a Sensateer stays with us for 3.5 years, over 75% longer than the industry norm for tech companies. That loyalty speaks volumes about our culture built on trust, respect, and a shared purpose—where people feel valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully to our mission.

Two of our team members, Fakhar Khalid and Roger Skedd, reached their seventh anniversary this year. Their unwavering dedication and sacrifices over the years have driven this company forward. They embody the spirit of Sensat, exemplifying our values and setting a high bar for commitment and impact.

From the start, our mission is guided by a core set of values that shape every decision, every interaction, and every customer relationship. These values aren’t just words—our commitments to each other and everyone we work with. Importantly, they are also the standards we expect others to uphold.

• Grit
• Win together
• Self-Awareness
• Customer Impact
• Transparency
• Purpose

These values make Sensat such a rewarding workplace and why we continue to achieve remarkable things together. They are our compass, guiding how we support our customers and respect our colleagues. We live by these principles—and expect to be reflected back in all our interactions.

I am often moved by the trust that our employees (past and present) place in us to create a respectful, inclusive environment where they can grow professionally while knowing that their well-being and family needs are valued. This trust is the most significant responsibility of business owners, and I think about it every day. 9 years and over 200 employees later, the responsibility always remains strong. 

Looking Ahead: Sensat’s Next Chapter

This year alone, the Sensat platform has introduced 42 new/upgraded features, and our user base has grown by 187%. Our customers have uploaded 37,000 datasets (over 25 TB), fueling innovation across their projects.

In H2, listening to all your feedback, we’re doubling down on what makes Sensat great: driving true collaboration and better decision-making. Over the next six months, we’re focusing on foundational improvements that will enhance the platform’s core functions. While this means fewer product updates temporarily, we’re confident these changes will bring transformative value.

Here’s a preview of what’s to come:

💢 Workspaces

🌍 2D/3D Merge

🔐 Enhanced Data access controls

🗃 Content library + scene manager

🗄 Data Attributes & Versioning

🧹 Single API and Data Model

These upgrades pave the way for future advancements in Artificial Intelligence, open APIs, workflow automation, and more.

As Sensat moves into its next phase, we remain committed to empowering you with tools that make a difference. Thank you for participating in our journey—we’re excited to continue building the future together.

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