The race to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led almost every technology vendor to incorporate AI into their product offering, however in many cases the result is an add-on chatbot that sits alongside existing software that otherwise works much as it did before, rather than fundamentally transforming how the software operates or the value it delivers. When it comes to Asset Integrity management, the consideration from integrity professionals is not solely whether a platform includes AI, more so what information the AI can access, what tasks it can support and whether its outputs can be trusted in support of the integrity assurance decision making process.
These AI considerations are becoming increasingly significant as asset owners and operators continue to manage growing volumes of integrity data in support of regulatory compliance, which can make finding the right information at the right time challenging for the system users.
So, what’s the solution?
In our case it’s TEQ. Integrated directly within ENGAGE, CAN Group’s cloud-based asset integrity management platform, TEQ is an agentic capable AI that works with live inspection and anomaly data under the same permissions and audit controls as the integrity and engineering professionals using it. It gives immediate access to the information they need, helping them move from searching for data to making informed decisions more quickly.
Why the data model comes first
ENGAGE was built around a simple principle: asset integrity management is fundamentally a data challenge. Inspection records, anomalies, corrosion monitoring, work scopes, deferrals and fabric maintenance only become truly valuable when they are structured in a way so that relationships remain clear throughout an asset’s life. Which anomalies belong to a particular circuit? Which inspections resulted in specific actions? Who did what?
This underlying structure is not always visible to the end user, but a strong logical data schema is what enables more effective use of AI-powered tools. A language model pointed at a collection of documents can summarise information, however the same technology working within a structured integrity dataset can help answer practical operational questions such as; which anomalies have exceeded their target dates? Where are my red flags or warnings in my data? Can a summary of upcoming work be prepared from existing records?
This is where TEQ excels. Users can ask TEQ a question and receive a consolidated response drawn directly from their own live integrity data. The ability to rapidly aggregate outstanding anomaly actions, understand the inventory history, review inspection trends or assess outstanding integrity risks which can all directly influence the quality and speed of key engineering decisions.
Agentic, not conversational
Many AI solutions act as conversational assistants to respond to questions. An ‘agentic’ capability can carry out tasks within a system, bringing together information from different modules, assembling outputs and highlighting areas that may require attention. In an asset integrity environment, that means less time searching for information and more time assessing risk and determining appropriate actions.
TEQ has been designed with this approach in mind – to do more. Working directly within ENGAGE, it pulls together information from across the platform to support engineers with real operational tasks.
Whether preparing for an integrity review, planning inspection activity or assessing outstanding risk, TEQ gathers the latest overdue actions, open anomalies and recent inspection findings for a specific asset, rather than simply directing the user to the relevant screens. This helps engineers spend less time compiling information and more time applying their expertise and knowledge where it matters most – assessing and decision-making.
Two principles underpin its design. First, TEQ operates within existing user permissions and can only access information available to the individual using it. Second, it does not make integrity decisions. It has been designed to support engineers, not replace them. Anomaly assessments, deferral justifications and fitness-for-service judgements remain the responsibility of qualified engineers.
Its role is to reduce the time spent gathering and organising information by providing faster access to trusted data, so that engineers can focus on assessment and decision-making.
A platform, not a feature
TEQ is more than an AI add-on. It forms part of CAN Group’s broader ENGAGE development programme, with the roadmap extending into areas such as reporting, work pack management and field data capture. The introduction of TEQ reflects the maturity of the platform and the structure of the data it manages.
For organisations managing late-life assets, contractor transitions or geographically dispersed portfolios, the benefit is consistency. Integrity data can be structured once, maintained within a single system and accessed by authorised personnel wherever they are located.
CAN Group delivers asset integrity projects and solutions across multiple regions worldwide, through its strategic locations in the UK, North America and West Africa. This global footprint ensures that ENGAGE can be supported by experienced asset integrity teams across international regions.
Delivering Excellence
Over the coming years, the industry is likely to distinguish between AI capabilities that are effective in demonstrations and those that deliver value in day-to-day operations. In asset integrity management, that difference often comes down to data quality, traceability and trust. AI can only work with the information it is given, which means the foundations matter. Well-structured data creates context, consistency and confidence in the outputs generated.
ENGAGE was built on that principle from the outset. TEQ is a practical extension of that foundation, helping engineers access and use the information they already hold more effectively. It supports CAN Group’s goal of delivering asset integrity excellence: making informed decisions that protect people, extend asset life and maintain safe, reliable operations.
To find out more about how ENGAGE connects asset data with integrity decisions, visit www.engagecloud.net
