This year marks the 15th anniversary of Systems With Intelligence (SWI), a remarkable journey that began with a vision, a problem worth solving, and a small team of engineers who believed there had to be a better way to monitor and maintain critical utility infrastructure.
Today, SWI is a trusted technology partner to utilities across North America and around the world, offering advanced Touchless™ Monitoring solutions that improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance reliability across the grid.
At the heart of SWI’s founding story is a challenge that every utility professional knows well: remote sites that require regular inspection, often hours away from operations centers. These journeys consumed time, resources, and exposed crews to risk, just to visually verify equipment status. It was during those long drives and site visits that the idea for SWI took root. "There has to be a better way," recalled CEO Angelo Rizzo in a conversation reflecting on the company's origins. That 'better way' became SWI.
From Modest Beginnings to Engineering Innovation
In the early days, SWI started as a small integrator, exploring how off-the-shelf technologies might help utilities gain remote visibility. But the existing commercial-grade products fell short in harsh substation environments. SWI quickly pivoted, deciding to build a purpose-built system from the ground up. To help guide this effort, the SWI team reached out to three utility professionals they had worked with in the past during their time at RuggedCom. These partners didn't offer financial investment, but they played a crucial role by validating, testing, and providing essential feedback on the first generation of the system.
"We knew we couldn’t compromise on quality," said Rizzo. "So we worked directly with utilities, co-developing the solutions they needed. That collaborative approach is still a core part of who we are."
That collaboration resulted in the development of rugged, utility-grade visual and thermal sensors that delivered real-time insights into the health of critical assets. More than cameras, SWI’s solutions are intelligent sensors integrated into substation operations, providing early warning of equipment or heat issues and verifying switch positions.
Built by a Trusted Team with Deep Roots
Behind SWI's innovation is a core group of individuals who have worked together for decades, a team bound by trust, shared experience, and mutual respect. As Rizzo describes it, the company was built by a team that knew how to rely on one another:
"Fausto (Della Rovere) was the CTO, the engineering visionary behind our technology. Then you had Raffy (Losinski), who knew how to build it and ensure we could deliver. And John (Nam) and his team brought the engineering rigour to make it happen. We’ve all worked together for years, even before SWI. We knew each other’s strengths, and we knew we could count on each other."
These deep, long-standing relationships are what helped form the company’s strong internal culture. The leadership team brought together not only technical excellence but also a can-do attitude and the confidence that comes from having been through high-stakes projects together. It’s that foundation of trust and shared purpose that shaped how SWI responds to challenges and serves its customers.
“Over the years, we have shared enough life experiences together, both personal and business related, that we know how to work closely together to overcome any challenge. We look back and realize the reason we succeed is because we are a team that is built on respect and integrity,” Rizzo shared.
The Core Values That Drive SWI
A key driver of SWI’s longevity and success has been its unwavering commitment to core values that guide every customer interaction and internal decision. Rizzo articulated this ethos clearly:
"I think the core values of the company are rooted in a willingness to collaborate with our partners and customers, and in our ability to really listen to their pain points. Our people will always answer their phones and always follow up. Responsiveness and customer service are what set us apart, and that remains true today."
He continued, "That attitude—the positive mindset—is fundamental to who we are. It’s never just 'No, we can’t do that.' It’s 'Let me look into it,' and we’ll evaluate it. If there are technical challenges, we bring those back to the client with honesty and integrity."
According to Rizzo, this approach has helped SWI earn long-term trust in an industry where overpromising is common. "In the early days, especially around analytics, we saw a lot of noise in the market. Many vendors made big promises that resulted in nuisance alarms and disappointing performance. We chose not to overpromise. Instead, we promised what we could do, and then over-delivered. That honesty has served us well."
Navigating Challenges and Breaking New Ground
The company's early challenge was more than technical. It was perceptual. "People thought we were selling security cameras," Rizzo explained. "We had to educate the market: these were sensors for operations, maintenance, and asset management."
Through education and successful deployments, SWI redefined how utilities view monitoring. The sensors were more than eyes in the field; they became essential tools for Touchless™ Monitoring, a term coined by the company and now widely adopted across the sector. Touchless™ Monitoring means continuous, real-time asset visibility without needing to touch the equipment or disrupt operations.
Staying Agile Through Industry Shifts
Launched in the aftermath of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, SWI weathered market uncertainty by focusing on essential infrastructure. "Utilities still needed to deliver safe, reliable power," said Rizzo. "If anything, resource constraints accelerated their openness to technology."
A Culture of Trust, Collaboration, and Purpose
SWI’s DNA is deeply rooted in long-standing relationships—not only with customers but also among its founding team. Angelo, Fausto, Raffy, and John have worked together for over two decades, building on deep experience and mutual trust. That history created a culture of respect and accountability, where strengths are recognized, and silos are avoided.
"We didn’t want bureaucracy, and we never lost our customer-first mindset," said Rizzo. "We see our customers as partners. Their feedback drives our innovation."
“What I’m most proud of is that after all these years, we’re still here, motivated, growing, and building something together. I’ve seen team members who started with us in their very first job in Canada, and they’ve stayed with us for over a decade. They’ve not only contributed to the company but they’ve also embraced the Canadian dream, making a meaningful life and impact in a new country.
At the same time, I see a new generation of engineers coming in, many of them in their first roles as well, and they’re learning, growing, and contributing in their own way. From our long-serving receptionist to a recent hire in our shipping department, every single person plays a role in delivering a great customer experience. That’s what makes me proud: everyone here knows their work contributes to something bigger.”
Pivotal Projects That Redefined SWI’s Trajectory
Among the many highlights in SWI’s journey, one stands out: a collaboration with Southern Company that led to the development of the IM500. The project began with the challenge of monitoring a single transformer cost-effectively. It evolved into a broader offering that enabled focused, asset-level monitoring at scale, without the need for large infrastructure investments.
Today, the IM500 and its software ecosystem are core to many SWI deployments. This milestone marked SWI’s shift from generalized site monitoring to a more strategic, asset-centric model. It laid the groundwork for predictive analytics and AI-driven insights, pushing the company into the future of grid automation.
Looking Ahead: From Vision to Impact
As SWI looks to the future, Rizzo believes the journey is just beginning. "The next chapter is about taking the data we collect and turning it into valuable actionable information. It’s about scaling AI, enabling predictive maintenance, and empowering utilities to operate smarter, safer, and more efficiently."
With aging infrastructure, labour shortages, and rising demands on the grid, the need for intelligent monitoring has never been greater. SWI is not just building products, it’s building a smarter way to manage the grid.
Expanding Into New Markets
Looking ahead over the next five years, SWI plans to expand its footprint beyond the utility space into heavy industrial sectors and oil and gas. "In the utility world, we have a strong brand and reputation, but now we’re gaining traction in adjacent verticals," said Rizzo. "We see a clear opportunity to grow our presence and build brand recognition in industrial environments where reliability and safety are paramount."
Technology-wise, the focus will be on evolution, continuing to develop solutions that help utilities operate more efficiently and safely. A key part of that strategy is growing SWI’s software capabilities. "The next phase for us is building more application-focused software that supports operators directly," Rizzo explained. "We want to help them improve reliability, enhance safety, and maximize uptime."
This includes a strategic shift toward a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, enabling more flexible and scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly into operational workflows. "We’re building a business model that will support long-term growth and deliver even more value through software. That’s a big part of our vision going forward."
Celebrating 15 Years and the Road Ahead
Fifteen years ago, SWI set out to solve a problem. Today, it leads a category it helped define. The company continues to evolve, guided by its founding principles: listen to the customer, provide exceptional products and service, and never stop innovating.
As the industry transforms, so too will SWI, continuing its mission to deliver visibility, reliability, and safety to every utility it serves.
But through it all, one truth remains constant: technology may power the grid, but people power SWI.
Here’s to 15 years of excellence, and to the many milestones yet to come.