Edo Hoekstra, subsurface business line director at SLB (former,) sat down with Gautier Baudot, vice president exploration excellence and transformation at TotalEnergies, to reflect on the partnership between the two companies.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Gautier Baudot for a candid conversation about the future of digital transformation in subsurface decision-making. It was an open, thoughtful exchange that further confirmed for me how important shared vision and partnership are in moving our industry forward.

The urgency and opportunity for change

Both Gautier and I recognize that the energy sector is at a pivotal moment. Machine learning and AI have already delivered remarkable workflow efficiency gains, in some cases as much as 80%. But as exploration activity ramps up globally, we need to ensure these gains are realized everywhere, not just in isolated pockets. Efficiency is going to be key, and the only way to truly scale it is through industry-wide collaboration.

We are seeing a resurgence in exploration activity, and with it, an increased need to leverage the productivity and efficiency that digital transformation offers. The challenge is not just to maintain the momentum but to accelerate it, so digital approaches deliver impact across the full value chain. This is not just an opportunity; it’s an imperative for our industry.

Collaboration as a strategic imperative

A central theme in our discussion was the shift from working in silos to embracing partnership. Historically, TotalEnergies focused on internal digital development, but as Gautier pointed out, the pace of change now demands co-development. The digital revolution is moving too quickly for any one company to go it alone. By combining our strengths, we can challenge each other and bring new perspectives into how we build solutions.

This kind of collaboration takes transparency, trust, and alignment, backed by strong management support. But when ambitions are shared, progress accelerates. As Gautier said, “Collaboration is going to be critical for this industry. It’s the core of our partnership, and it’s what will drive our ambitions forward.”

A new motto for the industry?

One of the most resonant ideas from our conversation was Gautier’s motto: “Do more with more.” Traditionally, industries have focused on doing more with less, but the digital revolution is changing that paradigm. We now have access to more data, more scenarios, and more powerful tools than ever before. The opportunity is to combine human expertise with digital capability to better navigate subsurface uncertainty.

“Do more with more” is about using AI and growing datasets to expand, not replace, human expertise, helping us get closer to the truth beneath the surface. In geoscience, where uncertainty is a constant, this approach is essential.

Strategic enablers

Our conversation also touched on three strategic pillars that will define success in the coming years:

Skills: There’s a generational shift underway. New talent brings strong digital and AI skills, and our solutions need to channel that capability while building on deep industry experience.

Data: The energy industry has always been data-driven, but the scale and complexity of today’s data requires new approaches to management and analysis. The ability to generate, manage, and interpret vast datasets is now a core competency.

Security and sovereignty: With operations spanning the globe, cybersecurity and data sovereignty are non-negotiable. The geopolitical context makes it clear that these are not just buzzwords, they are absolutely critical to our ability to operate. Our partnership with TotalEnergies has taught us the importance of aligning on security postures and operational responsibilities, especially as we move toward private SaaS and sovereign deployments. We now have a blueprint for how to operate in these settings, which will be a significant enabler for the future.

Defining success in energy today

For both SLB and TotalEnergies, success is about delivering impact to end users and the broader industry. It’s not just about developing technology but ensuring it reaches the people who use it and that it scales across different environments. When our interpreters and experts are freed from inefficient workflows and can focus on what they do best, that’s when we know we’re making a difference.

The power of partnership

Our conversation reaffirmed my belief that progress depends on more than just technology, it’s about people, partnerships, and a desire to challenge the status quo. Collaboration is the core element that will drive our ambitions forward. As we continue this journey with TotalEnergies and others, I’m excited to see how our shared vision will shape the future of digital transformation in our industry.

The future will be shaped by those who stay open and adaptable. Let’s do more with more, together.