Who Is Powering the New Digital Lift Push?

Major service providers expand digital tools as lift operations move toward steadier, data fluent production

11 Dec 2025

North America’s artificial lift industry is moving through a steady digital upgrade as producers adopt tools designed to improve reliability, reduce wellsite interventions and forecast performance with more confidence. The shift is gradual rather than disruptive, reflecting efforts to modernise how wells are monitored and managed.

Momentum increased in July 2025 after SLB completed its acquisition of ChampionX. The company says it is integrating ChampionX lift technologies into its broader production optimisation suite and linking them to its Delfi platform to create unified visibility across rod lift and electric submersible pump systems. Shared datasets and automated surveillance are intended to give engineers a clearer view of system behaviour, while predictive tools help teams act before problems spread across a field.

NOV is expanding its role through the Max Production platform and its wider ProductionLink ecosystem. These applications offer real-time views of lift performance to help operators identify developing trends, resolve issues more quickly and maintain output as field conditions shift.

Baker Hughes is also building digital lift capabilities focused on remote monitoring, targeted analytics and system adjustments across large well networks. Company materials highlight expected benefits, including higher uptime, steadier loading and fewer unnecessary interventions as teams track pump and well behaviour with greater continuity.

Producers say the appeal is practical. As wells age and performance becomes less predictable, earlier detection and more stable output gain importance. Digital workflows can improve pump efficiency, cut unplanned downtime and strengthen communication between engineering and operations.

Challenges persist. Integrating new software with older hardware can be slow, and connectivity across fields varies. Data governance and interoperability continue to prompt discussion. Even so, adoption is rising as vendors introduce modular tools, clearer rollout plans and easier integration with existing lift equipment.

The sector appears to be settling into a new digital baseline. With major providers investing in scalable platforms and operators gradually deploying them, artificial lift operations are moving toward a more resilient footing built on shared data, faster insight and production strategies that favour consistency over crisis response.