Powering the Pulse of the Cloud: How Cummins Leverages Data Centers

What happens when the cloud runs out of power? Behind every zoom meeting, AI prompt and viral TikTok video upload is a data center. The need for power, speed and reliability is growing by the minute in this field. Supporting that demand requires more than technical expertise; it demands speed, strategy and scale. That’s where Paul O’Hara and the Cummins Sales and Service Data Center team come in. 

As a Strategic Account Manager, O’Hara advises some of the biggest enterprise customers, companies that build and lease data centers on a massive scale. With over 40 years in the Power Generation segment, he’s seen firsthand how quickly the stakes have shifted.

“The growth has been so phenomenal that we don’t believe it,” said O’Hara. “What really makes a difference is that our customers deal directly with us, no middlemen, no handoffs. The same team that builds the solution stands behind it, every step of the way.”

Data centers are the invisible backbone of modern life. They don’t just store files, they serve up every streaming video, bank transaction, cloud-based app and machine learning model in real time. Unlike traditional facilities, data centers operate at staggering scales, with little tolerance for downtime. In this world, it’s not just about how much power you have, but how fast and reliably you can deliver it.

“The big difference right now is speed,” said O’Hara. “Hospitals may take five or ten years to build, but data centers need to be online in one or two. They need a complete, turnkey power solution with service and built in support.”

To keep up with demand, the most successful data center developers rely on partners who can scale with them. Cummins brings not only deep expertise in Power Generation, but a long history of collaboration with the world’s largest tech companies, allowing an accelerated process without compromising reliability.

“These projects move quickly, our customers are working on tight timelines, we understand each part of the process and we plan for it”, said O’Hara. That planning includes everything from product availability and engineering support to emissions compliance and noise reduction in urban environments. Whether it’s extreme heat in Phoenix, altitude in Denver, or strict emission requirements in Northen Virginia, Cummins helps customers design power systems that meet the moment and the market.

“It’s not just about having a product that works,” said O’Hara. “It’s about delivering the right solution, backed by the right team, tailored to the unique demands of each site. That’s where our experience and the unified one Cummins approach makes all the difference. Our customers benefit from a direct relationship with us, gaining access to expertise and integrated service capabilities in every power solution we provide.”

With AI and streaming traffic pushing new limits, the demand for reliable digital infrastructure is driving innovation, investment and urgency across the entire data ecosystem. Cummins Sales and Service helps customers meet that moment, not just by delivering power, but by building lasting partnerships with enterprise leaders, staying ahead of design challenges and planning years into the future to ensure availability and performance.

“We're already setting aside product availability for 2026 and 2027,” said O’Hara. “That’s the kind of long-range thinking our customers expect and it's how we make sure they stay ahead.”

Contact Cummins now to learn how our data center solutions can support your next build: www.cummins.com/generators/data-centers.