Smart, connected products and operations provide tremendous value through the data and insights they generate, but the real business value comes from integrating that data with existing digital infrastructure, software, and services. To truly create a smart, connected enterprise, businesses must bridge the physical and electromechanical machines and equipment that convert raw materials into other products with the computers, software, networks, and data centers that enable workplace communications.
Operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) providers recognize this need and are pairing up to offer more holistic, transformative solutions for IoT-led enterprise transformation. There are four ways best-of-breed IIoT partnerships are easing supplier and solution complexity:
Address solution gaps
There are hundreds of OT and IT suppliers covering key areas of the value chain, including communication devices, networks, connectivity technologies, application development, systems integration, and data/cloud services. Companies with complementary and mutually reinforcing IoT software and services can leverage the totality of each other’s portfolios to fill the respective gaps in their offerings.
Ease adoption
Siloed organizational structures and separate technology and supplier domains make digital transformation difficult. Enterprises need holistic solutions that can complement their existing capabilities. IoT partnerships that provide the right mix of hardware, software, and services can help to ease adoption, especially when offered in a la carte form.
Improve solution reliability
Organizations that have multiple suppliers within the IoT ecosystem may have a harder time standardizing data collection processes and safeguarding data. Joint solutions such as ThingWorx and Microsoft Azure, available in over 140 countries via 40 operational data centers, provide enterprises with tighter integration and improved security that scales more reliably.
Extend beyond IoT
Working with industry leading IoT partners like PTC and Microsoft can open other opportunities for broader enterprise transformation. For example, Microsoft also brings to the partnership its longstanding relationship with IT organizations not only through Azure cloud services, but also through its Windows and Office 365 productivity software and enterprise business process software.
And using Vuforia Studio, enterprises can build and deploy AR applications on a variety of platforms, including Microsoft’s highly regarded HoloLens smart glasses. Supplier partnerships like these, with services that extend beyond IoT, can support many different functional groups, use cases, and business units, making them inherently more valuable for digital transformation.
Learn more
If you would like to learn more about IoT-led enterprise transformation through best-of-breed partnerships, check out this report from ABI Research.
