3rd Party Integration in Connected Smart Factories: Expanding Capabilities for Smarter Manufacturing
In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, connected factories powered by Industry 4.0 and Industrial IoT (IIoT) are increasingly reliant on third-party integrations to enhance their operational capabilities. 3rd party integration refers to the seamless connection of external systems, platforms, or services with a factory’s internal IT and OT infrastructure. By allowing different software, tools, and applications to communicate with one another, 3rd party integration enables greater flexibility, scalability.
Benefits of Connected Smart Factories & Future-Ready Capabilities
Real-Time Data Access
With IT-OT integration, factories can access real-time data from both the operational and enterprise systems, thus contributing to single source of truth (SSOT). This data can be used to monitor machine performance, predict maintenance needs, and track production progress, allowing for more timely and informed decision-making.
Access to Best-in-Class Technologies
Third-party providers often specialize in specific areas, such as predictive maintenance, logistics optimization, or energy management. Integrating these best-in-class solutions enables factories to enhance their capabilities with advanced technologies that they may not have in-house, helping them stay competitive and efficient.
Improved Data Sharing and Insights
3rd party integrations facilitate seamless data exchange between internal and external systems, leading to more comprehensive insights.
