Digital Transformation Viewpoints

Featured here are original and timely articles from ARC analysts and guest writers on topics such as Digitization, New Business Models, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, Smart Cities, and Smart Manufacturing. We dive into technologies such as additive manufacturing, machine learning, asset performance management, device connectivity, IIoT architecture, cybersecurity, augmented reality, and more related to digitization and transformation of industries, infrastructure, and cities. Our goal is to provide readers with clear and concise analyses, opinions, and discussion of these trends, technologies, and services.

Sep
04
2026

Asha Suparna — Industry Best Practice

From Industrial Automation to Industrial Autonomy

Yokogawa’s Rajeev Joshi explores how industrial AI, reinforcement learning, and a phased approach to autonomy can help process industries move beyond traditional automation while maintaining safety and operator trust.

Sep
03
2026

Jim Frazer — Technology Trends

What Is a WMS in 2026? The Warehouse Management System Is Becoming Something More

WMS remains the authoritative core for warehouse inventory and work execution, but its value increasingly depends on how well it connects automation, data, decisions, and adjacent logistics systems.

Sep
03
2026

Jim Frazer — Industry Trends

Uber’s Restructuring Shows Where AI in Logistics Is Really Going

Uber’s restructuring suggests that AI’s bigger logistics impact may come not from automating individual jobs, but from reducing the organizational layers and handoffs required to coordinate work.

Sep
02
2026

Craig Resnick — Company and Product News

Weidmuller Introduces DURAmax DC UPS for Industrial Automation Applications

Weidmuller has introduced the DURAmax DC UPS, a compact 24 VDC backup power solution designed to maintain power to industrial automation devices during mains power interruptions.

Sep
02
2026

Jim Frazer — Industry Trends

Autonomous Freight Is Moving From Experimentation Toward Commercial Logistics

Autonomous trucking is moving from technology demonstrations toward commercial middle-mile operations, shifting the industry’s focus from whether autonomy works to where it can operate reliably and economically.

Sep
02
2026

Karthik Umachigi — Acquisition or Partnership

Hitachi Digital Services and adesso Strengthen Partnership for Industrial Digital Transformation

Hitachi Digital Services and adesso are expanding their partnership to combine cloud transformation, AI-enabled engineering, and application reliability services for asset-intensive industries.

Sep
02
2026

Jim Frazer — Industry Trends

This Week in Logistics: Freight Tightens, AI Moves into Execution, and Networks Get More Strategic

Freight tightening, geopolitical disruption, AI-driven execution, logistics technology investment, automation, cargo security, and network restructuring are converging to make logistics more adaptive—and more complex.

Sep
02
2026

Chantal Polsonetti — Industry Trends

August Manufacturing PMI Remains in Expansion at 54.6 Percent but New Orders, Backlogs, and Imports Retract

US manufacturing remained in expansion in August, but weaker new orders, backlogs, imports, and employment indicated some loss of momentum.

Sep
01
2026

Jim Frazer — Technology Trends

Logistics Is Becoming an Operating System

Logistics is evolving from a collection of functional applications into a connected operating architecture that links physical assets, execution systems, visibility, intelligence, and orchestration.

Sep
01
2026

Asha Suparna — Industry Best Practice

OPC UA Is Evolving Beyond a Protocol for Industrial Digitalization

OPC Foundation’s Stefan Hoppe explains how semantic interoperability, standardized information models, cloud integration, and AI are expanding OPC UA from industrial data exchange into a broader foundation for digitalization.