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.

Jul
19
2016
Greg Gorbach — Industry Trends

Partnerships take IIoT solutions to the next level

As the IIoT segment matures, it can be instructive to note where companies choose to work together, and where they choose to compete.  In a space characterized by complexity in two dimensions: a wide variety of opportunities or business problems to be addressed, and a (typically multi-vendor) t
Jul
14
2016
— Industry Trends

Intelligence at the Edge: Smart Sensors Will Need to get Much Smarter

Intelligent sensors are one of the essential components of IIoT. What this also means is that more intelligence will be required at the edge for the physical devices, machines, and equipment that manufacturing OEMs need to run production systems and to provide service in the field.
Jul
12
2016
— Industry Trends

The Future of the IIoT Gateway

Industrial gateways are hard to love. Historically they have been treated as second class citizens both in the automation world and in IT (that is, when IT even knew that they existed!).
Jul
07
2016
— Industry Trends

Predictive Analytics for Production and Product: Two Roads That Will Converge

We have been discussing for some time now how manufacturing and production systems will undergo significant changes with the emergence of IIoT technologies, smart and connected factories and supply chains, and a steady progression from simply monitoring machines and production lines to optimizing pr
Jul
05
2016
— Industry Trends

Motors get invited to the IIoT party - but which motors?

The integral horsepower (1 HP/0.75 kW and above) AC induction motor is taking its first steps toward being IIoT-enabled, with several solutions being provided by motor suppliers such as Siemens and ABB.  However, no matter what communication protocol and gateway solution is used to create
Jul
04
2016
— Industry Trends

Freedom to Innovate

How does an entity grant itself the freedom to innovate? For Italy’s railway network infrastructure manager, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana S.p.A. (RFI), it came with the decision to become a modern, safe, and interoperable railway network.