Two major companies, one specializing in high-tech industrial systems and the other in enterprise management software, are deepening their partnership, with the idea of making industrial IoT application deployment easier, and improving sustainability. Credit: Gerd Altmann ERP giant SAP and industrial automation company Schneider Electric Tuesday announced that they would expand their collaboration in the field of IIoT (industrial IoT) and digital transformation, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure and easy deployment. The two companies plan to create preconfigured deployment options for IIoT customers—so any company looking for, for example, a field service management tool using augmented reality can simply pick up and use the partnership’s preset hardware and software configuration. (Shop floor operational tech integration, using digital twins for lifecycle management, is also planned.) The idea is to simplify and speed the deployment of so-called Industry 4.0 applications—systems that link IT such as ERP software with operational technology used in manufacturing processes—the companies said in a joint press release. While there’s plenty of interest in Industry 4.0 among potential customers, many of those customers see design and deployment as major headaches, which has slowed the spread of newer technologies. “Our companies align on the importance of collaboration, innovation, and open standards, making integrated information and operational technology solutions easy to consume for our joint customers,” said SAP president of industries and customer advisory Peter Maier in the statement. Sustainability was also mentioned in the release, with the companies saying that they planned future offerings to help companies with energy management. The fact remains, however, that Industry 4.0 is still largely in its infancy, which means that the new deal between Schneider and SAP is as much a matter of meshing cultures as it is creating new solutions, according to IDC IoT research director Marcia Walker. “Effectively integrating the cultures of two companies is every bit as challenging as integrating the cultures of IT and OT personnel,” she said. “I see great potential for the industrial and energy-centric perspective of Schneider Electric to complement the ERP-centric heritage of SAP. Schneider Electric has proven their ability to weave culture change into technological evolution, as evidenced by their launch of Schneider Electric University.” The impetus for new industrial technology, moreover, carries its own dangers, said Katell Thielemann, vice president and analyst at Gartner Research. She said that, any time technology is added to existing production systems, cybersecurity risks are created. “Industrial production systems are full of cyber-physical systems that need to be protected like never before, and the announcement is conspicuously silent on that front,” Thielemann said. Related content news Hitachi Vantara launches unified storage platform Virtual Storage Platform One provides on-premises and cloud storage of both structured and unstructured data. By Andy Patrizio Apr 26, 2024 2 mins Enterprise Storage Data Center analysis Extreme demos AI-based network assistant Extreme AI Expert can answer network questions, troubleshoot operations, and create alerts for conditions such as network degradation or Wi-Fi dead spots. By Michael Cooney Apr 25, 2024 4 mins Network Management Software news Cradlepoint unveils 5G SASE platform for mobile, distributed environments NetCloud SASE integrates cellular SD-WAN and security capabilities into a cloud-based platform to secure and mitigate risk across managed and unmanaged devices. By Denise Dubie Apr 24, 2024 3 mins 5G SASE SD-WAN analysis IBM drops $6.4B for HashiCorp and its multicloud automation technology HashiCorp's automation technology will fit into IBM’s Red Hat, watsonx, data security, IT automation and consulting businesses. By Michael Cooney Apr 24, 2024 3 mins Data Center Automation Network Management Software Cloud Computing PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe