We have been hearing a lot about the convergence of information technology and operations technology (IT/OT). This convergence has been going on globally for several years as manufacturers realize that they cannot begin their digital transformation journey until this process occurs. Connectivity between OT to IT is essential for any business to compete today with the increasing demand for tighter integration and more information that leverages IIoT, I4.0, cloud, edge, advanced analytics, big data, AI, and machine learning technologies. However, what are the benefits that IT/OT convergence is actually delivering to manufacturers, and are the results worth the hype?
This session will explore how companies have successfully linked their OT systems to their IT systems, covering both the technical and cultural hurdles and challenges that need to be overcome, as well as what are the actual benefits realized versus the expectations. Persons wanting to learn about IT/OT convergence, as well as those involved with control systems and/or production management software should attend to gain insight into real world examples of OT and IT convergence success stories, what lessons were learned, and what were the actual derived business benefits.