Integration of Technologies in Business Systems
The trend of integrating operational and informational technologies continues to grow. This is driven by the development of business systems that must meet the requirements of transaction processing and synchronization of manufacturing operations in real-time. Innovative manufacturers are already offering components and modules to implement the concept of a Unified Enterprise, which ensures complete integration of manufacturing and business processes.
In 2016, new powerful controlling devices for automation emerged, which directly interact with the enterprise's business systems using OPC UA web services and other data transfer mechanisms in the Internet of Things system. Such devices are becoming part of the informational business cycle. Various industry standards are used to achieve this integration, including:
- OPC UA
- B2MML
- PLCopen OPC UA
- IT database interfaces
These changes may minimize the need for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) in many enterprises.
Modern System Integrators
Moreover, a new generation of system integrators has emerged in the market. These professionals possess expertise in the fields of information and operational technologies and know how to help companies combine informational and operational processes into a unified system. They assist clients in creating effective solutions by generating ideas, defining business objectives, assessing risks, and identifying gaps in business processes and technologies.
The next-generation system integrators are capable of designing, testing, and implementing systems that ensure obtaining results through the use of modern concepts and technologies in the field of IT and OT.