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Hyperautomation and the industrial Internet of Things

By Lynn Ahrens

The industrial Internet of Things, or the networking of systems and infrastructure, is catalyzing the intersection of technology and manufacturing, in every industry. Now more than ever, we live in a time where proximity is no longer a prerequisite to productivity, predictive analytics replace mechanical routine, and everything can be connected, evaluated, and applied, at any time. With so many manufacturers investing in the industrial Internet of Things, hyperautomation has become quite a buzz word. The future is now, and the future is hyperautomation. Let’s take a look into what it is, and how it’s made such an impact already.

What is hyperautomation?

Hyperautomation is the move to streamline business processes through technological automation, removing the need for human intervention and creating self sufficient systems. Repetitive processes can become tedious for businesses in every industry, and particularly for environments with legacy infrastructure that demand constant maintenance and upkeep.

Emerging from the pandemic, the interest in hyperautomation has only grown. In a remote world, it was quintessential for businesses to rapidly adapt to change, be quick on their feet, and connect digitally, and hyperautomation has become an essential vehicle to do so. Generally, we saw a shift in priorities to digital transformation, lending itself to foci on reducing costs, streamlining processes and strengthening market placement.

Along with hyperautomation came associated technologies and buzzwords, the most well-known being artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotic process automation (RPA) and low code.

How do I get started with hyperautomation?

 To determine the best avenue to implement hyperautomation into your business, first critically evaluate areas for improvement, severe lag, and identify gaps in production that can really benefit from optimization. This can be accomplished by creating what is called a ‘digital twin,’ or a duplication of a specified ecosystem to gain better scope and understanding of a recurring structure in place.

Then, specify data input/output and additional mechanisms needed to put in place better techniques for supervision and automation, particularly for response-repair procedures. Additionally, use this to estimate returns and efficiency growth predictions.

Finally, consider all of the options out there. The marketplace is teeming with new innovations and already-written platforms/algorithms that can optimize your business in the short and long term, so do your research, know the language and don’t settle for less-than-optimal add-ons that can bring your business to the next level. Some of the best known are NLP and cognitive learning.

What IIoT solutions for hyperautomation does Siemens offer?

Particularly for organizations that are new to the technological space, shifting to focus on hyperautomation can be daunting. There are new technical skills and acumen required, but to address this, there are programs like the Siemens industrial IoT solution Insights Hub. Insights Hub is an IoT as a service software solution, streamlining data collection and remote condition monitoring processes so as to allow for more efficient maintenance, surveillance, and trend analysis on the ground floor. Together, even more capabilities of Insights Hub are accessible and optimized through Mendix. Mendix is a low-code platform, accessible to users of all coding backgrounds, beginner to expert, for the purpose of creating and tailoring their own digital applications to their business needs. Accessible to businesses with legacy infrastructure or cutting-edge technology, both solutions are easily adaptable and feature add-ins specific to industry standards.

Hyperautomation is the key to upgrading your business and meeting the next tier of revenue and efficiency. It has already been widely implemented and successful in healthcare, supply chain, banking, and retail, to name a few industries, and has proven vital to change the face of business operations and market standing. Get started today, and for more information, be sure to check out our hyperautomation and IoT Podcast Series.


Want to learn more about the IIoT and Insights Hub? Check out these other blog posts:

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This article first appeared on the Siemens Digital Industries Software blog at https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/insights-hub/2023/04/17/hyperautomation-and-the-industrial-internet-of-things/