Learn How SAP’s IoT Solutions are Empowering Industry 4.0

The industry is now witnessing a new shift with SAP’s powerful integration of IoT with its new product solutions, all discussed in this article.

Introduction:

Our world is already better connected with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) paving its way in the era of Industry 4.0. The number of devices connected to this network of “things” is now crossing 30 billion devices with huge amounts of data being transferred in between them. This change in communication means between the devices has also significantly impacted how we make decisions for our business’s efficiency and growth.

The majority of data being collected and processed through the Internet of Things is produced by the applications of the linked manufacturing, transportation, and car industries. Industrial network data is being generated, collected, and used in nearly every business today, from supply chain management to critical sectors like healthcare. Below are the most significant applications of an organization connected with the Internet of Things:

1. Smart Factories: With such a network of connected devices, a business runs with an intelligent factory of the future by utilizing cutting-edge technologies like big data, artificial intelligence, and robots, to build highly automated and digital facilities. These factories (dubbed factory 4.0) use the intelligent manufacturing processes and feature autonomous correction mechanisms to produce highly customized large-scale goods at the lowest possible cost. This results in a much more sustainable, profitable, and optimized business environment.

 

2. Improved Products and Services: create self-aware, networked devices that communicate data about their location, degree of use, health, and storage circumstances. The data these intelligent items provide can help businesses improve various areas, from customer service and product quality to logistics and research and development. In addition, these goods can generate new service-oriented business models, anticipate service needs, and receive remote upgrades.

 

3. Intelligent Company Assets: When coupled with the Internet of Things and analysis, the nearly universally installed physical assets’ built-in sensors have the potential to revolutionize enterprise asset management. Technicians can employ digital split systems, anticipate and prevent downtime, implement dynamic and predictive maintenance, and closely integrate equipment with business operations by using intelligent equipment.

 

4. Empowerment of Workforce: Regardless of how self-sufficient a system is, staff is always required for operation and maintenance. By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, together with real-time sensor data, staff members can instantly assess the state of the process’s on-site operations, make decisions, and address issues as they arise. Employees may also track their health, address problems, and make sure via wearables and augmented reality apps.

When considering businesses of any scale and the implementation of the Internet of Things, SAP has always been at the forefront of enabling such businesses to better connect, control, and improve their decisions based on real-time data available to the organizations. With IoT, SAP has now made this data collection even more meaningful and resourceful as organizations of any size are now better connected to all business processes crucial to their revenue and growth. The company’s products are now designed to follow the above key four applications of such smarter networks:

1. Smart factories are now here with SAP products including SAP S/4HANA manufacturing technologies that streamline the manufacturing process and next generation of SAP Extended Warehouse Management-based digital warehousing operations. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time data analysis are used in the production process by intelligent factories, also known as intelligent manufacturing. These technologies use sensors on machinery and are used by intelligent factories to collect and process real-time data. Combined with SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud, businesses also increase the entire operational transparency.

 

2. With the latest generation of SAP products, businesses can now make smarter and more relevant products using enhanced connectivity with their production processes using IoT and SAP Product Lifecycle Management. By using the manufacturing technologies included in the latest versions of SAP S/4HANA ERP systems, organizations can now better streamline the manufacturing process. Combined with Siemens-developed SAP Teamcenter solutions, now it is easier than ever to improve visibility and transparency in an organization.

 

3. SAP enhances supply management with SAP Asset Performance Management as a whole in which all the smart assets significantly increase efficiency and decrease downtime. Technicians can employ digital split systems, anticipate and prevent downtime, implement dynamic and predictive maintenance, and closely connect equipment with corporate processes by using smart assets. Businesses can now gather and monitor equipment usage data using SAP Business Network for Asset Management to store it in a central repository. And finally, using SAP Predictive Asset Insights enables full utilization of these assets.

 

4. IoT, AI, and smart factories are revolutionary for businesses but SAP recognizes the fact that human adaptability and inventiveness are hard to replace, no matter how high level the automation, artificial intelligence, or machine learning technologies are used. SAP has introduced a new generation of SAP Environment, Health, and Safety Management to protect the well-being of both staff and clients. Moreover, SAP’s Asset Management enables businesses to modify on-site operations and maintenance using SAP Asset Management.