Industrial IoT Spotlight - EP044: How to Marry the Business and the Technology – An Interview with Stephanie Mikelbrencis & Steve Sangster of Brock Solutions

EP044: How to Marry the Business and the Technology – An Interview with Stephanie Mikelbrencis & Steve Sangster of Brock Solutions

11/29/18 • 45 min

*This episode of the Industrial IoT Spotlight podcast is sponsored by PTC

In this episode, we define what “real-time” means for software solutions, and the 3 key factors for digital success.

What does “real-time” mean for customers? What are the key challenges of the digital transformation? How can software providers and system integrators help customers in their digital transformation journey?

Key Takeaways:

Real-time solutions are mission critical regardless of whichever layer it is in. The solutions have to work; they are in the operations and control levels and they are controlling the operations. Real-time solutions bring together the product lifecycle, automation, and software realms.
The major problem most clients are facing is the inability to define and support digital transformation.
- “Digital” is commonly used as a catch-all term to describe all the integration needed to address typical challenges such as efficiency and supply chain coordination.
- For each individual problem, different technologies could be considered and implemented. However, it is difficult to select which technology to use based on technical specifications only.
- In reality, the existing infrastructure is not adequate. For example, there may be a mismatch of technology between the various acquisitions, businesses, and divisions that a company has.
Solution providers can take a multi-disciplinary approach combining consulting and workflow processes to help the client define and understand the scope of work.
- It is not easy to understand and translate business requirements into technical software requirements. Demonstrating software or business processes using a “day in the life of” approach, so that each party can understand the requirements in their own vocabulary, facilitates the alignment of business and technical requirements.
It is crucial to marry the business and the technology for successful digital transformation. Three factors are key:
- The benefits of the initiative should be clearly defined, and used to create the scope of work.
- Executive buy-in is crucial to motivate people to use digital technologies. The use of digital technologies creates a channel for people to see the value created by themselves.
- Value must be created quickly and tracking must be consistent, so that customers do not need to wait to see value and the possibly of project abandonment is reduced.

Find out more about getting quick wins designing for the enterprise in this PTC webcast.

Brock Solutions is an engineering solutions and professional services company specializing in the design, build and implementation of real-time solutions for broad based industrial/manufacturing and transportation/logistics organizations globally.

Accelerating the Industrial Internet of Things. IoT ONE is an insights and advisory firm focused on helping companies manage the threats and opportunities presented by the Internet of Things. https://www.iotone.com

*This episode of the Industrial IoT Spotlight podcast is sponsored by PTC

In this episode, we define what “real-time” means for software solutions, and the 3 key factors for digital success.

Key Takeaways:

Real-time solutions are mission critical regardless of whichever layer it is in. The solutions have to work; they are in the operations and control levels and they are controlling the operations. Real-time solutions bring together the product lifecycle, automation, and software realms.
The major problem most clients are facing is the inability to define and support digital transformation.
- “Digital” is commonly used as a catch-all term to describe all the integration needed to address typical challenges such as efficiency and supply chain coordination.
- For each individual problem, different technologies could be considered and implemented. However, it is difficult to select which technology to use based on technical specifications only.
- In reality, the existing infrastructure is not adequate. For example, there may be a mismatch of technology between the various acquisitions, businesses, and divisions that a company has.
Solution providers can take a multi-disciplinary approach combining consulting and workflow processes to help the client define and understand the scope of work.
- It is not easy to understand and translate business requirements into technical software requirements. Demonstrating software or business processes using a “day in the life of” approach, so that each party can understand the requirements in their own vocabulary, facilitates the alignment of business and technical requirements.
It is crucial to marry the business and the technology for successful digital transformation. Three factors are key:
- The benefits of the initiative should be clearly defined, and used to create the scope of work.
- Executive buy-in is crucial to motivate people to use digital technologies. The use of digital technologies creates a channel for people to see the value created by themselves.
- Value must be created quickly and tracking must be consistent, so that customers do not need to wait to see value and the possibly of project abandonment is reduced.

Find out more about getting quick wins designing for the enterprise in this PTC webcast.

Previous Episode

undefined - EP043: How to Build Connected Apps for Digital Transformation Across the Entire Organization with Platforms – An Interview with Howard Heppelmann of PTC

EP043: How to Build Connected Apps for Digital Transformation Across the Entire Organization with Platforms – An Interview with Howard Heppelmann of PTC

*This episode of the Industrial IoT Spotlight podcast is sponsored by PTC

In this episode, we discuss what digital transformation means for traditional companies, the opportunity and risks it presents, and how to successfully drive it within organizations.

Our interview with Howard Heppelmann, General Manager of PTC’s Connected solutions business, aims to answer four key questions: What are the key challenges of digital transformation? What are the best practices in app development to drive digital transformation in organizations? What are the 4 technologies that will disrupt traditional businesses, and how?

PTC’s leading industrial innovation platform and solutions turn Industry 4.0 possibility into reality. Learn more about PTC's solutions with the ABI Report on Smart Manufacturing Platforms.

Key Takeaways:

Digital transformation enables companies to go from a rear-view approach to present and future real-time optimization of their businesses
IIoT app development no longer has to lie with the IT department, or within certain silos. Citizen developers in the business or operations can develop apps that are most closely aligned with their individual business objectives.
The traditional approach to app development results in individual departments hitting ceilings and failing to achieve synergy because individual departments optimize their own silos. Platforms are able to connect various apps and pool data so that the entire organization has transparent views and each department’s optimization can also benefit others.
The four technologies that will disrupt traditional businesses are:
1. IoT and analytics: the convergence of IT and OT to utilize data with analytics improve productivity
2. Augmented reality: the empowerment of workers in highly labor intensive operations to become more efficient
3. Additive manufacturing: the disruption that breaks the design and operational constraints of traditional manufacturing approaches and cascades down the value chain
4. Digital technology platforms: the integration of technologies and applications in one plane that allows companies to move at greater speeds
IIoT will transform industries, companies, and products, Traditional companies need to clearly define what digital transformation means for them and the value they bring to market or risk becoming obsolete.

Next Episode

EP045 - Taxation in Connectivity - Tony Susak, GM of Telecom, Avalara

In this episode, we discuss taxation issues related to connectivity.

Who is liable for telecom taxes? How much is the tax liability? How do you prepare for the inevitable complications that come with this taxation?

Tony Susak explains what makes a tech company a telecommunications company in the eyes of tax authorities, and the importance of this distinction. He also offers advice on how to prepare your billing systems to hedge the risks of future taxation.

Tony Susak is the General Manager, Telecom, of Avalara. Prior to joining Avalara, he served as the Director of Tax for AT&T, where his team had responsibility for calculating, filing and remitting millions of dollars annually across every jurisdiction in the U.S. and many jurisdictions abroad. Prior to AT&T, Susak held similar positions with Cricket Communications, Cingular Wireless, Virgin Mobile, and General Motors' OnStar division. In these roles, he also helped develop policy and influence legislation involving vehicle telematics and communication taxes.

Avalara helps businesses of all sizes achieve compliance with transactional taxes, including sales and use, VAT, excise, communications, and other tax types. The company delivers comprehensive, automated, cloud-based solutions that are designed to be fast, accurate, and easy to use.