One answer to these questions will be the unification of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). In practice, OT, such as machinery, equipment or vehicles, often loses its connection to the company after delivery or installation. On the other hand, companies use IT systems such as CRM, PLM and ERP to support their standardised processes or in product development. Both OT and IT are continuously generating valuable data. If these are brought together cleverly, essential knowledge about entire plants can be produced for different needs. The much-cited digital service is nothing more than a machine that is fed with data as raw material, that refines this data and thus produces usable knowledge.
To reduce the implementation time for such complex systems, the first step is to classify potential and beneficial use cases, then prioritise them and decide on the basic architecture of a digital platform. Again, with a clear roadmap and step-by-step implementation, obstacles to digitalisation can be identified at an early stage and specific solutions can be created without compromising the overall platform. Solutions based on the motto "specified, implemented, done" have had their day. Companies must learn to work with a technology package that is constantly evolving and to implement changes during normal operations. And they must be prepared to implement the necessary changes in their corporate culture and process organisation, because business transformation is essential for successful product innovation.
Companies therefore face a number of challenges en route to the marketability of innovative products and services. Once they have solved these and closed the Innovation Orchestration Gap, they benefit from new, customer-centric products. As well as that, there is also an overall understanding of how digitalised product innovation affects all areas of the business.
In addition to product innovation, we have identified two other key areas of activity in which the Innovation Orchestration Gap occurs. Learn how to close the gap in Production Innovation and Business Innovation in our blog posts.