"Forcam is the first MES provider to pursue the vision of building an open IoT platform with a connected industrial application marketplace around its existing MES solution," say the Teknowlogy analysts. The cloud platform solution Forcam Force already has a strong customer base in Europe, they add. "We see clear potential to build a strong partner ecosystem on this." The Teknowlogy analysts also attest to Forcam's pioneer status. "We expect more MES providers to follow this example."

According to the Teknowlogy analysts, the attractiveness of a platform for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIot) depends on three points:

1. Technology: turnkey connectivity to many different industrial devices, combined with real-time data management capabilities and a well-structured marketplace
2. Partner network: open platform combined with a strong ecosystem of application development partners
3. Development potential: a strong customer base and/or an existing developer community to grow a robust application partner ecosystem

"Manufacturing companies need powerful and flexible solutions for the third decade that allow them to optimize their productivity today and in the future," says Franz Gruber, CEO of Forcam. "The time of individual siloed applications is over. Companies need IIoT partners who can provide them with flexible and freely expandable IT architectures. We started very early on to transform ourselves into a comprehensive IIoT solution provider with a vital ecosystem. We are continuing on this path consistently."

For all their complexity, IIoT platform solutions are always about concrete and practicable answers to key questions:

How do I obtain a reliable data source for coherent operating processes (single source of truth)? How do I convert collected data volumes (big data) into the information that is important to me (smart data)? How do I build a solid bridge between production and planning, between store and top floor (ERP / SAP)?

The three elements of the cloud platform solution

1. Connectivity - the solution is easy to install. It networks machines with each other (M2M), builds a bridge between existing monolithic systems for production control (MES, ERP/SAP, etc.) and integrates desired third-party systems and controllers. The IIoT platform solution is comparable to a smartphone that can download any application from app or play stores. Plugins for machine connection and adapters for networking with the ERP level are available.
2. Productivity - the solution delivers usable results quickly. Important MES solutions are already pre-installed - performance analysis, detailed planning, traceability, document management, energy data management. A high-performance rule engine based on in-memory and CEP (Complex Event Processing) technology ensures the required real-time conversion of big data into smart data. The rule engine creates a company-specific production data model on the computer, the digital twin. This enables workers to analyze production virtually and optimize it in real terms.
3. Flexibility - the solution offers free expandability today and in the future. This is what the world's first open programming interface for smart manufacturing (OPEN API) offers. Its name is Force Bridge API. https://docs.forcebridge.io/api/ It gives companies great freedom: any programmer can easily integrate both existing IT systems and third-party systems. Companies thus become independent builders of their own individual IT architecture once again. http://hub.forcebridge.io

Examples: how easy it is to integrate Alexa, Cortana, Outlook & Co:

• Integration of the Outlook e-mail program: http://bit.ly/Outlookspeaksmachine
• Cortana chatbot integration: https://bit.ly/Cortanaspeaksmachine
• Integration of Alexa voice control: https: //bit.ly/FORCAM_Alexa
• Simple configuration of a smartphone app: https://bit.ly/engomo