Digital Transformation Viewpoints

This conversation examines how today's advanced digital technologies — edge sensors, mobile devices, guided workflows, and AI-driven analytics — are improving frontline execution in oil & gas refining and downstream operations. The industrial sector needs a worker-first approach that empowers frontline teams with intuitive, consumer-grade apps that help them perform tasks more safely and...

In this episode, Colin Masson hosts a discussion with experts from Edgescale AI and Red Hat about the challenges and solutions in deploying industrial AI at the edge. They explore how to overcome data integration hurdles, the role of cloud-native platforms, and real-world use cases that demonstrate rapid deployment and operational impact. Guest Names: Brian Mengwasser (Edgescale AI's CEO) and...

In this edition of DTV, ARC vice president of research Larry O'Brien talks to NetFoundry founder and CEO Galeal Zino about the challenges facing end users when it comes to OT cybersecurity in the age of AI and digitalization. NetFoundry was created to address fundamental weaknesses in traditional networking and cybersecurity. We discuss how traditional networking is not designed for today’s d...

  In this episode of the ARC Advisory Group’s Digital Transformation podcast, Craig Resnick of ARC speaks with Manishi Tiwari, Senior Director of EcoStruxure Power & Process Programs at Schneider Electric, about the accelerating convergence of electrical power management and process automation. The discussion explores the mega trends reshaping industrial operations—including process electrific...

The director of Consulting at ARC, Rick Rys interviews Utility Industry Principal, Daniel Foster-Roman, at Seeq to explore how utilities are using data analytics and AI to plan for the unprecedented increases in power loads from data centers and electrification of transportation and building HVAC. The discussion also provides insights on how to keep a stable grid with new distributed generation as...

At Innovation Summit 2025, Deepu Chawla , Senior Vice President, Industrial Control and Drives, Schneider Electric , Sophie Borgne , Water & Environment Segment President, Schneider Electric sat down with ARC’s Peter Manos to record an episode of ARC’s Digital Transformation Viewpoints. The three provide detailed examples of how industrial operators of all sizes across the globe are innovating...

In this podcast, ARC Advisory Group’s Craig Resnick and Schneider Electric’s Christina Volkringer explore the fundamentals of Software Defined Automation (SDA) —what it is, why the industry is ready for it, and how it transforms traditional control systems. They discuss how SDA shifts functionality from proprietary hardware to open, software-centric platforms, enabling virtualization, centralized...

2024 was the year of "Generative AI Hype," AWS re:Invent 2025 was the moment the cloud officially got physical. Fresh off the event in Las Vegas, Colin Masson, Director of Research for Industrial AI, ARC Advisory Group sat down with Steve Blackwell , Leader of the Worldwide Manufacturing Center of Excellence at AWS , to compare notes. He had just published ARC’s Top 10 Takeaways for Indu...

The energy at AWS re:Invent 2025 in Las Vegas was undeniable. The narrative has shifted decisively from the passive "Industrial Copilots" of last year to active, autonomous Agentic AI . Everywhere you looked, the talk was of autonomous swarms, "Supervisor Agents," and the new Strands Agents SDK empowering developers to build digital workers that can reason and act. However, as...

It's impossible to ignore the tidal wave of excitement and hype surrounding Generative AI. However, at ARC Advisory Group, we consistently advise our Industrial Sector clients that success in this new era requires understanding the entire Industrial AI Toolbox , not just the newest, shiniest instrument. This ongoing Industrial AI (R)Evolution is fundamentally reshaping operations and architec...

In our first ARC Advisory Group SPARC podcast, Steve Blackwell of AWS and I explored the vision for Software Defined Manufacturing, where Agentic AI acts as the "brain and central nervous system." Our second conversation brought that vision to the factory floor, examining the "muscles" of the operation with the rise of Physical and Embodied AI. In this third installment of our...

As manufacturers and processors globally navigate through an era marked by rapid technological advancements, trade and geopolitical uncertainties, and evolving consumer demands, the need for flexible, interoperable, and software-centric automation systems has never been more critical. Open software-defined automation is not just an incremental improvement; it's a strategic imperative that ena...

In our first ARC Advisory Group SPARC podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Blackwell, Head of the Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Amazon Web Services (AWS), about the transformative shift towards Software Defined Manufacturing (SDM) in the Era of Agentic AI.1 We explored how Agentic AI is becoming the "brain and central nervous system" of the future factory, orchestra...

In the first three episodes of this series, we rediscovered our industry’s foundational challenges, tracked the rise of what ARC calls the Industrial Data Fabric, and highlighted the domain-specific innovators driving much of the momentum. This journey has established the critical need for clean, organized, and AI-ready data as the bedrock for future innovation. Now, we take the next logical step....

Welcome to the third installment of our ongoing conversation on Industrial Systems Engineering in the Era of AI. In this series, I’m joined by my good friend and serial entrepreneur Rick Bullotta to unpack the profound shifts AI is driving in the industrial world.  Our journey began in Episode 1 , where we explored the historical evolution and foundational data challenges that have long constraine...

Craig Resnick and Mark Sen Gupta from the ARC Advisory Group host a discussion on the evolving landscape of functional safety in automation in the age of Digital Transformation. Joined by special guest Noah Greene, Product Marketing Specialist for Functional Safety from Phoenix Contact, the conversation delves into the critical role of safety devices, such as configured controllers, safety relays,...

In this episode, we'll dive deeper into the changes and challenges brought about by AI, particularly since the November 22 moment with ChatGPT. We'll explore how AI has impacted industrial systems engineering, data quality, and the utilization of massive amounts of data in factories and supply chains. Introduction Let's start with the big picture. AI has been around for a while, but...

IEEE 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and 6E represent major advancements in wireless technology, particularly for industrial environments, due to their incremental efficiency, scalability, and bandwidth. Key features like OFDMA allow multiple devices to communicate simultaneously on subdivided channels, reducing latency and improving spectrum use. Wi-Fi 6E introduces the 6 GHz band, significantly expanding avail...

In a recent ARC Advisory Group SPARC podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Blackwell, Head of the Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Amazon Web Services (AWS). We dove deep into one of the most transformative shifts happening in the industrial sector today: Software Defined Manufacturing (SDM) in the Era of Agentic AI. Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast? Do you hav...

In this edition of the ARC Digital Transformation Podcast, we talk to Grant Vanderbrake and Arnold Offner from Phoenix Contact about a new technology called Ethernet APL (Advanced Physical Layer), which essentially brings Ethernet technology to the field device level at the physical networking layer. Ethernet APL is a great technology, and every major process automation vendor seems to be supporti...

Join Craig Resnick, Vice President of the ARC Advisory Group, in a compelling discussion with Amit Bhatia, Distribution Channel Director at Schneider Electric, and Rakesh Jain, CEO of Rexel India. In this episode, titled Boosting Industrial Automation Growth: Importance of Specialized Distributor Partner Network , the podcast explores the pivotal role of industrial automation distributors and part...

For those who may not know him, Rick is a true titan in the industrial technology landscape. As a co-founder of Lighthammer (which evolved into SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence) and ThingWorx (later acquired by PTC), Rick has consistently been at the forefront of innovation. His pivotal work has shaped connected systems, driven digital transformation, and advanced intelligent automat...

Examine of cutting-edge digital technology with industry experts Luciano Botto and Libanio Souza. In this compelling podcast episode, recorded live at the ARC 29th Annual Conference, we explore the transformative power of new digital solutions in process control. Discover how these innovations are enhancing maintainability, interoperability, and quality improvement in the industry. Learn about the...

Are you interested in taking your sensor-driven real-time insights to the next level? The latest trends in real-time solutions driving operations excellence for anomaly detection with emissions and corrosion monitoring leveraging Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) come to the forefront in my recent discussion with Molex executive Krishna Uppuluri, from mPACT2WO.   #AIoT #RealTimeSolutions #I...

In this episode of ARC Advisory's Industrial AI Series, Jim Frazer sits down with Colin Masson, ARC's Director of Research, to delve into the transformative world of Industrial AI. Together, they dissect how Industrial AI stands apart from general AI, exploring the powerful tools and techniques that drive data insights, optimize operations, and enhance safety in mission-critical environm...