Elly Yates-Roberts |
Microsoft and solution provider Rockwell Automation have extended their partnership with a goal of enhancing manufacturing technology and simplifying industrial transformation. The organisations will develop solutions to improve digital agility for manufacturers via the cloud.
The partnership will combine each company’s expertise to help customers reduce infrastructure costs, increase the speed of time-to-value and increase productivity.
“Today, one thing we know for sure is that no business is 100 per cent resilient,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president of worldwide commercial business at Microsoft. “Those fortified with digital capabilities and assets are more resilient than others, and the cloud is how they will thrive. We are pleased to deepen our already strong, decade-long relationship with Rockwell Automation to help businesses simplify industrial transformation, accelerate business outcomes and innovate with agility.”
Microsoft says that it and Rockwell are working to deliver “innovative edge-to-cloud-based solutions that connect information between development, operations and maintenance teams through a singular, trusted data environment”. This will allow users to digitally prototype, configure and collaborate without investing in expensive physical equipment.
“This partnership provides Rockwell Automation and Microsoft customers with a holistic, simple solution for industrial internet of things development and operations, and removes data silos that hinder industrial digital transformation initiatives,” said Blake Moret, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation. “By eliminating a core barrier to automation initiatives, industrial organisations establish a digital thread connecting the entire enterprise, which in turn accelerates innovation, maximises productivity and optimises operations.”
Organisations can access Rockwell Automation solutions now via the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.