Siemens strengthens its IoT operating system MindSphere through technology partnership with Software AG

Siemens AG and Software AG announced a partnership to strengthen the presence of the cloud-based open Internet of Things (IoT) operating system MindSphere across industries. MindSphere supports industrial companies in their digital transformation and offers a development platform to a broad customer base where companies can integrate their own applications and services to promote IoT innovations. Software AG brings the highly scalable components of its Digital Business Platform to MindSphere, which help customers to flexibly manage networks of millions of end devices.

"Working hand in hand with partners like Software AG, we are continuing to drive forward the expansion of our IoT operating system MindSphere, creating an ever more extensive global ecosystem. With MindSphere as a key component of our Digital Enterprise Suite we provide optimum support for manufacturing customers undergoing the digital transformation," says Dr. Jan Mrosik, CEO Digital Factory Division, Siemens AG.

Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO of Software AG, adds: "Our goal is to intelligently combine Siemens' global industrial presence as an innovation leader with our software expertise in IoT to benefit our customers. Bringing our high-performance components of our Digital Business Platform to MindSphere, users will have new opportunities to exploit the full potential of their data to get a competitive edge. Thereby, we will strengthen the IoT operating system."

MindSphere is Siemens' cloud-based, open IoT operating system that connects real things to the digital world, and enables powerful industry applications and digital services to drive business success.

MindSphere's open Platform as a Service (PaaS) enables a rich partner ecosystem to develop and deliver new applications providing a basis for new business models,  such as in the fields of preventive maintenance, energy data management or resource optimization. The open access of the operating system is particularly important here, such as the use of open interfaces (APIs) to produce OEM and customer specific apps as well as open standards for connectivity such as OPC UA. MindSphere thus forms the basis for new business models, for example for machine manufacturers. Siemens MindApps provide the basic functions for machine manufacturers to enter the digital world. Machine manufacturers can use these basic functions to apply their specific and comprehensive machine and process knowledge to developing and marketing innovative customized applications, solutions and services for their customers. This allows them, for example, to monitor machines scattered throughout the world, or whole machine fleets, and to reduce their downtime.

Software AG and Siemens AG's technology will provide comprehensive market-leading capabilities enabling users to acquire and comprehensive analyze raw data produced by plants, machines, systems and products even more easily. For this, Software AG application and device management technology enables both centralized networking of devices as well as cloud-based management, providing scalable and flexible management for a network of millions of end devices, also in the area of edge analytics in the future. Software AG application connectivity technology integrates a variety of different business applications (e.g., SaaS, Big Data, IoT, client-, partner- or shop-floor applications) along the entire value chain.

MindSphere is part of Siemens' comprehensive Digital Enterprise Suite solution. Companies that are designing, developing, and manufacturing products using the Digital Enterprise Suite for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) are building products, like laptops, computers, televisions, cars, trucks, planes, heavy equipment, fitness devices, white goods, etc. Siemens envisions these products being connected to MindSphere so their data can be collected and analyzed in MindSphere applications and connected back to the complete Digital Twin to drive innovation. With this platform, the company enables smooth collaboration for all stakeholders along the entire industrial value chain, from individual product design to the delivery of associated services.

Source: siemens.com