Introduction

The convergence of two historically separated environments — driven by technological improvements to advance business process integration — is a phenomenon that demands our attention and presents an opportunity to manage and direct this digital transformation of classic standalone environments.

This so-called ‘convergence’ should be identified as an Operational Technology (OT) push to maximize further usage of already available OT data that is outside the OT domain. Classic enterprise IT (e.g., Enterprise Asset Management (EAM),  Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), logistics, procurement and finance) has been a leader in global IT technology developments, most recently dominating in advanced cloud solutions and enabling enhanced efficiency and cost improvements. Now is the right time for OT to follow and connect.

Rationale for convergence

Ensure future business growth and success

Convergence will provide additional smart manufacturing OT services to advance automation, e.g., by adding real-time prediction into real-time processing cycles and even replacing classic PLC assets with edge solutions.

To ensure the availability of the OT environment in these future-connected IT landscapes, it is extremely important to align and put in a water-tight OT cybersecurity roadmap. It must be understood that OT environments have not been designed to comply with modern IT security frameworks and, therefore, must be secured before being exposed to other IT domains.

Optimize OT cost structure

The OT and IT convergence can have a significant role in reducing OT operation costs, enabling the business case for the entire digital transformation. The new, targeted OT connectivity shifts the OT support strategy from a ‘local hero’ concept to an offshore-based central OT Command Center approach — if we respect and apply OT rules that prevent IT ticket ping pong.

These new OT support concepts allow global IT service providers to help harmonize OT environments faster than classic project approaches. It significantly reduces the time and costs of transformations by shifting classic OT projects into OT operations execution (e.g., crush projects into OT service or change requests).

By being applied, the OT domain is open for a new kind of SLA-based OT maintenance processes that are more robust and added to the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of the OT domains across the globe.

Summary

The convergence of OT and IT is only enabled by technology and process, not driven by it.

Embracing this convergence is a step toward unlocking additional business potential. However, ensuring that security comes first and is always ahead of the digital transformation is essential.

The convergence of people's mindshare from the OT and IT domain will be the most significant achievement in creating a future where IT and OT not only coexist but actually work together to drive business growth and success.