While digital technologies create vast quantities of data, the average plant uses only about 20% of the data that it generates – companies, therefore, are not fully exploiting opportunities to improve their operations in reference to automation, says automation company ABB Ability Digital Solutions business development manager Charles Blackbeard.

To capitalise on this data quickly, efficiently, cost-effectively and across the enterprise, companies will have to adopt an effective data analytics strategy that encompasses site, edge and the cloud.

“Data, technology and digital capability need to be brought together to build rapidly deployable analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications to increase productivity while decreasing costs which will, in turn, improve sustainability and safety compliance,” he says.

Blackbeard adds that clients can unlock the value of contextualised data through embracing the Industrial Internet of Things and Industrial AI.

He says prebuilt industry standards-based cognitive data models can provide actionable insights to achieve operational performance, asset integrity, energy efficiency, sustainability and safety.

He warns, however, that bringing together multiple data sources to assist customers in making better informed business decisions is “easier said than done”.

“The challenge lies in finding a way to manage and analyse huge volumes of data stored within disparate networks that could be located on the premises or in the cloud. If successful, this will result in improved productivity and optimum use of plants and assets while enabling process improvements and cost savings.”

Amid increasing emphasis being placed on automation, ABB offers the ABB Ability Genix Industrial Analytics and AI Suite. This technology consists of an advanced analytics platform and prebuilt, easy-to-use applications, coupled with the company’s implementation expertise.

The suite connects, collects and contextualises data from operational, information technology and engineering systems, and it empowers clients to unlock value from their data, which Blackbeard says drives better business results.

Additionally, its modular nature allows for the suite to be tailormade to meet client needs and protect existing investments while supporting seamless integration. It can be deployed from edge to cloud, for plant and fleet-wide, on premises and hybrid, as well as cloud- and multi-cloud-based platforms as per the client’s roadmap.

“ABB offers an impressive range of business value applications, including system anomaly detection, opportunity loss management and machine performance analytics,” Blackbeard concludes.