PTC announced Tuesday release of its ThingWorx Industrial IoT (IIoT) platform from the show floor of the LiveWorx digital transformation event. ThingWorx 8.5 combines new capabilities with domain-specific solutions to better serve the digital transformation needs of industrial enterprises worldwide.
With extensive domain expertise built on nearly two decades of IoT innovation, PTC’s ThingWorx is an IIoT platform with the functionality and flexibility needed to drive a rapid ROI—while offering the security and scalability required to expand IIoT solutions throughout the enterprise.
Purpose-built for industrial environments, ThingWorx is a complete, end-to-end solution platform that delivers the functionality, flexibility, and agility needed to develop, deploy, and extend IoT applications and augmented reality (AR) experiences.
The platform contains a set of features, including multiple connectivity options, solution development tools, analytics, and AR. With ThingWorx, industrial businesses can leverage pre-built solutions or create scalable and secure solutions of their own that provide high levels of return on investment.
Among the new and enhanced capabilities are tools that simplify the composition and deployment of solutions. Customers will be able to configure applications faster and deploy them across multiple sites and geographies. For those who want more ready-made solutions, ThingWorx also offers pre-built, pre-configured capabilities for engineering, manufacturing, and service. This latest version of ThingWorx brings enhanced integration with Microsoft Azure IoT and includes additional tools for rolling out solutions at an enterprise scale.
PTC’s history in supporting the digital needs of designers and engineers is evidenced by the numerous enhancements in ThingWorx 8.5.
The new ThingWorx Navigate Digital Change Management Application, the first in what will be a series, enables internal and external users to actively participate in the critical function of change management. The new series of ThingWorx Navigate Contribute Apps will expand on PTC’s popular NavigateView suite, which makes valuable information easily available and facilitates collaboration across the enterprise. Powered by the digital thread, engineers will now have real-time access to connected product data in ThingWorx to drive the design of next-generation products.
With domain contribution from Rockwell Automation, PTC offers a broad range of solutions to address manufacturers’ top challenges. During LiveWorx this week, PTC and Rockwell Automation are showcasing how their solutions – consisting of advanced technologies such as IIoT, augmented reality, analytics, and MES – can improve enterprise operational intelligence, digital workforce productivity, intelligent asset optimization, and scalable production management. ThingWorx 8.5 is now compatible with Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Analytics. Additionally, PTC will be releasing ThingWorx Kepware Edge to provide flexible deployment of reliable and secure connectivity for dispersed equipment.
Service
Maximizing service revenue and delivery margins is a critical mission for product manufacturers, and for many, IIoT is the answer. PTC’s service solution suite enables service organizations to transform from cost centers to profit centers and drive product and service innovation through new IIoT-enabled business models.
The service optimization solution allows companies to improve margins by minimizing truck rolls and increasing first-time-fix rates, all while resulting in greater customer satisfaction. With ThingWorx 8.5, digital service delivery is enhanced through a deepened integration with Microsoft Azure, enabling manufacturers to now use the ThingWorx Software Content Management App with the Azure IoT Hub and Azure IoT Edge.
“We continue to evolve ThingWorx and our IoT solutions to further the success of our customers and their digital transformation goals,” said Kathleen Mitford, executive vice president, products, PTC. “We are committed to exceeding the expectations of the marketplace through continued innovation, customer centricity, and our strategic alliances with Microsoft and Rockwell Automation.”
