Hitachi Digital Services: IOT & IT/OT Integration

As IIoT grows more and more integral to manufacturing operations, Hitachi Digital Services is pursuing a holistic, comprehensive approach to its integration that sets the company apart. 

The company's Vice President & Global Head of Industry 4.0, Ganesh Bukka shares more, expanding on how their solutions are shaping the manufacturing sector.

Can you briefly describe your previous experience and current role at Hitachi Digital Services? How has your past experience influenced your approach to your current responsibilities?

I bring nearly three decades of experience in the manufacturing and asset management sectors to my role as Vice President of Hitachi Digital Services.

My background includes extensive work with IT and OT systems, encompassing a range of industries such as energy, utilities, mobility and discrete and process manufacturing.

At Hitachi, I leverage this experience to integrate our deep legacy in OT systems with modern IT practices. My role involves guiding digital transformation initiatives by applying both my consulting experience and Hitachi's rich history of OT expertise.

This synergy helps in enhancing value through digital solutions across various sectors.

How does Hitachi Digital Services approach IoT solutions and what differentiates it from competitors?

Our approach to IoT goes beyond simple connectivity. We view IoT as a way to add value to business processes and functional value streams. We focus on two main areas: driving top-line growth through servitisation—transforming products into services—and improving operational efficiency across the enterprise value chain.

We integrate IT and OT systems to create a seamless digital thread, facilitating better operational insights, asset utilisation and sustainability.

Our differentiation lies in our ability to combine internal expertise with external customer learnings, supported by a robust ecosystem of technology and domain knowledge.

Can you discuss any recent innovations or advancements in your IoT solutions that have enhanced your offerings or improved client outcomes?

Recently, we have made significant advancements in our IoT solutions. For instance, we are developing a cutting-edge Greenfield factory for rail manufacturing, which incorporates advanced technologies such as machine learning, computer vision and robotic systems.

This factory aims for a fully autonomous manufacturing process, enhancing quality inspection and operational efficiency.

Additionally, we've created industry cloud accelerators for various sectors, including manufacturing and energy and mobility, which facilitates cloud transformation and data management.

These innovations not only enhance our service offerings but also provide tangible benefits to our clients.

How does Hitachi Digital Services integrate IT and OT solutions to enhance operational efficiency and business performance?

Our integration of IT and OT solutions is driven by three main components: IT/OT integration, generative AI and a strong ecosystem of IPs and accelerators.

By combining these elements, we create a cohesive approach that enhances operational efficiency and business performance.

Our focus on integrating physical and digital automation, along with leveraging our robust ecosystem, allows us to deliver comprehensive solutions that address complex operational challenges.

What role does data analytics play in the convergence of IT and OT? How does Hitachi Digital Services use data to drive innovation and decision-making?

Data analytics is central to our IT/OT convergence strategy.

We utilise data lakes and unified data models to integrate heterogeneous data sources, enabling actionable insights.

Our approach involves creating data products that enhance the value of data for our customers.

By leveraging industry cloud solutions and generative AI, we build advanced data models that support operational excellence and innovation.

This data-driven approach helps in making informed decisions and optimising processes across various industries.

What upcoming trends do you foresee in IT/OT convergence and how is Hitachi Digital Services preparing to adapt to these trends?

Key trends include a heightened focus on sustainability, increased data volume and the growing role of AI and generative AI.

We are preparing for these trends by emphasising carbon footprint reduction and circularity, enhancing our data handling capabilities with advanced AI technologies and addressing the challenges posed by scarce resources.

Additionally, in sectors like energy and rail, we are developing solutions for distributed resource management and integrated transportation models to meet evolving demands and drive sustainability.

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