Navigating the industrial edge: How a platform approach unlocks business value

Navigating the industrial edge: How a platform approach unlocks business value Breaking down silos is key Key benefits of Red Hat's advanced compute platform approach Collaborating for your success About the author Kelly Switt More like this Blog post Blog post Original podcast Original podcast Keep exploring Browse by channel Automation Artificial intelligence Open hybrid cloud Security Edge computing Infrastructure Applications Virtualization Share When I talk to industrial customers, a consistent theme emerges: the world of operational technology (OT) is undergoing a rapid, often-daunting transformation. For decades, OT environments have been built on proprietary, siloed systems, prized for their stability and longevity. But as we see technology power improvements in efficiency, productivity, and cost reduction, the pressure to evolve is immense. It's no longer just about keeping the factory running; it's about making it smarter, more agile, and more resilient. This shift presents a unique challenge for IT managers and business leaders. How do you bring the benefits of modern IT—like automation, security, and data analytics—into a world built on a completely different set of principles, all without disrupting mission-critical operations? As a software company with deep IT roots, Red Hat knew that in order to truly have relevance in this space, we needed to not only bring in experts in the OT space, but also to partner with trusted brands like ABB, Schneider Electric, and more that could provide guidance on how to move into the OT space. Red Hat is focused on helping industries navigate this transformation by providing a more consistent advanced compute platform designed to simplify deployment, maintenance, and operations. Our open source solutions are designed to lower operating costs, accelerate time-to-market, and deliver reliable innovation with greater security capabilities. The answer isn't about replacing everything overnight. It's about building a bridge and this is where a comprehensive, platform-centric approach becomes so powerful. Breaking down silos is key. In my experience, the biggest roadblock isn't the technology itself—it's the historical and necessary distinction between IT and OT.