The collaboration has been forged to expand the ‘Digital Partner Program’, of which Microsoft and PTC are already part of. Digital transformation of operations across companies has raised the requirement to develop an ecosystem of partners through which technology deployments are simplified. Following the same strategy, the latest Rockwell Automation Digital Partner Program connects companies such as Microsoft, Accenture, PTC, EPLAN, and ANSYS. The move intends to bring together the expertise and solutions from these industry majors to simplify the implementation and improve quality of digital initiatives. Under the program, Rockwell Automation will offer domain knowhow and advanced industrial automation technology, such as FactoryTalk InnovationSuite IIoT software, and analytics solutions. The company will also provide operational technology security, network services, and application development, installation, unification and support. Through the Digital Partner Program, businesses can create roadmaps for their digital initiatives by conferring with expert industry advisors. They can improve their uptime and efficiency by learning industrial IoT concepts such as the factory of the future, connected workforce, and digital twin. Businesses will have access to integrated hardware, turnkey systems, and software from industry leaders during implementation. This will help them to enhance business performance by leveraging their current assets. Blake Moret, CEO and Chairman, Rockwell Automation, reportedly stated that all levels of a business can be connected seamlessly, and raw data can be turned into powerful insights when data is standardized, and devices are integrated. This is not easy to do for a single vendor alone and that’s why companies require an ecosystem of established partners with the right mix of technologies and expertise for possible humanly expansions, he further added. Chirayu Shah, Manager of Digital Partner Program, Rockwell Automation, apparently stated that the company’s partnership with PTC and creation of FactoryTalk InnovationSuite has simplified the integration of growing number of smart technologies in operations of the businesses. Source links: https://ir.rockwellautomation.com/press-releases/press-releases-details/2019/Rockwell-Automation-Joins-Forces-with-Accenture-Microsoft-PTC-ANSYS-and-EPLAN-to-Help-Businesses-Simplify-Digital-Transformation/default.aspx