Microsoft and Rockwell Automation: Transforming Industrial AI Together

MeghaTiwari

Microsoft

Nov 14, 2025

Unlocking the Future of Connected Operations

In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, manufacturers face mounting pressure to increase agility, optimize operations, and harness data-driven insights across every level of production. The collaboration between Microsoft and Rockwell Automation represents a pivotal step toward achieving these goals. By combining Rockwell’s deep expertise in operational technology (OT) with Microsoft’s adaptive cloud approach, this partnership bridges the gap between OT and IT, creating a unified, intelligent ecosystem that empowers manufacturers to innovate at scale. Together, we enable seamless connectivity, advanced analytics, and AI-driven optimization across the factory floor from edge and cloud environments.

Connected Operations powered by Microsoft and Rockwell

Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk Optix and Microsoft’s Azure IoT Operations together deliver a powerful foundation for industrial transformation. FactoryTalk Optix provides a modern, flexible visualization platform for real-time monitoring and control of OT systems. FactoryTalk Optix supports numerous industrial protocols for secure interoperability and “smart-object” data modeling to provide analytics-ready data. Paired with Azure IoT Operations, a unified, adaptive cloud solution built on open standards and powered by Azure Arc, manufacturers gain seamless connectivity across the factory floor enabling edge to cloud orchestration. With support for protocols like OPC UA and MQTT, camera and third-party integration through Akri and WASM connectors, and Copilot-driven automation for observability and deployment, this partnership bridges OT and IT to unlock advanced analytics, AI-driven optimization, and predictive maintenance at scale.

A Partnership That Delivers Scalable Innovation

Customers can start utilizing FactoryTalk Optix with Azure IoT Operations as a scalable physical to digital foundation for transforming how they manufacture, design, and operate going forward.

In partnership with Rockwell, there is a published GitHub sample that demonstrates how FactoryTalk Optix native IIoT connectivity protocols unlock contextualized data from industrial assets into Azure IoT Operations. With the 2510 Azure IoT Operations release , OPC Write capability is now available as well, creating a true read/write path for richer interoperability. The synergy between these technologies is a game-changer for manufacturers, unlocking advanced analytics, and AI-driven use cases. This collaboration delivers:

Improved efficiency and reduced downtime through real-time connectivity and predictive maintenance
Scalable edge-to-cloud architecture leveraging OPC UA and MQTT standards for unified OT/IT data
Highly replicable, scalable deployments across hybrid and multicloud environments
Proactive optimization with AI-driven design and analytics
Democratized automation via Copilot capabilities for observability and deployment
Unified IT management and centralized monitoring for streamlined operations
Robust security and reduced integration complexity for faster time-to-value

From the Shop Floor to the Boardroom

By combining Rockwell’s industrial expertise with Microsoft’s cloud innovation, manufacturers can break down data silos, unify operations, and drive continuous optimization. AI-powered insights become accessible at every level, helping organizations anticipate change, improve safety and efficiency, and maintain a competitive edge in the digital era.

Join Us at Rockwell Automation Fair

Visit the Microsoft booth at Automation Fair to experience end-to-end demonstrations, explore customer stories, and see firsthand how the Rockwell–Microsoft ecosystem accelerates your digital transformation journey.