Microsoft Industrial AI Partner Guide: Choosing the Right Data Expertise for Every Stage
As organizations scale Industrial AI, the challenge shifts from technology selection to deciding who should lead which part of the journey -- and when. Which partners should establish secure connectivity? Who enables production grade, AI ready industrial data? When do systems integrators step in to scale globally? This Partner Guide helps customers navigate these decisions with clarity and confidence: Identify which partners align to their current digital transformation and Industrial AI scenarios leveraging Azure IoT and Azure IoT Operations Confidently combine partners over time as they evolve from connectivity to intelligence to autonomous operations This guide focuses on the Industrial AI data plane – the partners and capabilities that extract, contextualize, and operationalize industrial data so it can reliably power AI at scale. It does not attempt to catalog or prescribe end‑to‑end Industrial AI applications or cloud‑hosted AI solutions. Instead, it helps customers understand how industrial partners create the trusted, contextualized data foundation upon which AI solutions can be built. Common Customer Journey Steps 1. Modernize Connectivity & Edge Foundations The industrial transformation journey starts with securely accessing operational data without touching deterministic control loops. Customers connect automation systems to a scalable, standards-based data foundation that modernizes operations while preserving safety, uptime and control. Outcomes customers realize Standardized OT data access across plants and sites Faster onboarding of legacy and new assets Clear OT–IT boundaries that protect safety and uptime Partner strengths at this stage Industrial hardware and edge infrastructure providers Protocol translation and OT connectivity Automation and edge platforms aligned with Azure IoT Operations 2. Accelerate Insights with Industrial AI With a consistent edge-to-cloud data plane in place, customers move beyond dashboards to repeatable, production-grade Industrial AI use cases. Customers rely on expert partners to turn standardized operational data into AI‑ready signals that can be consumed by analytics and AI solutions at scale across assets, lines, and sites. Outcomes customers realize Improved Operational efficiency and performance Adaptive facilities and production quality intelligence Energy, safety, and defect detection at scale Partner strengths at this stage Industrial data services that contextualize and standardize OT signals for AI consumption Domain-specific acceleration for common Industrial AI scenarios Data pipelines integrated with Azure IoT Operations and Microsoft Fabric 3. Prepare for Autonomous Operations As organizations advance toward closed‑loop optimization, the focus shifts to safe, scalable autonomy. Customers depend on partners to align data, infrastructure, and operational interfaces, while ensuring ongoing monitoring, governance, and lifecycle management across the full operational estate. Outcomes customers realize Proven reference architectures deployed across plants AI‑ready data foundations that adapt as operations scale Coordinated interaction between OT systems, AI models, and cloud intelligence Partner strengths at this stage Industrial automation leadership and control system expertise Edge infrastructure optimized and ready for Industrial AI scale Systems integrators enabling end‑to‑end implementation and repeatability Data Intelligence Plane of Industrial AI - Partner Matrix This matrix highlights which partners have the deepest expertise in accessing, contextualizing, and operationalizing industrial data so it can reliably power AI at scale. The matrix is not a catalog of end‑to‑end Industrial AI applications; it shows how specialized partners contribute data, infrastructure, and integration capabilities on a shared Azure foundation as organizations progress from connectivity to insight to autonomous operations. How to use this matrix: Start with your scenario → identify primary partner types → layer complementary partners as you scale. Partner Type Adaptive Cloud Primary Solution Example Scenarios Geography Advantech Industrial Hardware, Industrial Connectivity LoRaWAN gateway integration + Azure IoT Operations Industrial edge platforms with built in connectivity, industrial compute, LoRaWAN, sensor networks Global Accenture GSI Industrial AI, Digital Transformation, Modernization OEE, predictive maintenance, real-time defect detection, optimize supply chains, intelligent automation and robotics, energy efficiency Global Avanade GSI Factory Agents and Analytics based on Manufacturing Data Solutions Yield / Quality optimization, OEE, Agentic Root Cause Analysis and process optimization; Unified ISA-95 Manufacturing Data estate on MS Fabric Global Capgemini GSI The new AI imperative in manufacturing OEE, maintenance, defect detection, energy, robotics Global DXC GSI Intelligent Boost AI and IoT Analytics Platform 5G Industrial Connectivity, Defect detection, OEE, safety, energy monitoring Global Innominds SI Intelligent Connected Edge Platform Predictive maintenance, AI on edge, asset tracking North America, EMEA Litmus Automation Industrial Connectivity, Industrial Data Ops Litmus Edge + Azure IoT Operations Edge Data, Smart manufacturing, IIoT deployments at scale Global, North America Mesh Systems GSI & ISV Azure IoT & Azure IoT Operations implementation services and solutions (including Azure IoT Operations-aligned connector patterns) Device connectivity and management, data platforms, visualization, AI agents, and security North America, EMEA Nortal GSI Data-driven Industry Solutions IT/OT Connectivity, Unified Namespace, Digital Twins, Optimization, Edge, Industrial Data, Real‑Time Analytics & AI EMEA, North America & LATAM NVIDIA Technology Partner Accelerated AI Infrastructure; Open libraries, models, frameworks, and blueprints for AI development and deployment. Cross industry digitalization and AI development and deployment: Generative AI, Agentic AI, Physical AI, Robotics Global Oracle ISV Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM + Azure IoT Operations Real-time manufacturing Intelligence, AI powered insights, and automated production workflows Global Rockwell Automation Industrial Automation FactoryTalk Optix + Azure IoT Operations Factory modernization, visualization, edge orchestration, DataOps with connectivity context at scale, AI ops and services, physical equipment, MES Global Schneider Electric Industrial Automation Industrial Edge Physical equipment, Device modernization, energy, grid Global Siemens Industrial Automation & Software Industrial Edge + Azure IoT Operations reference architecture Industrial edge infrastructure at scale, OT/IT convergence, DataOps, Industrial AI suite, virtualized automation. Global Sight Machine ISV Integrated Industrial AI Stack Industrial AI, bottling, process optimization Global Softing Industrial Industrial Connectivity edgeConnector + Azure IoT Operations OT connectivity, multi-vendor PLC- and machine data integration, OPC UA information model deployment EMEA, Global TCS GSI Sensor to cloud intelligence Operations optimization, healthcare digital twin experiences, supply chain monitoring Global This Ecosystem Model enables Industrial AI solutions to scale through clear roles, respected boundaries and composable systems: Control systems continue to be driven by automation leaders Safety‑critical, deterministic control stays with industrial automation partners who manage real‑time operations and plant safety. Customers modernize analytics and AI while preserving uptime, reliability, and operational integrity. Data, AI, and analytics scale independently A consistent edge to cloud data plane supports cloud scale analytics and AI, accelerating insight delivery without entangling control systems or slowing operational change. This separation allows customers and software providers to build AI solutions on top of a stable, industrial‑grade data foundation without redefining control system responsibilities. Specialized partners align solutions across the estate Partners contribute focused expertise across connectivity, analytics, security, and operations, assembling solutions that reduce integration risk, shorten deployment cycles, and speed time to value across the operational estate. From vision to production Industrial AI at scale depends on turning operational data into trusted, contextualized intelligence safely, repeatably, and across the enterprise. This guide shows how industrial partners, aligned on a shared Azure foundation, create the data plane that enables AI solutions to succeed in production. When data is ready, intelligence scales. Call to action: Use this guide to identify the partners and capabilities that best align to your current Industrial AI needs and take the next step toward production‑ready outcomes on Azure.Siemens and Microsoft: Beyond Connectivity to Autonomous, Sustainable Manufacturing
Explore how Siemens Industrial Edge and Microsoft Azure IoT Operations enable secure edge-to-cloud integration, contextualized data, and AI-driven insights—transforming factories into adaptive, future-ready operations.
Azure IoT Hub with ADR (preview): Extending Azure capabilities and certificate management to IoT
Operational excellence in every industry begins by linking the physical world to the digital, enabling organizations to turn raw data from connected assets into actionable insights and real-world improvements. Azure IoT Hub and Azure IoT Operations make this possible by seamlessly integrating data from machines whether on a single factory floor or spread across the globe into a unified platform. Together, they serve as the backbone of connected operations, ensuring that assets, sensors this data is then moved to Microsoft Fabric for real-time analytics and further leveraged by AI agents to drive informed decisions. This approach lets organizations scale efficiently, unifying teams, sites, and systems under the Adaptive Cloud Strategy. It enables use of cloud-native and AI technologies across hybrid, multi-cloud, edge, and IoT environments in a single operational model. Azure IoT Hub empowers organizations to securely and reliably manage connected assets across the globe, providing real-time visibility and control over diverse operations. With proven scalability, broad device support, and robust management tools, IoT Hub delivers a unified platform for developing and operating IoT solutions. Organizations in various industries are using Azure IoT Hub to enhance their operations. In mining, sensors provide real-time safety data and support compliance. Fleet managers track equipment health to boost efficiency and prevent failures, while rail operators use GPS and vibration sensors for precise monitoring and issue detection. Ports utilize conveyor and loading system metrics to optimize scheduling and reduce delays. These examples show how Azure IoT Hub delivers actionable insights, greater safety, and operational efficiency through connected devices. As customers evolve, Azure IoT Hub continues to advance, deepening its integration with the Azure ecosystem and enabling AI-driven, connected operations for the next generation of applications. Today, we’re announcing the public preview of Azure IoT Hub integration with Azure Device Registry bringing IoT devices under the purview of Azure management plane via ARM resource representation and securing them with best-in-class Microsoft-backed X.509 certificate management capabilities. From Connected Devices to Connected Operations Ready-to-use AI platforms are enabling organizations to unlock untapped operational data and gain deeper insights. Organizations are leveraging AI to unify machine and enterprise data, extract actionable insights, and translate them into measurable business gains. They are broadly transitioning from connected devices that simply gather and transmit telemetry, to connected operations which empower supervisors and AI agents to interpret events and respond to scenarios in real time. The integration of Azure IoT Hub with ADR enhancements extends the comprehensive capabilities of Azure to IoT devices. With this integration, Azure Device Registry (ADR) acts as the unified control plane for managing both physical assets from Azure IoT Operations and devices from Azure IoT Hub. It provides a centralized registry, ensuring every entity whether an industrial asset or a connected device is uniquely represented and managed throughout its lifecycle. By integrating with Azure IoT Hub, ADR enables consistent device onboarding, certificate management, and operational visibility at scale. This integration simplifies large-scale IoT fleet management and supports compliance and auditability across diverse deployments. What’s New in this Preview We’re excited to announce the public preview of new capabilities that bring IoT devices into the broader Azure ecosystem. This integration allows IoT to be managed at scale through the Azure management plane. It also strengthens security and enables consistent governance across large deployments: Deep integration with Azure: The Azure Device Registry (ADR) now offers a unified control plane, simplifying identity, security, and policy management for millions of devices. New ADR features make it easier to register, classify, and monitor devices, supporting consistent governance and better operational insights. Combined with Device Provisioning Service (DPS), these enhancements help reduce deployment challenges, speed up time-to-value, and lower operational risks. With IoT Hub integration, IoT Hub devices are represented as Azure resources, providing: One unified registry across multiple IoT Hubs and Azure IoT Operations (AIO) instances. ARM-based management for all Azure resources from cloud to edge. A consolidated view of the entire IoT fleet, simplifying large-scale deployments, monitoring and management. Certificate lifecycle management: Now in public preview, this capability enables secure onboarding and automated certificate rotation for IoT devices, directly integrated with ADR and IoT Hub. X.509 certificates are widely recognized for providing a robust security posture by establishing trusted, cryptographically verifiable device identities. Starting today, customers can use a Microsoft-backed PKI to issue X.509 certificates across their IoT fleets. Devices receive operational certificates that authenticate with IoT Hub, chained to Certificate Authorities (CAs). Policy-driven lifecycle management makes certificate renewal simpler and keeps state in sync with your Hubs. This integration sets the stage for Physical AI by connecting digital and physical systems, thus unlocking new possibilities for data and artificial intelligence. Customer feedback from Private Preview This release has received positive feedback from private preview customers. Particularly the Microsoft-supported PKI and certificate management capabilities, highlighting that previous manual processes were inefficient and fragmented. Customers further noted the advantages of grouping devices from multiple IoT Hubs under a unified namespace, which streamlined management. Moreover, the integration of certificate management within ADR has diminished the reliance on custom solutions. “We were genuinely impressed by how seamless it was to implement. With just a few clicks, clear policy definitions, and two calls in firmware, the entire process became automated, frictionless, and reliable with no external dependencies.” – Uriel Kluk, CTO, Mesh Systems Why It Matters These investments make Azure IoT Hub the cornerstone for connected operations at scale, empowering customers to: Reduce manual cert ops with policy‑driven rotation (fewer outages due to expired certs). Consolidate device registry in ADR for cross‑hub fleet governance. Accelerate compliance audits with centralized certificate lineage. Apply advanced AI tooling for predictive insights and automation. Call to Action Explore the new capabilities in public preview today and start building the next generation of connected operations with Azure IoT Hub and ADR. Learn more on Azure IoT Hub documentationAzure IoT Operations 2510 Now Generally Available
Introduction We’re thrilled to announce the general availability of Azure IoT Operations 2510, the latest evolution of the adaptive cloud approach for AI in industrial and large scale commercial IoT. With this release, organizations can unlock new levels of scalability, security, and interoperability, empowering teams to seamlessly connect, manage, and analyze data from edge to cloud. What is Azure IoT Operations? Azure IoT Operations is more than an edge-to-cloud data plane, it’s the foundation for AI in physical environments, enabling intelligent systems to perceive, reason, and act in the real world. Built on Arc-enabled Kubernetes clusters, Azure IoT Operations unifies operational and business data across distributed environments, eliminating silos and delivering repeatability and scalability. By extending familiar Azure management concepts to physical sites, AIO creates an AI-ready infrastructure that supports autonomous, adaptive operations at scale. This approach bridges information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and data domains, empowering customers to discover, collect, process, and send data using open standards while laying the groundwork for self-optimizing environments where AI agents and human supervisors collaborate seamlessly. We've put together a quick demo video showcasing the key features of this 2510 release. Watch below to discover how Azure IoT Operations' modular and scalable data services empowers IT, OT and developers. What’s New in Azure IoT Operations 2510? Management actions: Powerful management actions put you in control of processes and asset configurations, making operations simpler and smarter. Web Assembly (Wasm) data graphs: Wasm-powered data graphs for advanced edge processing, delivering fast, modular analytics and business logic right where your data lives. New connectors: Expanded connector options now include OPC UA, ONVIF, Media, REST/HTTP, and Server-Sent Events (SSE), opening the door to richer integrations across diverse industrial and IT systems. OpenTelemetry (OTel) endpoints: Data flows now support sending data directly to OpenTelemetry collectors, integrating device and system telemetry into your existing observability infrastructure. Improved observability: Real-time health status for assets gives you unmatched visibility and confidence in your IoT ecosystem. Reusable Connector templates: Streamline connector configuration and deployment across clusters. Device support in Azure Device Registry: Azure Device Registry (ADR) now treats devices as first‑class resources within ADR namespaces, enabling logical isolation and role‑based access control at scale. Automatic device and asset discovery and onboarding: Akri‑powered discovery continuously detects devices and industrial assets on the network, then automatically provisions and onboards them (including creating the right connector instances) so telemetry starts flowing with minimal manual setup. MQTT Data Persistence: Data can now be persisted to disk, ensuring durability across broker restarts. X.509 Auth in MQTT broker: The broker now supports X.509 authentication backed by Azure's Device Registry. Flexible RBAC: Built-in roles and custom role definitions to simplify and secure access management for AIO resources. Customers and partners Chevron, through its Facilities and Operations of the Future initiative, deployed Azure IoT Operations with Azure Arc to manage edge-to-cloud workloads across remote oil and gas sites. With a single management plane, the strategy unifies control over thousands of distributed sensors, cameras, robots, and drones. Real-time monitoring and AI enabled anomaly detection not only to enhance operational efficiency but also significantly improve worker safety by reducing routine inspections and enabling remote issue mitigation. This reuse of a global, AI-ready architecture positions Chevron to deliver more reliable, cleaner energy. [microsoft.com] Husqvarna implemented Azure IoT Operations across its global manufacturing network as part of a comprehensive strategy. This adaptive cloud approach integrates cloud, on-premises, and edge systems, preserves legacy investments, and enables real-time edge analytics. The result: data operationalization is 98% faster, imaging costs were slashed by half, productivity was improved, and downtime was reduced. Additionally, AI-driven capabilities like the Factory Companion powered by Azure AI empower technicians with instant, data-informed troubleshooting, shifting maintenance from reactive to predictive across sites. [microsoft.com] Together, these success stories show how Azure IoT Operations, combined with capabilities like Azure Arc, can empower industrial leaders to advance from siloed operations to unified, intelligent systems that boost efficiency, safety, and innovation. Additionally, this year we are celebrating how our partners are integrating, co-innovating, and scaling real customer outcomes. You can learn more about our partner successes at https://aka.ms/Ignite25/DigitalOperationsBlog. Learn more at our launch event Join us at Microsoft Ignite to dive deeper into the latest innovations in Azure IoT Operations 2510. Our sessions will showcase real-world demos plus expert insights on how new capabilities accelerate industrial transformation. Don’t miss the chance to connect with product engineers, explore solution blueprints, and see how Azure IoT Operations lays the foundation for building and scaling physical AI. Get Started Ready to experience the new capabilities in Azure IoT Operations 2510? Explore the latest documentation and quickstart guides at https://aka.ms/AzureIoTOperations Connect with the Azure IoT Tech Community to share feedback and learn from peers.Microsoft and Rockwell Automation: Transforming Industrial AI Together
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. Join live sessions at the Discovery Theatre – o Tuesday Nov 18th, 11:15am – 11:45am → The new industrial frontier - Using AI to scale faster, work smarter and unlock new value o Tuesday Nov 18 th 2pm – 3pm, and Thursday Nov 20 th at 10:00am – 11:00am → Bringing AI to the Factory Floor o Wednesday Nov 19 th , 1:45pm – 2:15pm → Start with Secure Solutions From Edge to Cloud Visit us at the Expo at Booth #1931 – For demos and conversations to see what we have to offer. Explore the products Learn more about Azure IoT Operations → https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/iot-operations Explore FactoryTalk Optix → https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/software/factorytalk/optix.html Hear more about our integration story at Microsoft Ignite → The new industrial frontier
