Interoperability is an important term in the areas of digital transformation, Industry and Factory 4.0 and the Internet of Things. It describes the ability of different systems, devices or software to communicate and work together smoothly, even though they come from different providers.
This means that interoperability makes it possible for machines, programmes or platforms to exchange and share information and data without the need for expensive adaptations or translation processes. This is crucial for companies to become more efficient, save costs and be able to react flexibly to new developments.
One practical example is factories in which different machines from different manufacturers are used. Thanks to interoperability, these machines can still work together on a production process, for example by sharing data on quantities or maintenance requirements. This results in less downtime and production runs more smoothly.
To summarise, interoperability helps companies to make their technical systems future-proof and more efficient. This not only improves competitiveness, but also facilitates the integration of new technologies.