LiveWorx 18 Digital Transformation Conference|A Slice of what PTC has in store for its eco-system of stakeholders
Impressive, comprehensive, and a bit overwhelming to walk into a conference of 6100 design, engineering, and operations experts from the full spectrum of businesses that power our economy. If you ever doubted that machines need humans and humans need machines, and that we can and should control the future of technology, this was the conference for you. Admittedly, I could only experience a small slice of this enormous array of events and forums. My main goal was to observe, learn, and find out more about PTC and its portfolio of products and services– many of which were acquired and integrated in recent years. I had visited the headquarters during NewCo Boston and was fascinated with the company’s history and more importantly, its commitment to the future of the industry and Boston Tech scene.
Fortunately, I could wander into some select sessions and connect freely and in a very short time met an array of interesting attendees. What impressed me was that they represented such a cross section of industries found in industrial pockets throughout the country – many very tangible and clearly being quietly transformed by technology in ways that we don’t normally get to see.
Lunch on the South Lawn of the Seaport World Trade Center at LiveWorx
In one lunchtime s discussion [amidst the super-fun food trucks] I did a deep dive with an engineer from a 100+ year old company that makes industrial refrigerator doors, an established commercial furniture manufacturer, and the company that invented surgical robots. All were deeply engaged with PTC technology, very satisfied with their relationship, and anxious to learn and connect. Their companies were mid-tier, well-funded, established in their markets, and their businesses were greatly enhanced through advances in Information Technology + Operational Technology. I also greatly enjoyed all the PTC employees that I met who were well-informed and great company ambassadors. I found their comments about the company refreshing. For all the company has accomplished, there was a deep sense of pride balanced with a humility of a company that is earnestly trying to make a significant strategic pivot without losing its culture and commitment to its core.
My takeaways were fairly hi-level but I believe that these were over-riding themes in both the content and structure of the conference. So here goes:
- PTC’s future model is critically tied to its partner and developer eco-system. In fact the entire cycle of
Kerry Grimes, VP PTC Partner Network
implementing IT & OT across any type of physical plant requires closure of this circle not just for PTC, but for its partners and their customers. To get to true IoT and related technologies, lines of communication, developing, The IoT story is unfolding quickly and it has the potential to bring out the very best in American ingenuity and at the same time connecting subject matter experts, industrial sectors and regions of the country in entirely new ways. Share on Xlearning, testing, and feedback will have to be vastly enhanced. The subscription business model and Cloud have accelerated this business imperative. At the PTC Global Partner Summit on Day 1, the executive team, led by Jim Heppelmann amplified the message that partners are important and they are re-tooling the business to make them a top priority. #KerryGrimes #KathleenMitford, #KatherineKniker, all made this a central theme in their talks.
- To achieve this level of collaboration requires new approaches, tolerance for failure, innovation at all levels of the business, and a bilateral commitment to learning.
- Data (and particularly good data) will drive the future of AI and OT. This is a common theme that I have heard echoed in all AI discussions.
Aiden Quilligan, Senior Managing Director from Accenture – Global Lead for the X.0 practice
One of the last talks that I was able to attend was from Aiden Quilligan, Senior Managing Director from Accenture – Global Lead for the X.0 practice – a practice designed to mirror the “multi-phased journey that affects all companies in industry.” He answered one of my basic questions which was – where do AI, Robotics, and IoT fall into the general spectrum of technology advancements. He clearly defined the “below the line” impact points as those on the actual work line (i.e. factory) and “above the line” as new business models and positioning that takes place outside the factory floor.
Robert Schmid, Chief IoT Technologist of Deloitte Digital
Conclusion = the time is now. This field is advancing at the speed of light. However, before jumping on the train, he proposes some critical pivots in both actions and perception that has been advanced by Hollywood – from Man vs. Machines to Man + Machines. In fact, the role of humans IS changing and only humans can control the quality of data and processes that drive the machines. It’s up to all levels of industry to ensure to that AI and other technologies are implemented responsibly using “collaborative intelligence” to adjust along the way and learn together. He shared a use-case of a design engineer and data analyst working side by side, experimenting and tweaking. He also made it clear that implementing new workflows, technologies, and culture is hard work and requires full commitment of the management team. Robert Schmid, Chief IoT Technologist of Deloitte Digital then treated us to an insider’s view of a fictitious “Rubber Duck” factory to see just how augmented reality worked to monitor and control all parts of the operation- bringing in various factory “roles” to demonstrate how the workforce works with the technology. Suffice it to say, I will never look at a rubber duck in the same way.
From my perspective as an outsider, the opportunities are endless if the education can be driven down and across eco-systems. The IoT story is unfolding quickly and it has the potential to bring out the very best in American ingenuity and at the same time connecting subject matter experts, industrial sectors and regions of the country in entirely new ways. A special shout out to Boston New Technology #BNT meetup for the work they did to rally the Boston community.