Although it may seem like a maximalist statement, Industry 4.0 cannot exist without connectivity. Currently, every machine, sensor, and device generates a virtually constant data stream. If the industry of the future aspires to complete automation and digitalisation, it must be founded on interconnection, advanced automation, and real-time data-driven decision-making—elements impossible to conceive without an efficient network to sustain them. 

A reality dominated by data. From sensor to the Cloud 

Imagine a smart factory. Every component—from a robotic arm to a temperature sensor on a boiler—is producing valuable information every second. This massive data flow begins at the “tip”, in the sensors themselves. These small monitors collect crucial metrics and send them via the local network—edge computing—for quick initial processing. 

Once pre-processed, the data travels to the Cloud. It is in this virtual environment that the true analytical strength of an Industry 4.0 system resides. Powerful servers process immense volumes of information, applying artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. This described journey of information requires low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity to ensure the information arrives without delay or loss, enabling fast and precise decisions. 

More than data: connectivity for predictive maintenance and automation 

While being a very important step forward in industrial production, data processing in the Cloud is not the only advantage of having high-efficiency connectivity. How does it transform industrial production? 

    · Smart automation: With a robust network, machines can communicate with each other without human intervention, coordinating tasks and optimising workflows. Production systems become more flexible and capable of adapting to changes in demand or product specifications.
 

    · Predictive maintenance: Constant monitoring by sensors allows anomalies in equipment performance to be detected before a breakdown occurs. This means companies can schedule maintenance at exactly the right moment, avoiding unexpected production stoppages, reducing costs, and prolonging the useful life of the machinery.

It is evident that, along with the processing of a constant data flow in the Cloud, these capabilities translate directly into a significant increase in productivity and a notable reduction in operating costs for businesses. 

The relevant role of digital twins in the industrial environment

One of the most fascinating advances enabled by excellent connectivity is the creation of digital twins. A digital twin is an exact virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system. This “copy” is fed with real-time data from its physical counterpart, allowing for:  

    · Process optimisation: Before implementing a change on the real production line, it can be simulated in the digital twin to evaluate its impact.  

    · Scenario simulation: It allows different configurations or conditions to be tested without any risk to real production.  

    · Real-time monitoring: It offers a complete and detailed view of system performance, facilitating the identification of bottlenecks or inefficiencies.

The digital twin becomes a “virtual laboratory” where innovation can be tested and perfected before its application in the physical world. All of this, of course, demands constant, fast, and secure data transfer, which brings us back to the critical importance of connectivity.

The present of an industry linked to connectivity

With the range of functionalities, possibilities, and advantages we have described, connected automation can provide various actors in today’s Industry with a relevant, yet entirely new, attitude and role, especially in their way of viewing and understanding industrial activity. This new paradigm necessitates carefully selecting technology partners, as well as redesigning factory activities and production lines with connectivity as the protagonist.