The industrial world is experiencing a data explosion. From temperature furnace readouts and warehouse movements to smart metres tracking energy usage, industries have more data about a greater number of operational processes than ever before. Half of all industrial data has been created in the last two years, and estimates show that another 38% of new operational data will be stored and processed in the cloud in 2024.
Given that manufacturing accounts for 36% of ASEAN’s total GDP, unifying this wealth of data will shape the future of industrial value and the region’s economic outlook. A more connected world — built on collaborative practices — will be the foundation of sustainable and responsible growth.
How industrial cloud platforms enhance internal collaboration
Businesses don’t work in isolation; connecting and collaborating with other entities creates unique value.
However, all too often, industrial data remains siloed within organisations. We sometimes even see data resting unsorted and unanalysed at the point of collection. But knowledge is power, and when industrial units securely share their data internally and with external partners, they can unlock the insights needed to spark innovation and growth.
For example, Petronas, a multinational oil and gas company, developed a data and analytics platform to eliminate data silos across facilities, improve operational efficiency, and achieve plant stability as a first step towards net zero carbon emissions. In its first year alone, Petronas saved 73.1 million MYR as a result of reduced unplanned downtime, while improving the safety of its work environment and making progress towards its sustainability goals.
We also see ready opportunities for many companies who use digital twins. Many industrial organisations are already using these interactive virtual representations of physical objects and processes to simulate real outcomes and preview new ventures to address flaws and enhance decision-making. By sharing access to the digital twin via the cloud across teams, a company could also quickly improve productivity and enhance collaboration.
According to a report by MarkNtel Advisors, with the Southeast Asian data analytics and business intelligence market growing at a 7.25% CAGR until 2028, companies certainly have the data. Connectivity and industrial intelligence will be a major driver of collaboration and greater efficiencies across the region, and leveraging industrial intelligence as a service (IIaaS) will unlock insights for innovation and growth.
Why connected data ecosystems are essential to growing value
Cloud data-sharing doesn’t have to be limited to internal stakeholders – it can easily be extended to external partners as well. For example, Dominion Energy in the United States has adopted a collaborative approach in the renewable power sector. Dominion collates and shares real-time data from across its North American grid network with utility customers over the cloud. This enables them to provide investors, regulators, and auditors with proof of their sustainable conduct. More importantly, this integrated digital data highway is supporting Dominion’s business as demand for transparent and measurable reporting increases.
Dominion is part of a new kind of connected industrial ecosystem. In this type of ecosystem, entities across an industrial value chain can share and access a unified set of data. By integrating data from various sources — such as industrial assets, suppliers, and value chain partners — stakeholders can gain a comprehensive view of the system. This allows each participant to understand the impact of their actions on their own operations, other businesses in the chain, and the ecosystem as a whole.
Such a centralised, scalable data infrastructure fosters real-time collaboration and deeper understanding, enabling better decisions that increase the efficiency of business operations, optimise resource use, and minimise waste.
How AI analytics improve human insight
Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown that it can improve work processes in practical terms. It also helps maximise the value of industrial data by surfacing actionable insights to enhance operational performance.
For example, Japanese petroleum refiner Idemitsu transformed its scheduling system using cloud and AI technologies to capture the unique operating complexities and constraints of each site. The system now automatically generates schedules for multiple scenarios, considering Idemitsu’s business needs and anticipated events within their supply chain, such as disruptions or downtime. This has saved Idemitsu’s schedulers days of work, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks.
In the short term, AI tools can help reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Over the medium term, AI tools can drive innovation, leading to industrial process improvements and even new value chains. These tools enable operators to make confident decisions while improving profitability and sustainability. The approach shifts the focus from “planet vs profit” to “planet and profit.”
Unleashing the transformative impact of industrial intelligence
Today, we have access to more real-time data than ever before; the challenge lies in knowing what to do with it. By breaking down data silos and enabling broader access to real-time data, organisations can extract valuable insights across the entire value chain, both internally and externally. These insights are key to advancing industrial transformation and driving the next wave of sustainable and responsible growth.
