The Fourth Revolution: It’s Time for Machine Builders to Take IIoT Seriously

 

In almost any industry, IoT has become not only a consideration but a necessity, and many have already embraced and adopted it. Manufacturing has certainly seen the opportunities that come with integrating IoT, especially when it comes to cloud-based historical data on machine performance.

Are the machine builders on board with this transformation, though? The answer is complicated. Here to give her perspective on this episode of The Fourth Revolution by Bartell is Kate Cohen, vice president of sales and marketing of Automation Intellect.

Machine builders, which tend to focus more on the actual machine than the technology they can harness, are lagging behind when it comes to IoT adoption. But their customers are eager to include it.

“Machine builders aren’t really taking IoT seriously, even after continued requests. Their customers are getting to the point where the expectation will be that machine builders must provide equipment that can deliver cloud-based historical data on machine performance via IoT technology,” Cohen said.

Most manufacturers do understand the need to employ IoT, yet most don’t know how to leverage that much data acquisition. “Only about 8% of manufacturers have a strategy around seeing true ROI on IoT. There is still confusion in the industry. But those that do, know that being able to have historical and real-time information is invaluable,” Cohen said.

For machine builders, it’s a complete transformation to shift to thinking about software and technology. Their revenue stream is built on the machines, warranty repairs, and replacement parts, so it’s hard for them to think outside of this bubble.

Much of the industry is lagging, but Cohen noted that Bartell has been different. “They’ve had a very proactive approach when it comes to machine performance data,” she said.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Radar
Physical Retail’s Next Infrastructure Layer: Item-Level Intelligence with Radar
June 4, 2026

Physical retail is under pressure to become as measurable and responsive as e-commerce. While retailers have spent years optimizing digital channels with real-time data, store teams have often had to make decisions with incomplete inventory visibility and delayed operational signals. That gap matters because stores still account for 80% of U.S. retail sales, making…

Read More
Healthcare in Pakistan
From Institutional Excellence to Population-Level Access: How Pakistan Can Bridge Its Healthcare Divide
June 1, 2026

Healthcare systems are under pressure almost everywhere, but the strain is especially visible in lower-resource settings where demand is rising faster than infrastructure. In Pakistan, that pressure is playing out across a system that has to serve more than 250 million people with limited public investment. Public health spending remains below 1% of GDP,…

Read More
Engineering
Scaling Experiential Learning in the Curriculum: How Iron Range Engineering Transformed Engineering Education
June 1, 2026

Engineering has transformed nearly every part of modern life, from the phones in our pockets to the systems powering global industry. But the way engineers are educated has often moved far more slowly than the profession itself. Employers are asking for graduates who can navigate ambiguity, communicate across teams, and contribute meaningfully from the…

Read More
vascular surgeon
When Geography Meets Purpose: How One Move Reshaped a Vascular Surgeon’s Career
May 28, 2026

Medicine isn’t what it used to be—not for the people practicing it. Independent physicians are becoming the exception, not the norm, as more doctors move into hospital systems, corporate groups, and academic networks. At the same time, the pipeline of specialists isn’t keeping pace with growing patient needs, particularly in complex fields like vascular…

Read More