CONNECT and Databricks: Unified data for a smarter, sustainable future

Posted: February 14, 2025

Industrial operations are evolving, driven by the convergence of data from information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT) systems. We’re thrilled to announce we are in the advanced stages of integrating CONNECT with Databricks—an innovation designed to redefine the boundaries of industrial intelligence.

Early in 2025, this integration will be released to empower organizations to unify IT and OT data into a cohesive, accessible foundation. By doing so, businesses can unlock powerful AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities to drive efficiency, sustainability, and growth. Here’s what makes this integration a game-changer.

Why CONNECT and Databricks matter

Integrating CONNECT with Databricks bridges the gap between operational and enterprise data, enabling advanced analytics and AI. This unified approach provides a holistic view of business and operations, improving decision-making, fostering collaboration and innovation, and enabling a sustainable future.

Real-world applications of CONNECT and Databricks

This integration opens the door to transformative use cases across industries:

• Enhance financial forecasting: Improve prediction accuracy with harmonized datasets
• Optimize life cycle management: Extend the lifespan of critical assets with predictive maintenance
• Streamline operations: Maximize production capacity while minimizing waste
• Advance sustainability: Reduce carbon emissions, optimize energy consumption, and automate environmental reporting
• Improve quality control: Achieve consistent yields with precise process optimizations
• Ensure safety: Use advanced analytics to mitigate risks in hazardous environments

Key benefits of direct integration vs. custom developments

A direct integration with Databricks offers distinct advantages over in-house solutions:

1.       Data convergence

• Improve data-driven decisions: Gain access to synchronized IT and OT data, creating a reliable foundation for analytics and AI.
• Unlock AI and ML potential: Discover patterns, make accurate predictions, and automate responses to dynamic conditions.

2.       Data integrity and contextualization

• Enable timely action: Capture updates without delays to maintain up-to-date information between systems.
• Ensure data accuracy: Strengthen contextualization across sites and sources, reducing data wrangling and accelerating insights.

3.       Storage efficiency

• Optimize resources: Reduce data duplication across systems to lower costs and improve storage utilization.
• Boost efficiency: Free up resources to focus on deriving actionable insights rather than managing data redundancies.

4.       Streamlined deployment and scalability

• Reduce complexity: Deploy a native integration without the need for custom development.
• Save time and resources: Simplify deployment and scale effortlessly as your business grows.

Transform your industrial intelligence

With CONNECT and Databricks, the possibilities are endless. By unifying industrial and business datasets, organizations can achieve deeper insights, smarter operations, and sustainable growth. This upcoming integration will be a critical step in leveraging AI to transform industrial intelligence at scale.

Ready to see how CONNECT and Databricks can elevate your operations and overall business intelligence? Contact us today to learn more, and watch for more updates as we move closer to launching this groundbreaking integration.