Digital transformation is entering a new chapter – Industrial Intelligence – defined by the fusion of enterprise data, prescriptive analytics, machine learning, and digital twins. As Activant Capital reports, this intelligent layer is finally being applied at scale in industrial operations, enabling real‑time visibility, robust decision‑making, and sustainability impact.
The opportunity is staggering: manufacturers leveraging these methods report average productivity gains of +52 %, manufacturing cost reductions of –26 %, and energy use declines of –24 % – trends that could translate to roughly 25 % savings in global manufacturing COGS, roughly equivalent to the GDP of France. Moreover, examples such as Unilever’s Indaiatuba plant demonstrate extreme carbon reductions by deploying machine learning to operational control—with a 96 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Activant sees particular momentum in three core segments: Digital Twins, Operational Machine Learning, and Simulation-as‑a‑Service – with Digital Twins expected to reach USD 46 b by 2027, and industrial MLOps hitting USD 28.7 b by 2028.
The Technological Pillars:
- Digital Twins: Integrated models combining 3D simulation, live operational data and ML-driven analytics – acting as the operational “single pane of glass”.
- Operational ML: Domain‑specific platforms like Canvass or Basetwo enable engineers to build and deploy models without coding – delivering ROI through workflow embedding in vertical industries.
- Cloud‑native Simulation: Accessible, scalable simulation tools reduce dependency on physical prototyping and on-premise hardware.
However, data infrastructure remains the foundation. Activant emphasizes that reduced storage and sensor costs have enabled IIoT deployment, but many initiatives stall in the “pilot trap” due to fragmentation, lack of leadership alignment, security concerns or poor scalability.
compositeOS: Applying Industrial Intelligence to Composites
compositeOS exemplifies how vertical-specialised ERP/MES systems can actualise the promise of Industrial Intelligence—specifically in complex composite materials manufacturing.
While many platforms treat composite as an afterthought, compositeOS is built by domain experts to suit the idiosyncrasies of fibre-reinforced production cycles. It unifies quoting, planning and execution into one system:
- Automated Quoting from CAD: plybooks and geometry are analysed to derive quotes dynamically.
- Dynamic Scheduling: Kanban‑style task boards, drag‑and‑drop rescheduling, and real‑time recalculation of capacities and deadlines.
- Traceability & Dashboards: Full visibility from RFQ through delivery, quality checks, resource allocation and customer interactions.
This vertical integration strengthens operational data capture at every stage, ensuring that each quote, schedule, and execution cycle builds richer, more accurate intelligence. In effect, compositeOS provides the critical “single pane of glass” for composites manufacturers.
By embedding quoting and MES in one cloud‑based platform, compositeOS accelerates time‑to‑decision, reduces waste, and drives continuous improvement—all hallmarks of Industrial Intelligence.
Instant Quoting: Accelerating Responsiveness in Manufacturing and Engineering
A second transformative trend is instant quoting – reshaping how orders and projects are priced, evaluated, and executed.
Instant Quoting for Manufacturing
Xometry’s Instant Quoting Engine allows users to upload CAD models and receive immediate cost estimates, production lead time, and manufacturability feedback. Integrated directly into CAD tools like SolidWorks or Fusion 360, it eliminates manual quoting steps and connects design to production in seconds.
InstaWerk, embedded in the German market, enables instant price and delivery quotes for CNC milling and turning—including configurable tolerances and post-processing options. Logistics and quality steps are fully automated downstream from quoting.
These platforms dramatically shorten quoting cycles, eliminate manual overhead, and align estimations with real-world capacity and supply chain resilience.
Engineering Services: The Emergence of FiniteNow‑style Platforms
In the engineering domain, emerging platforms like FiniteNow provide instant quotes for services such as FEM simulation, structural analysis, and design consulting. Real-time pricing, project definition and schedule generation enable engineers to iterate rapidly – creating a seamless quote-to-execution pipeline akin to manufacturing workflows.
Synthesising Trends: How ERP, Instant Quoting and IIoT Combine into Operational Intelligence
Bringing compositeOS together with instant quoting tools and IIoT/ML frameworks yields a deeply integrated enterprise platform:
- Decision Speed: Quotes, schedules and production plans emerge in minutes, not days.
- Data-Driven Estimation: Geometry, process complexity and resource availability inform precise quoting—and feed continuously into operational analytics.
- Feedback Loops: Execution discrepancies automatically feed into system learning cycles, enhancing future quoting accuracy and scheduling fidelity.
- Scalable Vertical Intelligence: From composites to general CNC manufacturing or engineering services, vertical platforms enable domain‑specific performance at scale.
This convergence matches Activant’s view of transformational infrastructure—the intersection of data operations, operational ML and digital twins within industrial workflows.
