Insights · Evergreen thinking
Understanding first. Technology second.
How modern digitalisation and automation create real business value in industry and real estate — written from the boundary between IT and OT, where strategic governance meets technical depth.
The articles span technology, information management, structure, working methods and governance — and how these interact in complex technical environments.
They address both overarching reasoning and specific questions, grounded in real challenges rather than individual products or solutions.
The aim is understanding, context and long-term thinking about how technology is used, developed and managed — reflecting our work as technical owner’s representative in industrial and facility projects.
We base our methods on established international standards such as IEC 81346 to ensure the information management requirements of the future.
Our method foundation
The lexicon
Every vendor speaks their own language. We wrote the dictionary — vendor-neutral definitions of the concepts that decide procurements, integrations and technical strategy.
Want to understand how we think before choosing a topic? Start with the Map, the Engine and the Road, or explore our five-layer model.
Editorial selection
Featured articles
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Why Standardisation Is Critical for Digitalisation, Integration and Automation
TL;DRProblemWithout shared standards, every project creates its own structures, leading to fragmented data and fragile integrations.SolutionBy using established frameworks such as IEC 81346 and IEC 81355, a shared information foundation is created that holds over time.ImpactA “Digital Thread” – an unbroken chain of information that makes your facilities easy to understand, manage and develop further.5–8 minutes -
Digitalisation, Integration and Automation in Practice
TL;DRDigitalisationis about information – making data comprehensible, traceable and useful across the entire lifecycle.Integrationis about context – connecting systems and flows with clear interfaces and responsibilities.Automationis about governance – letting systems act independently based on logic and reliable data.3–5 minutes
Latest from HubMind
Latest articles
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Multidisciplinary Digitalisation: From Silos to Collaboration
TL;DRProblemDisciplines work in silos, each with their own tools, naming conventions and documentation – making integration expensive and data unreliable.SolutionA cross-disciplinary approach based on shared standards (IEC 81346) and clear interfaces between disciplines.ImpactInformation that flows from sensor to decision support without manual translation – from the first project day to the last day of operation.2–3 minutes -
Technical Debt in Technical Facilities: The Hidden Cost of Digitalisation
TL;DRProblemTechnical facilities are drained of value when short-term choices create isolated silos. This technical debt leads to costly vendor lock-in, security gaps in legacy systems and data that is impossible to use for analytics.SolutionEstablishing genuine system ownership through strategic requirements management and information modelling. By paying down the debt, focus shifts from merely “keeping systems running” to actually developing the business.ImpactA future-proof facility where lifecycle costs (LCC) are lowered and ROI on digitalisation is maximised. High interoperability creates a scalable digital infrastructure that makes you independent of individual suppliers.4–7 minutes -
Weihenstephan Standards: The Common Language for Food and Beverage Producers
Direction & Governance Industrial Digitalisation Standards & Information Structure Structure & ArchitectureTL;DRProblemData locked in proprietary systems and expensive custom integrations where every machine supplier speaks its own “language”.SolutionAn information model that standardises how machines communicate with higher-level systems such as MES and ERP, independent of manufacturer.ImpactGuaranteed interoperability and “Plug-and-Produce” integration that lowers project costs and secures data flows from day one.3–5 minutes -
Requirements Management in Technical Projects
TL;DRProblemTechnical requirements are often forgotten or misinterpreted between procurement and commissioning, leading to costly changes.SolutionA systematic process for requirements management that traces requirements from the first draft to final inspection.ImpactDeliveries that actually match the order, minimised project costs and full traceability.6–9 minutes -
MQTT: From Edge Functionality to Central Service
Automation & Control Systems Industry & Facilities Innovation & Future Technology System Integration & ArchitectureTL;DRProblemTraditional edge handling of data often creates isolated information silos that are difficult to administer and scale.SolutionBy using MQTT as a central service (MQTT broker), a shared platform is created for all sensor data and control.ImpactSimpler administration, improved real-time monitoring and a seamless bridge between the facility’s OT systems and IT analytics platforms.4–7 minutes -
IEC 81346: Start with Structure
TL;DRStart here with IEC 81346. A concise introduction and three articles about structure, aspects and practical lifecycle implementation.3–4 minutes -
When IT Manages OT
Automation & Control Systems Digitalisation & Strategy Industry & Facilities IT Infrastructure & NetworksTL;DRProblemIT and OT have different priorities; IT focuses on data security and confidentiality, while OT prioritises real-time operations and availability.SolutionA clear boundary definition and a shared governance model that respects both disciplines’ needs.ImpactA secure and stable environment where control systems are protected by IT standards without risking the operation of the facility.4–6 minutes -
Tomorrow’s BMS Requires IT-Ready Networks
Automation & Control Systems Digitalisation & Strategy Industry & Facilities IT Infrastructure & NetworksTL;DRProblemTraditional BMS networks are often isolated and lack the security and bandwidth required for modern digitalisation.SolutionBy building an IT-ready infrastructure with clear segmentation, a stable platform is created for tomorrow’s control systems.ImpactEnables secure system integration, remote control and real-time analytics without compromising operational security.3–5 minutes