Johannesburg – A community of excellence in industrial technology application is taking shape in Southern Africa, driven by IS³ and local industrial groups aiming to enhance their competitiveness through digital transformation.

This was evident at the annual X-Change User Conference where IS³ customers shared best practices in implementing AVEVA technologies to help empower other members of this dynamic community. IS³ also recognised companies who have showed exceptional creativity in their use of these leading industrial technologies through its prestigious Customer Awards.

The company presented the Planning and Excellence Scheduling Award to systems integrator 4Sight OT Automation and Vulcan Minerals for their integration of value chain data for pit-to-port-optimisation. 4Sight and Vulcan implemented the AVEVA value chain solution for turnkey planning and operations management at one of the world’s largest coal operations in Mozambique.

“At this operation, the value chain solution has enhanced demand management, planning and scheduling, production, inventory and delay accounting, maintenance execution, and the calculation of performance and conformance KPIs,” said Charl Marais, Digital Transformation BU Manager at 4Sight OT Automation. “It has eliminated organisational silos and enhanced application functionality through automation of business processes.”

Q-Tech Industrial Solutions and Aspen also ascended to the ranks of winners by securing the Optimisation Excellence Award. The parties were recognised for leveraging AVEVA System Platform and Batch Management to deliver projects on time and as per specifications.

“Q-Tech developed a batch report that includes real-time critical process data and audit information for Formulation, SIP (Sterilisation-in-Place), and CIP (Cleaning-in-Place) recipes, available in PDF format. The system guarantees data integrity through robust measures such as access protection and audit trails,” said Louis Oelofse, director of Q-Tech.

In the realm of Operations Control Excellence, 4Sight and Zimplats clinched the award for enhancing efficiency and sustainability at the new Zimplats smelter and concentrator plant in Zimbabwe. The company deployed AVEVA’s advanced System Platform and Operations Management Interface (OMI) tools to significantly enhance its operational capabilities.

ITCAN was honoured for its Engineering and Execution Excellence, demonstrating the remarkable potential of digital twins beyond the oil and gas sectors. The engineering and consulting company was instrumental in rolling out the AVEVA solution across diverse sectors to streamline processes, optimise resources and drive innovation.

IS³ also rewarded excellence in Industrial Information within its community. Systems integrator Saryx and EnerJ Carbon Management were honoured in this category for enabling the industrial digital backbone with AVEVA solutions such as AVEVA PI System, AVEVA Process Historian, and AVEVA Asset Information Management.

Nilen Bermal, Technical Director of IS³, said the company recognises and rewards exemplary use of AVEVA solutions at its annual X-Change Conference to help build a strong, collaborative industrial community.

“Highlighting successful implementations of our AVEVA solutions provides concrete examples of best practices in applying these leading technologies. Our community’s exchanges empower businesses to advance the connected industrial economy on the continent.”

ENDS

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News

With a rich 29-year history, X-Change User Conference stands as Africa’s largest and most prestigious annual user conference dedicated to industrial software and related technology. Hosted in South Africa by IS³ – Industry Software Solutions & Support, this premier event has once again positioned itself at the forefront of the fast-paced industry. X-Change 2023 brought together local and international end-users, system integrators, and OEMs in a dynamic environment to address key sustainability goals and highlight the latest industrial solutions.

X-Change 2023 witnessed a staggering turnout, with 400+ attendees from various countries, highlighting the event’s global reach and significance. Representatives from 15 nations, including delegates from Angola, Australia, Botswana, Canada, France, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, UAE, UK, USA, Zimbabwe, and of course, South Africa, contributed to the conference’s rich diversity, fostering cross-cultural exchange among industry professionals.

X-Change kicks off with a relaxing golf day, preceded by registration and opening dinner to set the tone and introduce future facing theme for the next two days and immense our delegates in an isolated location with undivided attention.

The expo area featured 15 esteemed exhibitors who highlighted innovative technologies, innovative solutions, and industry trends. Notable participants included Schneider Electric, PCS Global (Pty) Ltd South Africa, Control Systems Integration (Pty) Ltd, ifm, ProcessVue, Endress+Hauser Group, RJ Connect, Nozomi Networks, Stratus Technologies, 4Sight Operational Technologies (OT) Asset Automation, SCAN RF Projects, CSI3, i-RAMS, and Oculus Operational Innovations. Their presence added immense value to the conference, allowing attendees to explore new products, forge partnerships, and stay up to date with the latest industry developments.

The conference commenced with a networking opportunity through a golf tournament on day zero, offering a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for participants to connect. Notably, Ziaad Suleman managed a remarkable hole-in-one, setting the tone for a memorable event. The outdoor opening dinner further enhanced networking opportunities and introduced the conference theme, generating anticipation and excitement among attendees.

Day one witnessed captivating keynotes from AVEVA experts, including Tim Sowell, Lisa Wee, and Ernst Van Wyk. In addition, eight inspiring customer success stories were shared, displaying real-world applications of industrial software solutions. The day also featured an expo networking evening, fostering meaningful interactions between attendees and exhibitors.

Day two was dedicated to insightful breakaway sessions, focused on AVEVA software, and featured keynotes from Tim Sowell, Hanno Van Niekerk, Ernst Van Wyk, and Mark Sham. These sessions provided in-depth discussions and valuable insights into specific areas of interest, empowering attendees with actionable knowledge.

The culmination of X-Change 2023 was marked by the highly anticipated awards gala dinner. Winners were announced across multiple categories, including Engineering X-Cellence, Planning and Operations X-Cellence, Asset & People Performance X-Cellence, Operations X-Cellence, Innovation Award, Best Business Value (ROI), Best Exhibitor, Best Presenter, Partner of the Year, and the prestigious CEO Award. The winners’ exceptional achievements were celebrated, displaying the industry’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

X-Change 2023 received overwhelming support from industry leaders such as AVEVA and Schneider Electric. Their commitment to the event underscored their dedication to fostering innovation and driving progress within the industrial software sector. Their involvement played a vital role in ensuring the success of the conference, and their contributions were appreciated by all attendees.

X-Change 2023 successfully brought together industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. With its commitment to sustainability and focus on industrial solutions, the conference reaffirmed its position as a vital event for driving innovation and progress in the African industrial software industry.

To be a part of our 30^th annual X-Change User Conference, pre-register here: https://bit.ly/3p2Qm5m

With a rich 29-year history, X-Change User Conference stands as Africa’s largest and most prestigious annual user conference dedicated to industrial software and related technology. Hosted in South Africa by IS³ – Industry Software Solutions & Support, this premier event has once again positioned itself at the forefront of the fast-paced industry. X-Change 2023 brought together local and international end-users, system integrators, and OEMs in a dynamic environment to address key sustainability goals and highlight the latest industrial solutions.

X-Change 2023 witnessed a staggering turnout, with 400+ attendees from various countries, highlighting the event’s global reach and significance. Representatives from 15 nations, including delegates from Angola, Australia, Botswana, Canada, France, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, UAE, UK, USA, Zimbabwe, and of course, South Africa, contributed to the conference’s rich diversity, fostering cross-cultural exchange among industry professionals.

X-Change kicks off with a relaxing golf day, preceded by registration and opening dinner to set the tone and introduce future facing theme for the next two days and immense our delegates in an isolated location with undivided attention.

The expo area featured 15 esteemed exhibitors who highlighted innovative technologies, innovative solutions, and industry trends. Notable participants included Schneider Electric, PCS Global (Pty) Ltd South Africa, Control Systems Integration (Pty) Ltd, ifm, ProcessVue, Endress+Hauser Group, RJ Connect, Nozomi Networks, Stratus Technologies, 4Sight Operational Technologies (OT) Asset Automation, SCAN RF Projects, CSI3, i-RAMS, and Oculus Operational Innovations. Their presence added immense value to the conference, allowing attendees to explore new products, forge partnerships, and stay up to date with the latest industry developments.

The conference commenced with a networking opportunity through a golf tournament on day zero, offering a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for participants to connect. Notably, Ziaad Suleman managed a remarkable hole-in-one, setting the tone for a memorable event. The outdoor opening dinner further enhanced networking opportunities and introduced the conference theme, generating anticipation and excitement among attendees.

Day one witnessed captivating keynotes from AVEVA experts, including Tim Sowell, Lisa Wee, and Ernst Van Wyk. In addition, eight inspiring customer success stories were shared, displaying real-world applications of industrial software solutions. The day also featured an expo networking evening, fostering meaningful interactions between attendees and exhibitors.

Day two was dedicated to insightful breakaway sessions, focused on AVEVA software, and featured keynotes from Tim Sowell, Hanno Van Niekerk, Ernst Van Wyk, and Mark Sham. These sessions provided in-depth discussions and valuable insights into specific areas of interest, empowering attendees with actionable knowledge.

The culmination of X-Change 2023 was marked by the highly anticipated awards gala dinner. Winners were announced across multiple categories, including Engineering X-Cellence, Planning and Operations X-Cellence, Asset & People Performance X-Cellence, Operations X-Cellence, Innovation Award, Best Business Value (ROI), Best Exhibitor, Best Presenter, Partner of the Year, and the prestigious CEO Award. The winners’ exceptional achievements were celebrated, displaying the industry’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

X-Change 2023 received overwhelming support from industry leaders such as AVEVA and Schneider Electric. Their commitment to the event underscored their dedication to fostering innovation and driving progress within the industrial software sector. Their involvement played a vital role in ensuring the success of the conference, and their contributions were appreciated by all attendees.

X-Change 2023 successfully brought together industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. With its commitment to sustainability and focus on industrial solutions, the conference reaffirmed its position as a vital event for driving innovation and progress in the African industrial software industry.

To be a part of our 30^th annual X-Change User Conference, pre-register here: https://bit.ly/3p2Qm5m

With a rich 29-year history, X-Change User Conference stands as Africa’s largest and most prestigious annual user conference dedicated to industrial software and related technology. Hosted in South Africa by IS³ – Industry Software Solutions & Support, this premier event has once again positioned itself at the forefront of the fast-paced industry. X-Change 2023 brought together local and international end-users, system integrators, and OEMs in a dynamic environment to address key sustainability goals and highlight the latest industrial solutions.

X-Change 2023 witnessed a staggering turnout, with 400+ attendees from various countries, highlighting the event’s global reach and significance. Representatives from 15 nations, including delegates from Angola, Australia, Botswana, Canada, France, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, UAE, UK, USA, Zimbabwe, and of course, South Africa, contributed to the conference’s rich diversity, fostering cross-cultural exchange among industry professionals.

X-Change kicks off with a relaxing golf day, preceded by registration and opening dinner to set the tone and introduce future facing theme for the next two days and immense our delegates in an isolated location with undivided attention.

The expo area featured 15 esteemed exhibitors who highlighted innovative technologies, innovative solutions, and industry trends. Notable participants included Schneider Electric, PCS Global (Pty) Ltd South Africa, Control Systems Integration (Pty) Ltd, ifm, ProcessVue, Endress+Hauser Group, RJ Connect, Nozomi Networks, Stratus Technologies, 4Sight Operational Technologies (OT) Asset Automation, SCAN RF Projects, CSI3, i-RAMS, and Oculus Operational Innovations. Their presence added immense value to the conference, allowing attendees to explore new products, forge partnerships, and stay up to date with the latest industry developments.

The conference commenced with a networking opportunity through a golf tournament on day zero, offering a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for participants to connect. Notably, Ziaad Suleman managed a remarkable hole-in-one, setting the tone for a memorable event. The outdoor opening dinner further enhanced networking opportunities and introduced the conference theme, generating anticipation and excitement among attendees.

Day one witnessed captivating keynotes from AVEVA experts, including Tim Sowell, Lisa Wee, and Ernst Van Wyk. In addition, eight inspiring customer success stories were shared, displaying real-world applications of industrial software solutions. The day also featured an expo networking evening, fostering meaningful interactions between attendees and exhibitors.

Day two was dedicated to insightful breakaway sessions, focused on AVEVA software, and featured keynotes from Tim Sowell, Hanno Van Niekerk, Ernst Van Wyk, and Mark Sham. These sessions provided in-depth discussions and valuable insights into specific areas of interest, empowering attendees with actionable knowledge.

The culmination of X-Change 2023 was marked by the highly anticipated awards gala dinner. Winners were announced across multiple categories, including Engineering X-Cellence, Planning and Operations X-Cellence, Asset & People Performance X-Cellence, Operations X-Cellence, Innovation Award, Best Business Value (ROI), Best Exhibitor, Best Presenter, Partner of the Year, and the prestigious CEO Award. The winners’ exceptional achievements were celebrated, displaying the industry’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

X-Change 2023 received overwhelming support from industry leaders such as AVEVA and Schneider Electric. Their commitment to the event underscored their dedication to fostering innovation and driving progress within the industrial software sector. Their involvement played a vital role in ensuring the success of the conference, and their contributions were appreciated by all attendees.

X-Change 2023 successfully brought together industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. With its commitment to sustainability and focus on industrial solutions, the conference reaffirmed its position as a vital event for driving innovation and progress in the African industrial software industry.

To be a part of our 30^th annual X-Change User Conference, pre-register here: https://bit.ly/3p2Qm5m

Modernise and integrate IT and OT systems to solve Africa’s challenges

The industrial sector in south, east and west Africa urgently needs to transform their aging infrastructure and systems to remain competitive and contribute to addressing the continent’s unique infrastructural and service-related challenges.

Dion Govender, Managing Director of IS3, said at the opening of the 30th XChange Conference in the picturesque Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, that the industrial community plays a significant role in facing and addressing these challenges. Although the sector has historically driven economic growth in the region, it now stands at a critical juncture where its own Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) challenges are putting it under pressure.

The African and international conference delegates can rise to this challenge by bringing the Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) worlds together.

“The local industrial sector needs to respond to the unprecedented challenges it’s experiencing by accelerating its modernisation,” said Govender. “Industrial systems and infrastructure that are nearing the end of their life cycle can’t keep up with changing demands in business optimisation, production and quality.”

There are higher demands on industrial teams and the sector since the pandemic. The sector is expected to do more with less resources and therefore must make fundamental changes to keep operating efficiently and stabilise its businesses.

The industrial sector is also contending with technical debt (deficit of technology and lack of technical expertise) that exists within organisations. This is hampering organisations’ ability to swiftly respond to customer needs.

“The challenge that we face in these African regions is that when industrials don’t have the agility and capacity to respond to market conditions, they lose their competitive edge.”

Technical deficit in the industrial sector

Industrial groups have accumulated ‘technical debt’ because of chronic underfunding of IT and OT infrastructure while their systems architecture remained stagnant. In addition, the sector has lost critical skills and systems knowledge and has not developed sufficient new skills yet. These factors have led to the technical deficit, which represents the growing gap between business needs and sustainability objectives, and the capabilities of supporting existing systems architecture.

“Technical debt in the sector means that costs are increasing while there is a decline in productivity. It creates a significant barrier to innovation, when there is clearly a need for organisations to innovate at this time,” said Govender.

However, industrial groups that adapt to the current business environment by modernising their infrastructure can capitalise on this pivotal point.

Modernising infrastructure

Many industrial groups stand at crossroads when it comes to deciding whether to maintain or overhaul their systems and architecture. For some, it requires a critical balancing act between modernising or retaining legacy systems in their current state.

But modernisation is a strategic imperative that requires a holistic approach. Organisational culture, process and technology must be transformed. “To be successful, companies must address the skills gap, align their modernisation drive with their core business goals and deliver a measurable return-on-investment,” said Govender.

IS³ recommends investing in initiatives that have the greatest potential impact. This can be done by first modernising systems that are unstable, demand excessive manual oversight or are incompatible with emerging technologies.

“The blueprint for modernisation in the sector is creating visibility of the full value chain by bringing IT and OT worlds together,” emphasised Govender.

Purpose-built solution for industrial sector

Govender highlighted that business continuity concerns can be addressed with the AVEVA Connect industrial cloud platform that has been purpose-built for the industrial sector, including manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

“The Connect platform lays the foundation for addressing our current challenges and transforming our environments without replacing our IT and OT infrastructure. It is a gamechanger as it paves the way for broader innovation across processes, services and products.”

“AVEVA’s Connect software solution seamlessly merges the IT and OT worlds for industrials. It provides the decisionmakers – such as CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and CFOs – with the visibility of operations and the value-chain required to optimise their businesses and maintain a connected industrial ecosystem.”

ENDS

Source to read full article:

• Engineering News