IoT Use Case

Manufacturer-Owned Platforms: Machine Monitoring Software

Manufacturer-owned platforms are IoT platforms that a machine or component manufacturer offers for its own products. Sensors, controls and software are designed to work together, so equipment data flows into dashboards, condition monitoring and service processes with little integration effort.

  • Managing Director, BESI Marine Systems GmbH
  • Co-Founder & CTO/CPO, Greenlyte Carbon Technologies
  • Sr Controls Engineer, ALPS Inspection
  • Hüdig GmbH & Co. KG
  • Magna Exteriors (Meerane) GmbH, Manager Automation, Magna
  • Salzgitter Flachstahl

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Who offers it

Manufacturer-owned platforms in practice

8 manufacturers from our partner network with 55 solution examples. Those with the most documented use in this category come first.

What it is used for

What they are used for, and with what

Based on these manufacturers' solution examples: the most common use cases and the technologies their solutions speak.

Use cases

What to look for

What defines a manufacturer-owned platform

A manufacturer-owned platform, often called an OEM platform, comes from the same company as the machine, engine or sensor. The manufacturer knows its equipment in detail, so data points, limit values and diagnostic messages are preconfigured. Devices connect through the manufacturer's own controller, a supplied gateway or a wireless technology such as LoRaWAN. Typical functions include condition monitoring, dashboards with operating data, alerting, remote access for service teams and maintenance planning. For operators, this means a short rollout and analytics that fit the equipment exactly.

Examples from the network include ifm with a platform for sensor data and condition monitoring, Rolls-Royce Power Systems with a platform for engines and propulsion systems, and symmedia with a machine service platform that machine builders use to offer digital services to their customers.

How it differs from other platform types

The main reason to choose one is getting hardware and software from a single source. Vendor-neutral platforms connect equipment from many brands and need more setup to do so. Hyperscalers provide the infrastructure on which companies build their own applications. Specialized platforms solve one specific business problem regardless of the equipment manufacturer. In plants that have grown over time with machines from many vendors, several manufacturer platforms often run side by side, and their data needs to come together in one central place.

What to look for when choosing one

Open interfaces such as OPC UA, MQTT or a REST API are essential so that data can also flow into ERP, MES or an overarching IoT platform. Other key points are where the platform runs (the manufacturer's cloud, your own data center or the edge), clear rules on data ownership and data access under the EU Data Act, and the licensing model per device or per site. In practice, a combination works well: the manufacturer platform for depth on each machine and an integration layer for an overview of the entire plant.

A typical solution example is an operator that monitors one manufacturer’s compressors, pumps or engines through that manufacturer’s platform and schedules maintenance based on actual condition rather than fixed intervals. The manufacturer sees the same data and can prepare spare parts and service visits before a breakdown occurs.

Frequently asked questions about manufacturer-owned platforms

What software is suitable for machine monitoring?

For machines from a single manufacturer, that manufacturer's own platform is usually the fastest route because data points and limit values are already configured. For mixed machine fleets, vendor-neutral industrial IoT platforms that connect many controllers and protocols are a better fit. What matters most is support for the existing controllers, open interfaces and whether the software should run in the cloud or on the company network.

What is a digital service platform in machine building?

A digital service platform connects a machine builder with the machines running at its customers' sites. It brings together condition data, fault messages, documentation, spare parts ordering and remote access in one place. The manufacturer detects problems earlier and plans service visits more precisely, while the operator gets faster support and an overview of its equipment. Many machine builders offer such platforms as an additional paid service.

What is machine monitoring?

Machine monitoring is the continuous collection and analysis of a machine’s operating and condition data, such as runtime, output, temperature, vibration or fault messages. The goal is to spot deviations early, avoid downtime and schedule maintenance when it is actually needed. Manufacturer-owned platforms provide preconfigured data points and limit values, so monitoring can start without a lengthy setup.

What does a customer portal in machine building offer?

A customer portal gives operators a single point of access to all information about their machines. Typical content includes operating and condition data, maintenance history, technical documentation, service tickets and ordering the right spare parts. When the portal is connected to the manufacturer's IoT platform, live data and warnings appear right next to the documentation. This reduces queries and shortens downtime.

What does the EU Data Act regulate for machine data?

The EU Data Act has applied since September 2025 and gives users of connected products a right to access the data generated through their use. Operators can require the data holder, usually the manufacturer, to make this data available to them or to a third party they appoint. For manufacturer-owned platforms, this means data access, export options and contract terms belong on the checklist during selection.

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