Manufacturing facilities, production lines, and industrial automation units have traditionally been disconnected from the internet. However, to stay competitive in the digital era, these systems must evolve into smart, interconnected networks by integrating key technologies such as digital twins and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which require internet connectivity and the cloud.

As data volumes generated by industrial equipment are substantial, relying solely on cloud infrastructure becomes insufficient due to bandwidth limitations, latency issues, and the inability to handle real-time data processing effectively. Even more, it poses key security challenges/ This is where edge computing becomes critical. Edge computing brings data processing closer to the source, reducing latency and bandwidth strain, enabling faster decision-making and seamless operations.

This talk explores how industrial automation can safely and efficiently move online by leveraging edge computing and highlights the features that application servers should offer to meet the demands of operational technologies and factory environments, such as security, reliability, scalability, and long-term support. The presentation showcase these opportunities through a demo build with Payara Platform.