Visense and Octotronic merge to launch OctoCore: Transforming unified data integration in smart manufacturing

VISENSE, a provider of AI-driven video analytics and low-code technology, has merged with Octotronic, an expert in smart factory data architectures and digitization projects, to form Octotronic AG. The new company introduces OctoCore, a unified DataOps platform based on Unified Namespace (UNS), designed to make the digital transformation of manufacturing scalable and cost-effective.

As “Smart Factory Architects,” Octotronic aims to provide mid- to large-sized manufacturers, including industry leaders like ABB, BMW, Siemens, VAT, and Roche, with a unified data architecture, low-code (AI) analytics, and visualization tools.

This strategic merger is driven by a shared vision to address the manufacturing industry’s toughest challenges and scale digital transformation initiatives, particularly in implementing AI use cases on the shop floor.

Challenges of digital transformation in manufacturing

Although digital transformation is a key strategic priority for manufacturers, they face significant technological and organizational hurdles that impede progress. These challenges impact the scalability of various initiatives, particularly those based on AI technology.

A recent MIT and Microsoft report indicates that while 64% of manufacturing executives experiment with AI, only 35% implement AI use cases. Common obstacles include inadequate data quality, weak data integration, and weak governance.

Introducing OctoCore

Addressing these challenges, VISENSE and Octotronic have partnered to develop OctoCore, a Unified Namespace (UNS) platform designed to unify and govern data across all levels of the automation pyramid.

OctoCore eliminates data silos, facilitates IT-OT convergence, and establishes a cohesive technological ecosystem that enhances collaboration and drives scalable, cost-efficient digital transformation.

Key features of OctoCore:

• Seamless connectivity: OctoCore provides pre-built connectors for common industrial equipment, protocols like OPC UA, MQTT, and enterprise systems such as ERP, MES, and SCADA, ensuring smooth data flow across the automation pyramid.
• Data transformation for standardization: The platform’s processing allows users to convert raw data into standardized formats, ensuring meaningful storage within the UNS.
• User-friendly Unified Namespace (UNS) UI: The intuitive interface provides a transparent view of data structuring and governance, creating a single point of truth accessible to all stakeholders. It acts as a real-time digital twin of the factory, streaming current data on operations and processes, including vision data.
• Data quality and governance: OctoCore ensures data integrity and security through governance measures, including lineage tracking, audit trails, and role-based access control (RBAC), critical for scaling AI and analytics initiatives.
• Low-code analytics platform for advanced insights: The embedded low-code analytics platform supports rapid use case development with simple logic operations to advanced AI models for time series, sensor, and vision data analysis, enabling timely responses to critical events.
• Dashboard builder for real-time visualization: OctoCore’s dashboard builder allows users to create custom dashboards for real-time visualization of UNS data, linking dashboards to analytics events for prompt insights and alerts.

Recognizing that the manufacturing landscape is often complex, with legacy systems and established processes, OctoCore’s open architecture allows third-party applications, such as visualization and analytics tools, to easily access and utilize unified data, removing integration costs and barriers.

Our merger marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both companies,” says Christian Reich, COO and CFO at Octotronic. “By uniting our strengths, we are poised to accelerate growth, expand our market presence, and deliver even greater value to our clients. We are planning to scale our operations and are exploring opportunities for additional funding with strategic investors to support our ambitious innovation and expansion goals.

Our vision is to revolutionize data integration in manufacturing by becoming the global standard for unified data architectures. This will enable seamless data flow and integration across all systems and platforms, eliminating data silos and enhancing collaboration. By providing a single source of truth for all stakeholders, we empower organizations to make more informed decisions, leading to transformative growth and innovation in the industry,” continues Christian.

Octotronic: Industry insights and strategic importance

Supporting the strategic importance of this merger, McKinsey reports that 85% of companies prioritize digital transformation. Subsequently, global investments in digital transformation reach $300B+ annually.

Despite these investments, many projects fail, leaving manufacturers with costly yet incomplete transformations, underscoring the need for comprehensive solutions like Octotronic.

“This strategic merger represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges both companies independently identified in smart manufacturing,” says Angelo Burgarello, Partner at Look AI Ventures backing VISENSE’s pre-seed round.

“By combining VISENSE’s AI and industrial software expertise with Octotronic’s proficiency in smart factories, data architectures, and IoT, the combined team has already prototyped OctoCore. This collaborative product is a core AI solutions enabler on the shop floor, supporting scalable digital transformation in line with the latest Industry 5.0 trends. Moreover, the two companies’ combined list of clients includes many of the main industry players in the manufacturing landscape,” adds Angelo.

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