As previously described, data is a key factor in the success of Industry 4.0. The more data collected and analyzed, the more assertive predictions and recommendations become.

More than an automation framework technology, the IoT is a great way to collect a huge amount of data from connected devices. By combining different data sources (machine and robot sensors, security cameras, heart-rate monitors, environment and meteorological data), it is possible to define and analyze domains to understand the current reality of business contexts and have a more reasoned analysis of it. It is also possible to have insights on how to become more productive, more predictable, and more flexible, because you can process the data as it is collected in real time, as shown in the following diagram:

The results of the processing can also become a trigger to change the actions machines and robots are running at the moment, even to fix a defect in the product that is being created to perform self-healing tasks before continuing a process.