The Manufacturer’s Wishlist: What Modern Industrial Software Must Deliver in 2025

Executive Summary

Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to modernize—not just for efficiency, but for resilience, adaptability, and competitiveness. However, many feel underserved by rigid, outdated, or overly complex software offerings. Based on direct conversations with manufacturers, this white paper presents the key capabilities industrial leaders want in their next-generation software stack—and how Artisan Edge was purpose-built to meet those demands.

The Voice of the Market

Across sectors including automotive, packaging, aerospace, and energy, manufacturers consistently cite similar software frustrations:

Vendor lock-in limiting innovation
Slow deployment cycles and high setup costs
Fragmented user interfaces across tools and plants
Lack of real-time visibility across lines, assets, or facilities
Security and compliance concerns with cloud adoption

Executives and plant managers alike seek simplicity, interoperability, and control.

What Manufacturers Want in 2025

1. Plug-and-Play Integration

Support for legacy and modern machines without requiring middleware coding or hardware changes
Standardized tag mapping and device discovery across vendors

2. Real-Time Operational Insight

Sub-second visibility into cycle time, scrap, alarms, and energy consumption
Intuitive dashboards that adapt to user roles (i.e. operator, supervisor, executive)

3. Edge-Native Reliability

Local autonomy for control logic and data capture—even if cloud or network connections fail
Buffered data sync when connectivity resumes

4. Modular Scalability

Easy replication across lines and facilities using templated configurations
License models that support both single-site and multi-region enterprises

5. Cybersecurity by Default

Encrypted data transport, role-based access control, and isolated OT networking
Built-in compliance support (i.e. NIST, ISA/IEC 62443)

6. Fast Time to Value

Deployment measured in days—not months
ROI demonstrable within one quarter through reduced downtime, increased throughput, or quality improvements

7. Data Portability and Openness

Ability to export, transform, and stream data to any cloud, analytics tool, or AI model
Avoidance of vendor lock-in through open standards and APIs

Artisan Edge: Built to Fulfill the Wishlist

Artisan Edge was designed not as a toolset, but as a platform that adapts to manufacturers’ needs—today and tomorrow.

Protocol-agnostic drivers (i.e. Modbus, OPC-UA, proprietary protocols)
Role-specific dashboards and alert configurations
No-code/low-code rule engines for rapid custom logic
High-availability edge nodes that scale horizontally
Secure cloud integrations with AWS, Azure, and private infrastructure

Conclusion

The future of industrial software will not be dictated by features—it will be shaped by usability, flexibility, and alignment with operational realities. Artisan Edge delivers on the wish list manufacturers have articulated by combining robust edge processing, open architecture, and intuitive deployment at scale.

To request a product walkthrough or schedule a live demo, contact sales@artisantec.io or visit www.artisantec.io