If you're in the industrial automation field, you'll want to hear about the annual ARC Forum that keeps you thinking ahead.

If you didn’t make it to the 29th Annual ARC Industry Forum, you missed out. But this blog post will get you up to speed!

Here’s what went down and why this event continues to matter:

The sessions at this year’s Forum leaned into AI in a big way. Large enterprises are starting to implement AI, specifically large language models (LLMs) into their operations. As industries adopt AI to drive smarter operations, having the right tools in place to collect and manage that data is more important than ever.

Your success using AI within the industrial arena hinges on reliable, robust, and contextualized data—exactly the kind of data your groov devices generate at the edge. 

Top Takeaways from the 29th annual ARC:

• Legacy system integration is still a challenge. Despite the fact that AI is here, most companies aren't ready for it in their operations. AI isn't exactly plug-and-play—companies are still struggling to integrate AI-driven insights with existing automation systems.
• AI is being used in operations to enhance overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), enable predictive maintenance, and detect anomalies. However, these AI-driven initiatives heavily rely on access to rich, contextualized data, which is essential for making accurate predictions and informed decisions.
• The edge is more important than ever: Industrial enterprises are realizing they need faster decision-making, which means pushing intelligence closer to machines.
  

A huge thanks to our amazing partner Inductive Automation for showcasing groov EPIC edge controllers and groov RIO edge I/O in their booth. It’s always great to connect and sync up with our amazing software partner.

If you still don’t know about their software Ignition, where have you been? It’s about more than SCADA—it’s an industrial platform capable of handling everything from data collection and visualization to edge computing, enterprise integration, and seamless connectivity across your entire operation. Unlimited tags, unlimited clients, unlimited devices—and FREE to try. 

Shout out to Don Hofmann from Aqualogix and Toby Varland of Varland Plating for sharing your application stories—two Opto 22 groov EPIC users with unique applications.

Don shared Aqualogix’s story about water-saving technologies in a session titled Operational Resilience: Critical to Survive and Thrive in the Industrial AI Era.

Toby detailed Varland Plating’s ongoing digital transformation journey in Best Practices in Smart Manufacturing. (Learn more about Varland Plating's systems in this Opto 22 case study.)

It wouldn't be an ARC Forum without a little bit of extracurricular fun. One of the most memorable moments this year? Inductive Automation graciously hosted a dinner with sharks at SeaWorld. Literally.

The underground restaurant set the scene for a unique networking dinner. And, of course, the fun continued the following evening at Universal CityWalk, where the karaoke bar gave everyone (OK, mostly me) a chance to cut loose.

The ARC Industry Forum isn’t just about presentations—it’s about the connections you make and the ideas you take home. If you’re in the industry, this is the event that keeps you thinking ahead.

Will we see you there next year?