Chain saw, lawn mower, high-pressure cleaner, forklift truck, beverage dispenser, coffee machine or vacuum cleaner - products that operated purely mechanically until just a few years ago are evolving into intelligent, complex systems. These products must continue to perform their core tasks to a high standard of quality. The decisive added value and additional benefits are increasingly being provided by additionally integrated software functionalities. These functionalities include, for example, services related to fleet management (location monitoring, recording of operating hours, maintenance planning, etc.), device management (updates, parameterization and configuration), remote maintenance and diagnosis, or the supply of consumables.
Software-based services can be provided in various ways:
- Device software with corresponding human-machine interface (HMI) located directly on the product.
- Smartphone app with direct connectivity to the product, e.g. via Bluetooth or NFC.
- Connection of the product to the Cloud and use of the device functionalities via the Internet.
