Margo is a new interoperability open standards initiative that will address key barriers to digital transformation

The program is hosted by the Linux Foundation and driven by the founding team of industrial automation solution providers, including ABB Process Automation and ABB Machine Automation (B&R).

Margo is designed to unlock interoperability at the edge – a key layer of the Industrial iot ecosystem where factory data is transformed into AI-driven analytics to improve efficiency and sustainability

0-60063-1 In April 2024, at the Hannover MESse, founding members ABB (including B&R), Capgemini, Microsoft, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric (including CaV) and Siemens announced a collaboration on a new initiative to enable interoperability in the Industrial iot ecosystem. Hosted by the Linux Foundation and open to more interested parties, the Margo initiative, whose name is derived from the Latin word for edge, will define mechanisms for interoperability between applications, devices, and coordination software at the edge layer of the industrial ecosystem. In particular, Margo will make it very easy for applications from any ecosystem member to run and combine on top of any other member’s hardware and real-time running systems. Margo aims to deliver on its interoperability promise through a modern and agile open source approach that will bring greater flexibility, simplicity and scalability to industrial companies as they undertake digital transformation in complex multi-vendor environments.

Mastering efficiency, flexibility and quality faster than the competition is the key to success in today’s industrial sector. Digitization can help realize these benefits, but the digital ecosystem needs a robust, secure, and interoperable edge framework that connects operations and information technology. For ABB, which has long championed open automation systems, promoting forward-thinking collaborative initiatives like Margo is key to achieving this goal.

Interoperability is key to large-scale digital transformation

0-60063-1 The more sources you have access to your data, the better your decisions will be. However, while the benefits of digitization increase with scale, so do the challenges of navigating heterogeneous industrial ecosystems. This is why interoperability is essential to unlock the full potential of digitalization. IT enables enterprises to adopt and scale industrial iot solutions at full speed, without the need for a large team of IT experts.

In March 2024, ABB became a member of the Linux Foundation. This will enable the company to further strengthen its efforts to foster open community collaboration, helping to unleash innovation and deliver better products and experiences to customers. This further reinforces ABB’s commitment to systems based on open standards.

During a live panel discussion at Hannover MESse, representatives of the six founding members came together to present their vision for interoperability at the edge of the Industrial iot and call on like-minded industry peers to join the community and contribute to establishing meaningful and effective standards. The audio and video recordings of the panel discussions are available at www.margo.org