Rockwell Automation and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expanded strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionising industrial transformation. Together, the companies will provide manufacturers with advanced cloud and AI solutions that deliver powerful data insights, streamline operations, and enhance scalability – driving operational efficiency and sustainable growth across the industry.

This shared vision will be showcased through several new releases, to be previewed this week as Microsoft joins Rockwell as an exhibiting sponsor at the Automation Fair, taking place from 18–21 November in Anaheim, California. The partnership uniquely combines Rockwell’s extensive expertise in industrial automation with Microsoft’s cloud and AI capabilities. This collaboration bridges the gap between traditional industrial practices and modern digital applications, creating integrated solutions designed to unlock the full potential of industrial data.

Jessica Korpela, Director, Global Customer Innovation at Rockwell Automation, said, “This enhanced collaboration blends cloud and AI technologies with our deep expertise in industrial automation, enabling our customers to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, innovation, and resilience in their operations. We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Microsoft as we address the evolving challenges faced by today’s manufacturers.”

The Rockwell-Microsoft partnership marks a bold step forward in the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, setting a new benchmark for connected, AI-driven operations that empower both companies and their customers to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Power of data for enhanced efficiency

At the Automation Fair, Microsoft will unveil its latest solution, Azure IoT Operations, which integrates seamlessly with Rockwell's digital offerings, including FactoryTalk® Optix™. This newly available combined solution enables manufacturers to capture critical insights from existing sites without requiring extensive retrofitting.

The adaptive cloud approach simplifies the integration of shop-floor data with cloud-based applications, enabling advanced analytics and improving scalability across multi-site environments. With this streamlined integration, customers can gain actionable insights to optimise production and drive data-informed decisions across their operations.

Enhancing PLC Code Creation and User Management

Rockwell has enhanced its FactoryTalk Design Studio software-as-a-service design platform with a new Generative AI Copilot, developed in partnership with Microsoft. Powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, the feature allows engineers to use natural language prompts for tasks such as product guidance, code generation, troubleshooting, and code explanations, making system design faster and more intuitive.

Accessible via a web browser without downloads or installations, FactoryTalk Design Studio offers a collaborative, multi-user environment with integrated version control. It is continuously updated with new capabilities to boost productivity and efficiency in industrial automation system design.

AI-enhanced digital applications

The collaboration will also introduce Rockwell’s FT Optix Food & Beverage model into the Microsoft AI model catalogue. This solution brings the power of AI and Generative AI (GenAI) directly to the manufacturing floor. Leveraging Microsoft’s Phi-3 small language models (SLM), the adapted AI model provides machine operators with AI-guided instructions, assisting in process and device operations through the familiar FactoryTalk Optix interface.

With specifically trained models, workers can access contextualised AI guidance to enhance productivity, reduce errors, and accelerate decision-making.

Kam VedBrat, General Manager, Azure IoT, Microsoft, said, “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Rockwell Automation to help customers accelerate their industrial transformation journey. By combining Rockwell’s industry-leading automation solutions with Microsoft Azure IoT Operations, and through our joint work on an adapted AI model based on Phi-3, we are enabling customers to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation.”

This strategic partnership will deliver significant benefits to manufacturers, helping them navigate the challenges of today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape. Through these advanced digital solutions, companies can achieve greater efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance productivity, empowering organisations to realise the full potential of their digital transformation journey, Rockwell said in a media release.