A fundamental shift is taking place in the industrial world. For decades, the core of value creation was the sale of machines, equipment, or tools. Today, digital services based on data are gaining increasing importance. Companies are seeking new, scalable revenue streams and are discovering the power of intelligent, connected services—known as Industrial Smart Services. These services are changing not only how industrial companies operate but also how they interact with their customers.

What Are Industrial Smart Services?

Industrial Smart Services are digital services based on the analysis of data generated during the operation of industrial machinery and systems. These include not just traditional services like maintenance or spare parts, but data-driven offerings such as predictive maintenance, performance optimization, energy efficiency analysis, or pay-per-use models.

Example: Instead of selling a machine, a manufacturer offers usage-based billing—customers pay per unit produced. Transparency is ensured through sensors and IoT platforms that collect and analyze operational data in real time.

Data as the Fuel for New Business Models

Smart Services are powered by data—and industry is producing more of it than ever. Every machine, system, and process can now be equipped with sensors measuring temperature, vibration, power consumption, and more. This data is aggregated in the cloud and analyzed using AI and machine learning.

The result is a digital twin of the physical production environment. This twin allows real-time monitoring, as well as forecasts and simulations. For example, it can predict when a component is likely to fail, saving costs and avoiding downtime.

More exciting still is using this data to create entirely new business models. Rather than selling machines, companies offer their capabilities as a service. The customer pays not for the product but for its usage—an "X-as-a-Service" model borrowed from the software world.

Benefits for Providers and Customers

Smart Services benefit both sides. Providers free themselves from one-time product sales and generate continuous revenue. They also build stronger customer relationships through ongoing service interactions.

Customers benefit from greater transparency, improved planning, and often lower costs. Smart services such as automated maintenance alerts or energy usage analysis improve efficiency. Real-time access to service data increases autonomy and minimizes downtime.

Practical Challenges

Transitioning to Smart Services is not automatic. Companies face structural, technological, and cultural challenges. They must build IoT infrastructure, integrate data platforms, and create new interfaces. Shifting from product to service logic also requires rethinking strategies across sales, finance, and operations.

Data protection is another critical issue. When sensitive production data is shared, clear rules must define ownership and use. Cybersecurity becomes central to Smart Service development.

Success Stories and Industries

Many pioneers are already succeeding with Industrial Smart Services. Machine tool manufacturer TRUMPF, for example, offers a pay-per-part model. Siemens uses digital twins and cloud services to deliver added value. Companies like Festo and Bosch Rexroth also invest heavily in data-driven services.

Smart Services are especially relevant in sectors like mechanical engineering, energy, logistics, and automotive—anywhere complex systems are in use, intelligent data usage pays off.

Conclusion & Outlook

Industrial Smart Services represent a new era of value creation. They allow companies to move beyond product sales and build long-term customer relationships through data-driven added value. Platforms like Portal24 can play a crucial role by acting as a hub between providers and customers, enhancing transparency, and orchestrating intelligent services.

For industrial players, this is a major opportunity—provided they are willing to adapt strategies, structures, and mindsets for the digital age.