When many operations managers hear the word automation, they think of software rules quietly moving data between applications, such as syncing forms or sending notifications. While this kind of automation is valuable, it only tells part of the story. In physical industries like manufacturing, logistics, energy, and warehousing, automation begins long before software workflows start. It begins on the factory floor, inside equipment, and across facilities where machines generate constant signals about performance and condition.  This is where industrial automation and IoT converge. Sensors, devices, and connected machines all collect real-world data that software alone cannot see. But it’s rare that the raw data would be useful in and