webinar
recap
Our recent webinar explored why ISO 81346 is moving from a niche engineering standard to an increasingly important foundation for modern industrial systems.
The session brought together professionals from engineering, asset management, IT architecture and digital transformation who face a common challenge: while digital platforms, integrations and data are becoming more advanced, creating a shared understanding across disciplines remains difficult.
A key discussion point was that many organizations already have the necessary technologies in place. However, familiar problems continue to reappear because engineering, operations and IT often structure the same systems differently. As a result, data can be exchanged, but context is frequently lost.
Participants examined how ISO 81346 provides a consistent framework for describing and structuring complex technical systems. Rather than being limited to documentation, the standard helps establish a common language that connects different disciplines throughout the lifecycle of an industrial system.
The webinar also looked at why this topic is gaining momentum. SAP’s introduction of Industrial Systems as a core concept, based on ISO 81346, demonstrates how structured system descriptions are becoming increasingly relevant for engineering, operations and enterprise applications alike.
Another focus was the growing importance of consistent system structures for digital twins, asset models and interoperable data ecosystems. While these technologies continue to evolve, their success depends on having a shared understanding of systems, assets and equipment across organizations and teams.
Throughout the session, practical examples highlighted where inconsistent structures create unnecessary complexity and how a standardized approach can improve collaboration, navigation and long-term scalability.
Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and contributed their perspectives. The exchange made it clear that ISO 81346 is no longer just a documentation standard but an increasingly important building block for connected industrial systems.