In Industry 4.0, interoperability is the strategic ability of diverse industrial systems—machines, software, and sensors—to exchange and accurately interpret data across a global value chain. It goes beyond connectivity by ensuring data meaning is preserved regardless of source.

Using standardized frameworks like the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), a controller (PLC) can communicate with an industrial robot and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in a unified language.

This seamless integration supports smart factories by enabling agile production, reducing downtime, and orchestrating multi-vendor ecosystems without vendor-specific restrictions.