What does it take to make industrial automation truly successful? In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, host Lisa Richter welcomes Nick Plathe, New Business Development Manager at ITI Group, to discuss how manufacturers can use digital transformation to solve real business and operational challenges.

With more than 15 years of experience in MES, SCADA, industrial automation, and OT/IT integration, Nick shares how a holistic approach to technology can improve production visibility, reduce waste, maintain quality, and help companies make better decisions. He also explores the challenges manufacturers face today, from talent shortages and retiring experienced workers to the growing importance of AI, cybersecurity, and real-time data.

Nick explains why choosing the right system integrator involves more than comparing prices, why involving stakeholders early can make or break a project, and why companies need to capture valuable knowledge before it leaves with their most experienced employees.

His advice is simple: Understand the business problem before choosing the technology. By investing in proper discovery, asking the right questions, and focusing on measurable business outcomes, manufacturers can build solutions that deliver lasting value.

Tune in for practical insights on digital transformation, smarter manufacturing, and the future of industrial automation.

What does it take to build smarter, more effective industrial automation? Lisa Richter sits down with Greg Jackson of Smart Sites and Alan Hinchman of Gray Matter to explore a partnership spanning more than 30 years—and how the industry has evolved from simply collecting data to turning it into meaningful insight.

They dive into AI, cybersecurity, system integration, industry expertise, and the growing need to do more with less. They also share lessons from the field, the importance of trusted partnerships, and what's ahead for the future of industrial automation.

Tune in for insights and real-world perspectives on where automation is headed. Listen to the full episode and discover more on the Industrial Automation Exchange at www.csiaexchange.com.

In this episode of Talking Industrial Automation, Lisa Richter sits down with Nicole Bojic, Founder and CEO of ILLI Agency, to explore the human side of B2B marketing and industrial automation buying decisions.

Nicole explains why the best technology can lose to the technology a buyer actually understands, and why technical specifications, data, and ROI alone may not be enough to win the deal. Drawing from years of buyer research, she shares how fear, trust, risk, and internal decision-making shape purchasing decisions long before an RFQ ever arrives.

The conversation also dives into how AI is changing the way industrial buyers discover and shortlist companies, why businesses need to create content around the real questions their customers are asking, and how smaller industrial firms can build visibility without trying to be everywhere.

Nicole and Lisa discuss the shift from selling capabilities to understanding buyers, overcoming "pilot purgatory" when moving from IT to OT, and why companies should focus on building trust before the buying process officially begins.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about buyer psychology, industrial automation marketing, AI-driven search, and the future of B2B technology sales.