In the rapidly-changing and evolving tech landscape, data is no longer a byproduct of day-to-day operations – it has become a strategic asset. Machine builders grasped this early on, and in parallel, the digital factory took a major step forward with the rise of the industrial internet of things (IIoT). As machine manufacturers address the next wave of data, brought on by a push to modernize with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), a research study from Deloitte found 91% of companies expect to face data-related challenges in the coming year—showing that data readiness is top-of-mind.