Question 1

What is ABB Ability?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability is an industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform launched by ABB Group in 2017 that consolidates ABB's digital offerings into a unified edge-to-cloud solution. It connects over 70 million devices across manufacturing, utilities, oil & gas, mining, and robotics industries, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and operational optimization. The platform combines ABB's 120+ years of industrial automation expertise with modern cloud computing powered by Microsoft Azure.

Question 2

When was ABB Ability founded and by whom?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability was launched in 2017 by ABB Group (ASEA Brown Boveri), which itself was formed in 1988 through a merger of Sweden's ASEA (founded 1883) and Switzerland's Brown, Boveri & Cie (founded 1891). The platform was developed under CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer's strategic vision following a March 2016 Microsoft Azure partnership announcement at the Hannover Messe trade show. Current CEO Björn Rosengren (since 2020) has continued to position ABB Ability as the core digital transformation pillar of the company.

Question 3

What is ABB's company history and heritage?

Accepted Answer

ABB (ASEA Brown Boveri) is a $50 billion global automation and power technology conglomerate with roots dating back to 1883 with ASEA's founding by Ludvig Fredholm in Sweden, and 1891 with Brown, Boveri & Cie's establishment in Baden, Switzerland. The 1988 merger created ABB, which became a leader in electric motors, drives, industrial robotics, power grids, and process automation. This deep heritage in electrical engineering and industrial automation informs ABB Ability's technology and market positioning.

Question 4

What are ABB Ability's main products and services?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability's core products include: Genix APM (asset performance management using vibration and thermal sensors for predictive maintenance), Edgenius (edge computing gateways for local data processing and real-time control), Manufacturing Operations Management MOM (production line coordination and SCADA), Energy Manager (utility demand response and renewable integration), and Marine (ship fuel optimization and emissions compliance for 1,000+ vessels). The platform also offers 200+ integrated digital solutions covering asset monitoring, robotics fleet orchestration, and grid optimization.

Question 5

What is ABB Ability Genix APM and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Genix APM is ABB Ability's flagship asset performance management solution that uses vibration, thermal, and acoustic sensors embedded in motors, pumps, turbines, and other equipment to predict failures days or weeks in advance. The solution combines physics-based models with machine learning to achieve 95%+ failure prediction accuracy, helping customers prevent unplanned downtime that can cost $250,000 to over $1 million per incident. It monitors performance across ABB's installed base of 500,000+ industrial drives, 400,000+ robots, and 100,000+ substation automation systems.

Question 6

What makes ABB Ability different from competitors?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability's key competitive advantages include: (1) massive installed base leverage—ABB already has 500,000+ drives, 400,000+ robots, and 100,000+ substations deployed globally, making connectivity retrofits highly scalable; (2) deep domain expertise spanning 120+ years of industrial automation engineering, enabling physics-based AI models that outperform generic algorithms; (3) integrated edge-to-cloud architecture with Edgenius 3.0 enabling autonomous edge AI with millisecond latency for real-time control; and (4) Microsoft Azure partnership ensuring enterprise-grade security and global cloud infrastructure. This contrasts with rivals like Siemens MindSphere, Schneider EcoStruxure, and the defunct GE Predix.

Question 7

Which industries and use cases does ABB Ability serve?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability serves diverse industrial sectors including: utilities and energy companies (demand response, grid management, renewable integration), oil & gas (predictive maintenance for offshore platforms), chemical manufacturing (process optimization), mining (equipment health monitoring), automotive and robotics (fleet orchestration), marine shipping (fuel optimization and emissions compliance), and general manufacturing (production optimization and downtime prevention). Major customers include Shell, BASF, Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortum, E.ON, and Volkswagen, operating across 10,000+ customer sites globally.

Question 8

How much does ABB Ability cost and what pricing models are available?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability employs a recurring revenue model where customers pay for connectivity sensors, edge gateways, cloud analytics services, and AI-powered insights, often structured as equipment-as-service subscriptions based on connected device count and feature tier. Exact pricing is customized per customer and solution but reflects the value delivered (e.g., preventing downtime worth $250K-$1M+ justifies significant recurring costs). ABB generated over $1 billion in digital revenue in 2024 and is targeting $2 billion by 2025, indicating strong adoption and expanding customer investments.

Question 9

How do I get started with ABB Ability?

Accepted Answer

Getting started with ABB Ability typically involves: (1) assessing your installed ABB equipment (motors, drives, robots, switchgear) or other compatible devices via OPC UA industrial interoperability standards; (2) deploying ABB Ability Edgenius edge gateways to connect sensors and process data locally; (3) provisioning cloud infrastructure through Azure; and (4) configuring industry-specific applications like Genix APM for predictive maintenance or Energy Manager for utilities. ABB provides implementation support and has partner ecosystems to facilitate deployment. Contact your ABB sales representative for a customized assessment and pilot program.

Question 10

What is ABB Ability's edge-to-cloud architecture?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability's edge-to-cloud architecture enables data to flow from sensors embedded in industrial equipment → local ABB Ability Edgenius edge computing gateways (processing sensor data on-premises, running machine learning models locally) → Microsoft Azure cloud (time-series analytics, predictive algorithms, dashboards, APIs). The edge-first strategy, enhanced with Edgenius 3.0 autonomous edge AI, delivers millisecond latency for real-time control while reducing bandwidth costs and improving cybersecurity by limiting cloud exposure. This hybrid approach balances latency-sensitive real-time applications with cloud-scale analytics.

Question 11

Does ABB Ability integrate with third-party systems and platforms?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ABB Ability supports open ecosystem integration through APIs and the OPC UA industrial interoperability standard, enabling connectivity with third-party sensors, platforms, and systems beyond ABB equipment. This vendor-agnostic approach addresses customer concerns about lock-in and allows ABB Ability to work alongside competitors like Siemens PLC/DCS, Schneider Electric devices, and other industrial systems. The platform's Microsoft Azure backend and REST APIs facilitate custom integrations tailored to existing IT/OT infrastructure.

Question 12

What is the Microsoft Azure partnership and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

In March 2016, ABB announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to co-engineer ABB Ability solutions on the Azure cloud platform. This partnership provides ABB Ability with enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure, AI/ML services, and IoT Edge runtime for edge computing. Azure certification for ABB IoT Edge devices ensures security compliance and interoperability. This partnership is fundamental to ABB Ability's architecture and positions the platform to compete effectively in the global IIoT market while leveraging Microsoft's cloud and AI capabilities.

Question 13

How does ABB Ability address cybersecurity and operational technology (OT) safety?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability addresses cybersecurity challenges inherent in operational technology and IT convergence through: Azure's enterprise-grade security controls, encrypted data transmission, Azure IoT Edge runtime for local processing reducing cloud exposure, OPC UA industrial protocol with authentication mechanisms, and physical isolation options where critical equipment runs ML models locally without constant cloud connectivity. Given the industrial sector's heightened ransomware risks (exemplified by the Colonial Pipeline 2021 attack), ABB positions security as integral to the platform, though specific compliance certifications and audits should be verified with ABB directly.

Question 14

How does ABB Ability help with sustainability and ESG goals?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability addresses corporate sustainability mandates through energy optimization applications that reduce industrial carbon footprints by 20-30%, renewable energy integration features for utilities, ship fuel optimization for the marine sector (driving IMO emissions compliance), and predictive maintenance that extends equipment life and reduces waste. These capabilities align with enterprise ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals and regulatory requirements like the IMO 2030 emissions targets, making ABB Ability a key tool for companies committed to decarbonization.

Question 15

What is the competitive landscape for ABB Ability?

Accepted Answer

ABB Ability competes with Siemens MindSphere (deeper Siemens PLC/DCS integration with 2,000+ customers), Schneider Electric EcoStruxure (French automation rival with strong regional presence), PTC ThingWorx (vendor-agnostic platform preferred by some customers), Rockwell FactoryTalk, Honeywell Forge, and other industrial IoT platforms. The GE Digital Predix collapse (2011-2020, sold to Advent after $5B+ investment and ROI challenges) serves as a cautionary tale for the industry. ABB's advantages—installed base leverage, domain expertise, and Azure partnership—position it as a leading contender in the $30B+ IIoT market.

Question 16

How many devices and customers does ABB Ability currently serve?

Accepted Answer

As of 2024, ABB Ability connects over 70 million devices globally across 10,000+ customer sites, generating over $1 billion in digital revenue (ABB Group's digital segment). The platform monitors ABB's massive installed base of 500,000+ industrial drives, 400,000+ robots, and 100,000+ substation automation systems deployed over decades, with major customers including Shell, BASF, Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortum, E.ON, and Volkswagen. ABB is targeting $2 billion in annual digital revenue by 2025, indicating continued growth trajectory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is ABB Ability?

When was ABB Ability founded and by whom?

What is ABB's company history and heritage?

What are ABB Ability's main products and services?

What is ABB Ability Genix APM and how does it work?

What makes ABB Ability different from competitors?

Which industries and use cases does ABB Ability serve?

How much does ABB Ability cost and what pricing models are available?

How do I get started with ABB Ability?

What is ABB Ability's edge-to-cloud architecture?

Does ABB Ability integrate with third-party systems and platforms?

What is the Microsoft Azure partnership and why is it important?

How does ABB Ability address cybersecurity and operational technology (OT) safety?

How does ABB Ability help with sustainability and ESG goals?

What is the competitive landscape for ABB Ability?

How many devices and customers does ABB Ability currently serve?

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