# What we do ## Making industrial software scalable without shifting roles or ownership Industrial automation does not suffer from a lack of innovation. It suffers from a **scaling problem**. Across the automation ecosystem, valuable software is developed every day: * by **component manufacturers** as device software and digital add-ons * by **machine builders and OEMs** as machine logic, services, and options * by **system integrators and engineering teams** as project-specific solutions * by **app vendors** as standard and specialized industrial applications Each of these software assets is valuable on its own. But without a shared software layer for operation, updates, and lifecycle management, this fragmentation leads to: * high and repeated integration effort * unclear responsibilities across vendors and roles * inconsistent update processes * increased operational and security risk This is not a technical problem. It is a **structural one**. *** ## 🧩 The platform logic behind FLECS FLECS provides the **shared software layer** that industrial automation has been missing. Instead of replacing existing systems, tools, or responsibilities, FLECS standardizes how industrial software is: * packaged * distributed * deployed * updated * operated across its full lifecycle FLECS runs on Linux-based industrial hardware and connects software, devices, and marketplaces into a consistent operational layer. This allows all roles in the automation ecosystem to scale their software. **Without losing ownership, branding, or customer relationships**. *** ## 🚫 What FLECS does not do To avoid misunderstandings, FLECS is explicitly **not**: * a replacement for PLCs, SCADA systems, or engineering environments * a proprietary control system or closed ecosystem * a customer-takeover marketplace * a platform that shifts responsibility between roles FLECS does not compete with its users. It provides the infrastructure that allows them to cooperate and scale. *** ## ✅ What FLECS enables By introducing a shared software layer, FLECS enables: * **Consistent software operation** across machines, vendors, and environments * **Secure and manageable updates** for industrial software * **Clear responsibility boundaries** between all involved roles * **Scalable distribution models** for industrial apps and services * **Operation across edge devices, PLCs, IPCs, and cloud-native environments** FLECS turns fragmented software delivery into a **repeatable, auditable, and secure process**. *** ## 👥 Value by role ### Machine Builders / OEMs Machine builders are responsible for the overall system and therefore carry integration, security, and lifecycle risk. With FLECS, OEMs can: * build **branded, vertical software platforms** for their machines * combine own software with selected third-party apps * manage updates and options across the full machine lifecycle * introduce digital services without creating new platform silos Ownership, branding, and the customer relationship remain fully with the OEM. *** ### Component Manufacturers Component manufacturers deliver high-quality hardware and increasingly sophisticated software, but often lack a scalable path into operation. With FLECS, component manufacturers can: * package their software in a standardized, deployable form * maintain and update software independently of individual projects * scale distribution across multiple OEMs and operators * support security and CRA requirements through structured lifecycle management Their software becomes operational, not just deliverable. *** ### Plant Operators Plant operators run heterogeneous environments with machines from many vendors and generations. With FLECS, operators can: * roll out software consistently across the plant * reduce platform sprawl and vendor-specific tooling * operate updates and security patches in a controlled manner * gain clearer responsibility and transparency across systems The result is a more stable, secure, and manageable automation environment. *** ### App Vendors & Developers Industrial software vendors need a scalable way to reach machines, without building and maintaining their own infrastructure. With FLECS, app vendors can: * publish and distribute industrial apps in a standardized way * reach OEMs, operators, and integrators through marketplaces * evolve from single apps to full, branded software ecosystems * retain control over licensing, pricing, and support *** ## 🛍 Marketplace as a consequence – not the core Marketplaces are a natural result of standardized software operation. FLECS enables **Marketplace as a Service**: * fully branded marketplaces under your control * curated app catalogs for specific machines or industries * integrated licensing, deployment, and update management The marketplace is not a sales channel takeover. It is an **operational interface** built on top of the shared FLECS software layer. *** ## 🎯 In summary FLECS does not introduce another platform silo. It introduces the **shared software layer** that allows industrial automation to scale: * across roles * across vendors * across machines * across lifecycles If you build, deliver, operate, or extend industrial automation systems, FLECS provides the foundation to do so **consistently, securely, and at scale**.