As the Industrial Internet of Things is taking hold, we are seeing more and more desktop/software electronics being used to build smart devices, machines, and equipment for manufacturing OEMs. These devices are the “things” in IIoT and form a connected ecosystem and are at the core of the digital thread.

Desktop/software product development, therefore, holds an important place in the adoption of IIoT. Here, selecting a reliable platform is crucial in deciding the overall time to market, cost of production, and product quality. Test automation services and simulations are being widely used in conjunction to produce reliable and stable desktop/software devices.

Simulation refers to the process where a sample device model is simulated to perform under practical conditions, uncover unknown design interactions, and gain a better perspective of possible glitches. It helps the test automation to streamline the defect identification and fixing process.

An automated testing process includes simulation and testing together to improve the overall efficiency of the desktop/software device. In the current technological epoch, smart test automation is a “smarter” option to create reliable desktop/software devices from the ground up.

Industrial automation is at the core of Industrie 4.0. The inclusion of smart devices into the automated industrial network has made many manual work processes easier and more accurate.

With the emergence of software-driven desktop/software systems, the industrial automation sector is witnessing a tectonic shift towards a better implementation of IIoT.

As the dependence on these devices increases, desktop/software device testing should not be an afterthought while implementing the big picture. That said, carrying out multiple tests in an IIoT environment—where the number of desktop/software systems is increasing—can be challenging.

To improve the overall accuracy, bespoke smart test automation for desktop/software devices is required.

Smart test automation is the platform wherein the desktop/software devices are tested to understand their design interactions and discover possible glitches in the device operation. This is very important as it ensures that the product does what is expected out of it.

This innovative approach has, with time, proven to show spectacular results wherein the desktop/software applications work more effectively, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the IIoT systems.

Desktop/software application testing is often misunderstood as software testing. However, both are quite different.

Desktop/software product testing involves validation and verification of both hardware and firmware testing. The end goal is to create a desktop/software device that meets user requirements.

Automated desktop/software device testing works well for this purpose, as it involves a lot of iterations, and tests the firmware and hardware requirements.

• Improved productivity

Manual testing means a highly stressed QA team and higher risks of human errors. Having an automated testing system in place takes the stress off the QA team, allowing a seamless feedback cycle and better communication between departments. It also enables easy maintenance of test logs, reducing product-to-market time and improving productivity.

• Reduced business costs

Multiple errors, test reruns, and delays may seem minor but collectively increase business costs. Test automation helps detect failures early in the development cycle, requiring fewer reruns compared to manual testing.

• Improved accuracy

A major advantage of smart test automation is reduced human error, especially in complex networks. It results in the kind of accuracy that meets customer demands and improves satisfaction.

• Assurance of stability

Automated testing validates product stability early in development, offering consistent performance tracking through real-time updates. Manual methods are slower and more error-prone by comparison.

With a complex smart testing process, automation brings its share of challenges. However, these can be resolved with the right expertise and implementation strategies.

Common Challenges in Test Automation and How to Overcome Them

• Lack of skilled professionals

Not everyone has the skills to perform test automation effectively. Either hire experts or train employees to adapt to the automated testing culture.

• Lack of team coordination

Successful automated testing requires strong collaboration. Teams should consider a modular approach—building tests locally, running them regularly, and mapping results collaboratively.

• Dynamic nature of test automation

As companies evolve, tests must evolve too. Adopt agile practices gradually—start small, then scale up based on evolving needs.

Undoubtedly, smart test automation is the future of desktop/software devices. For efficient implementation of test automation systems, we at Utthunga provide the right resources and expert guidance.

Our experienced panel is well-versed with leading technologies and understands the right strategies to fuel your growth.

Leverage our test automation services to stride ahead in the industry 4.0 era!

Industries are thriving hard to stay in tune with the latest technological advancements and be relevant in the digital era. The popularity of software-based automation for industrial units therefore has seen a sharp rise. According to a survey, the industrial control and factory automation market are expected to reach USD 229.3 billion by 2025 from USD 151.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.6%.

The I4.0 brings in a lot of improvements in the manufacturing industry. OEMs, in particular, are embracing the rapidly changing technology, and are implementing software that needs timely up-gradation with the inclusion of new features.

Even though the changes work for the betterment of the system, it may also bring unwanted alteration to the existing features. Hence, proper regression testing is required to check if the changes does not alter the intended purpose of the system.

Regression testing uses the requirement specifications as basis for creating test cases and looks for any bugs or fault in the software system. As more and more OEMs and factory process are drifting towards remote functions and software implementation, this testing helps them to improve the overall quality of the software.

• Improve efficiency: An OEM with an error-free software ensures precision in its operation. Regression testing constantly checks for deviations in the software each time a modification is made.

• Better monitoring and decision-making process: In some cases, especially when dealing with a complex software, OEM tends to lose track of the code modification. Regression testing makes it easier, as it keeps a record of all the changes made. This in turn aids in proper monitoring of the changes and decision-making process related to the deployment of the final software.

• Reduces unnecessary manufacturing costs: Regression testing identifies the errors and notifies the OEMs to fix them in the early stages itself. A bug fix in the production/manufacturing stage of the product life cycle will result in huge manufacturing costs. Regression testing ensures the final product will be error-free.

• Continuous operation: A crucial aspect in the successful deployment of I4.0 is the assuring the interconnectivity and automation of the devices. Regression testing ensures the bugs are fixed and all the interconnected devices work together seamlessly.

In industrial automation, devices need to be connected together. Here, with every additional device, the software may need changes in its code or features. The testing here ensures that the introduction of the new device or an upgrade does not alter the functions of an existing setup.

In an OEM unit, regression tests are mostly executed at the design stage to find the immediate bugs and at the production stage to decide whether the quality of the product matched the specification of the customer.

If there needs to be a functional change in any of the devices, corresponding codes need to be changed, Here the regression testing helps in producing the desired outcome.

The constant upgrades and features introduced by OEMs can change the way the whole system works. This brings in an agile environment where continuous change comes with a high amount of risk.

Risks involve fatal bugs, repeated errors, duplicate entries, etc. These all culminate to either non-delivery of the product or a delay in deployment. Both these cases can be avoided by continuously keeping a check on the code source and its impact, through regression testing.

Regression testing helps OEMs to manufacture more reliable products and provide better services. Apart from this obvious benefit, some of the crucial ones are listed below:

• Since the software testing and development team can easily identify the bugs, they are motivated to deliver high-end bug-free device

• Each case is handled and verified differently, therefore, it ensures a seamless functional process

• It ensures the bugs are fixed and the products are ready to be launched in the market.

• A bug free software ensures better communication between the interconnected devices in an automation system

The Oil & Gas industry is going to be a major generator of field data. As the industry embraces the technological disruptions caused by I4.0, it is expected to facilitate a gigantic build-up of data—especially from industrial assets like sensors in oil fields and other interconnected devices.

With such a surge in data accumulation, oil and gas industries need to level up their IT resources and adopt various cloud services. In this context, data migration services are playing an important role—the topic of this blog.

In this scenario, when most oil and gas companies are either on their way or already using digital resources, data migration becomes an imperative step.

The exploration and production (E&P) data that has been accumulated over the years has long been stored in warehouses or on-premises systems. However, as the industry progresses towards digitization, data migration has become the need of the hour.

Below are some key business benefits of data migration services for the oil and gas sector:

Maintaining data quality is a key challenge during data management and migration. Oil and gas companies must pay serious attention to managing the following attributes of data:

• Truthfulness – Data must reflect real-world conditions and market realities.
• Completeness – No data should be missing or ambiguous.
• Consistency – Nomenclature and values should be uniform across datasets.
• Timeliness – Data must remain current and accurate over time.

These technologies help extract high-quality data and map them accurately to target systems. With Industry 4.0 in full swing, these services play a pivotal role in enabling oil and gas companies to modernize their operations.

When a factory floor is full of connected devices, every node becomes a potential entry point. A single compromised sensor, USB stick, or unsecured protocol can bring down a production line or, worse, endanger human life. That’s why cybersecurity is central to how modern industrial systems are designed and maintained.

So what’s the actual risk, and how do you stay ahead of it?

This complexity, combined with remote access and cloud connectivity, creates gaps that can be exploited:

• A worm introduced through a small edge sensor can quickly move laterally across a network.
• A compromised PLC might be instructed to push parameters beyond safe operating ranges.
• Inadvertently plugging in an infected USB device can bring malware past internal firewalls.

Once inside, attackers can modify behavior, extract sensitive data, shut down systems, or trigger unsafe conditions. The impact is rarely isolated. One breach can set off a chain reaction across connected devices.

Securing these endpoints isn’t just about protection, it’s about preserving the reliability and safety of entire operations.

Creating a strong root of trust at the hardware level forms the basis for secure operations. Without it, even well-designed systems can be compromised.

At Utthunga, we work with OEMs and manufacturers to embed security into their products and systems from day one. From securing endpoint devices to building out secure communication protocols, our team helps you stay ahead of threats while focusing on what matters most—quality, uptime, and control.

Want to talk to an expert about securing your IIoT systems? Contact us or explore our Cybersecurity Services to see how we can support your next project.

Various research and studies underline the importance of implementing this philosophy and making it a part of the product life cycle by software product engineering services companies, irrespective of their size. Product engineering companies around the globe have seen an increase in their productivity and overall growth with successful implementation of DevOps tools and practices.

Implementing the right DevOps practices can help you enhance your customer experience and earn your stakeholders’ confidence over time.

Here are six ways you can implement DevOps to improve the product life cycle and reduce the time to market with an efficient product delivery management strategy in place.

As you input the codebase, the automated system checks it thoroughly and auto-generates test results with all the bugs specified. This way, you can include the operations team along with the development team to analyze the test and come up with an effective solution faster.

As every change is constantly monitored, it becomes easy to pinpoint the deviation that caused the defect in the product. Overall, continuous integration practices maintain the quality of the product whilst reducing the time to deliver the same.

With CD in place, you need not worry about breakpoints if you want to shift codes to any other platform. It checks for bugs, highlights the location, and helps you deal with them at the right time to ensure flexibility to the whole software product development process.

Application graphs, patterns, Venn diagrams, well-maintained project statistics, etc., are some of the ways teams can collaborate to understand the status of the project and bring out ideas for the betterment of the process if required. It helps development and operation teams to come up with a cohesive and refined approach towards delivering impeccable products on time.

Agile and DevOps help in improving the digital customer experience to a great extent by considering the key elements of digital transformation like transparency, a paradigm shift in work culture, and overall accountability of the organization.

DevOps consulting services from Utthunga serve as an efficient tool when it comes to helping software product engineering services companies in creating a faster product delivery pipeline. Contact our team to know how our DevOps experts can take your business to greater heights.

• Reusable Components: Prebuilt modules reduce redundancy and coding effort.

• Drag-and-Drop Interfaces: Intuitive design environments for building UIs and workflows.

• Visual Modeling: Logical flows and data structures can be mapped visually, reducing complexity.

• Built-in Integrations: Seamless connectivity with ERP, MES, IoT platforms, and cloud services.

Organizations using low-code platforms report up to 70% faster development cycles compared to traditional methods.

— Forrester Research

• Speed: LCNC enables the rapid development and deployment of custom applications—ideal for real-time decision-making, quick fixes on the shop floor, or launching pilot projects without months of lead time.

• Agility: Industrial operations frequently face shifting compliance requirements, production demands, or supply chain disruptions. LCNC platforms allow businesses to pivot fast by modifying workflows or interfaces without overhauling entire systems.

• Cost-Efficiency: By reducing the need for large development teams and minimizing time spent on custom coding, LCNC significantly lowers development overhead and helps clear IT backlogs.

• Shortage of Skilled Developers: With a growing gap in available software engineers, LCNC platforms empower OT engineers, process experts, and citizen developers to create their own tools—bridging the talent gap and decentralizing innovation.

• Integration: Modern LCNC platforms offer built-in connectors for seamless integration with existing MES, ERP, SCADA, and IIoT systems—ensuring that new applications enhance, rather than disrupt, the digital ecosystem.

By 2026, 80% of low-code users will be non-IT professionals — Gartner

• Rapid Prototyping for New Machines or Production LinesLCNC tools allow quick app creation to test and validate new production workflows or machine interfaces. These apps can also integrate with digital twins to simulate and refine processes before full implementation.

• Streamlining Maintenance and Service WorkflowsIndustrial teams can build tailored mobile apps for field technicians to manage maintenance logs, access remote diagnostics, and report issues in real-time—vital for smart factory efficiency.

• Compliance and Quality Tracking DashboardsOrganizations can create intuitive dashboards to track compliance with ISO, GMP, and OSHA standards. Role-based access ensures that only the right personnel manage or view critical quality data.

• Legacy System ExtensionInstead of replacing outdated systems, LCNC platforms enable modern UI layers and API-driven integrations that enhance functionality—without the cost and risk of full system rebuilds.

75% of large enterprises will be using at least four low-code tools by 2026.
— Gartner

Together, these benefits make LCNC a game-changer for scalable, agile industrial innovation.

• AI/ML Integration: LCNC platforms will increasingly leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to auto-generate smarter, context-aware applications.

• Stronger Industrial Connectors: Support for protocols like OPC UA, MQTT, and Modbus will improve, enabling seamless integration with shop floor systems and IIoT devices.

• Hybrid Development Models: Expect a rise in environments that blend LCNC with traditional coding—offering flexibility for both citizen developers and professional engineers.

• Unified IT-OT Platforms: LCNC will play a key role in IT-OT convergence, allowing cross-functional teams to build, deploy, and manage solutions from a single platform.

• Mainstream Citizen Developer Programs: Enterprises are formalizing LCNC adoption with structured training and governance, making citizen development a core part of digital transformation.

This evolution positions LCNC as a long-term strategic enabler.

By combining software engineering rigor with domain‑specific knowledge and cutting‑edge integration services, we position industrial firms to succeed with low‑code transformation.

Looking to simplify software delivery across your industrial operations? Explore our software engineering services.