Belden leaps forward from a network product maker to the edge of platforms

The rapid advance of technologies like IoT, AI, data analytics and automation is inspiring manufacturing companies to reinvent how they do business. Each year, they invest an average of $575 billion on industrial automation of plant sites and warehousing, as well as digitization of production and supply networks, according to Accenture research. Belden, a global leader in complete connection solutions, is seizing the opportunity and shifting from solely manufacturing network products, to providing customers with platform solutions that tap into the benefits of emerging technologies to connect those products in smarter ways and provide rich insights.

Belden partnered with Accenture on the development of Belden Horizon, a powerful platform that will leverage edge and AI technologies to help clients remotely manage their network infrastructure, gain greater insights, and deliver digital transformations. The first network operational technology (OT) platform of its kind, Belden Horizon integrates with ecosystem partners like Amazon Web Services (AWS) to process vast volumes of data from across customers’ manufacturing facilities to provide them with real-time insights essential for maintaining a competitive edge.

In the coming years, the platform will transform Belden’s business strategy, taking it from a hardware producer to a provider of hardware and software solutions tailored to customers’ business challenges. With this ambitious reinvention Belden is not only tapping into new revenue streams. It has opened a direct link to the customers it is empowering to digitize their operations and prepare for an AI-driven future.

Where edge and cloud converge, innovation unfolds

Together, Belden and Accenture set out to develop the foundation of this flexible new business model – a solid architecture backbone on which to build Belden Horizon and all its capabilities. We combined our deep platform engineering skills and generative AI tools to continuously adapt and improve the platform based on Belden’s feedback, ultimately building an engaging, powerful interface that customers can intuitively pick up and use.

Real-time data collection and analysis is at the core of the new platform. Belden has a deep understanding of the potential of connecting industrial networking devices, such as gateways, routers and on-premises servers. Supported by AWS's scalable storage, computing and data analytics, Belden Horizon will deploy AI and machine learning models at the edge to securely manage and analyze data from diverse sources, such as network assets, operational tools and IoT sensors. It enables seamless communication between assets, such as trains and their supporting infrastructure, and provides customers with real-time insights for predictive maintenance and improved operational decision-making.

Forging ahead to new horizons

Belden Horizon’s architecture will create a new approach to delivering client-specific, AI-driven solutions. Through this approach, Belden customers can connect multiple systems that don’t speak to each other, for simplified and scalable network data analysis by a trusted provider with deep network experience.

Belden Horizon is a window into what's possible, redefining Belden as a platform business and giving Belden visibility into customer operations and relationships as clients prepare for their own digital and AI transformations. As this demand grows, Belden plans for 20% of its business to be solutions-based by 2028. Through this effort, Belden not only strengthens its ability to serve customers more effectively but has also expanded its market reach while driving sustained, scalable growth.