Retrofitting is updating or adding equipment, sensors, or services to existing hardware so that it is able to make use of new technologies. While many organizations would benefit from the ability to use monitoring, remote control, or other features from the Internet of Things (IoT), a lot of equipment already in the field is not capable of the necessary communications. Retrofitting allows this equipment to connect, report, or be managed.
Why retrofitting ?
Replacing old equipment with newer equipment, ready for the latest technologies, is always an option. However, in some cases, this can be cost prohibitive, time consuming, or generally wasteful.
While some equipment needs to be replaced regularly, other industrial equipment can last for many years or even decades. Replacing such equipment just to access IoT or other functions is expensive and often impractical. It also presents the problem of technology choice. Equipment replaced today may be outdated in terms of communications or other technologies. Replacing existing equipment with others today can provide access to current technologies.
Retrofitting allows useful upgrades of equipment without loss, offers modernization by adopting new technology without complete replacement of the machine.