B I Automation AG

What B I Automation AG does

B I Automation AG is a Swiss industrial software distributor and systems integrator based in Balsthal, operating as the Swiss channel for the Novotek Group's pan-European industrial automation and IoT portfolio. The company packages and resells third-party industrial software — including Kepware (PTC) for machine connectivity, OPC Router (Inray) for no-code data integration, HighByte Intelligence Hub for industrial AI data infrastructure, Octoplant (AMDT) for OT security, GE Vernova Proficy for manufacturing intelligence, and PTC ThingWorx for IoT applications, with the latter three now consolidated under the Velotic brand — alongside its own web-based production planning module introduced in late 2025.

Its core technology proposition is connecting machines and systems, digitizing production, optimizing operations, and managing data through a no-code configuration approach that adapts standard products from leading vendors to customer environments without custom programming. Solution architecture centers on real-time process data collection, modeling, storage, and visualization, with recent emphasis on enabling AI/ML workloads and agent access via MCP integration on top of the HighByte data layer.

The business model is sales-led, combining direct enterprise engagement through technical inquiry and consultative selling with a partner-based channel distributing GE Vernova, Kepware, Emerson, AMDT, HighByte, and Inray products in Switzerland. Revenue is generated through software licensing and solutions from leading providers plus customization and implementation services, with subscription/recurring characteristics; pricing is contact-based and not publicly disclosed. The target customer segment is Swiss industrial manufacturers pursuing Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives, served on a horizontal basis rather than concentrated in a single vertical.

Name

B I Automation AG

Legal name

Novotek Switzerland AG

Website

https://bi-automation.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

B I Automation AG is the Swiss distribution and integration arm of the Novotek Group, reselling and implementing industrial software (Kepware, OPC Router, HighByte Intelligence Hub, Octoplant, GE Vernova Proficy) and its own web-based production planning module for manufacturing companies pursuing Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Software

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Factory Automation & Control Systems (PLC/SCADA/DCS) (IMAIAMAA)

Keywords

• Industrial automation solutions
• IoT connectivity software
• Machine data integration
• Production digitalization
• Industrial AI platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Balsthal

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Solutions: Revenue generated from selling standard software products and solutions from leading providers (GE Vernova, Kepware, Emerson) along with customization and implementation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

B I Automation AG (operating through the Novotek Switzerland platform) is a Swiss distributor and integrator of industrial automation and IoT software solutions. The company resells and implements standard products from leading providers — including GE Vernova Proficy, PTC Kepware, OPC Router, HighByte Intelligence Hub, Octoplant, and ThingWorx — and configures them without programming to connect machines and systems, digitize production, optimize operations, and manage real-time process data for manufacturing customers pursuing Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives.

Product overview

Novotek Switzerland AG provides a portfolio of industrial software solutions centered on data-driven optimization of resources and processes. The offering integrates products from leading vendors including GE Vernova Proficy, Kepware, HighByte Intelligence Hub, OPC Router, Octoplant, and PTC ThingWorx (now under Velotic brand). These solutions work together to enable machine and system networking, production digitization, process optimization, and streamlined data management. The company delivers standard products and solutions that can be adapted to customer needs without programming, supporting digital transformation toward Smart Factory and Industry 4.0.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kepware (KEPServerEX / Kepware Server 7.0) Industrial connectivity platform enabling communication between machines, devices, and software systems; provides data acquisition and networking capabilities for industrial environments. Distributed and supported in Switzerland.
• OPC Router Visual data integration platform enabling connectivity between industrial systems, ERP, and other business applications without programming. Distributed in Switzerland.
• Octoplant Operations and OT security solution for industrial environments, providing protection and monitoring capabilities for production systems. Distributed in Switzerland.
• HighByte Intelligence Hub Industrial AI platform for data management, processing, and enabling AI/ML capabilities for manufacturing and production environments. Distributed in Switzerland.
• GE Vernova Proficy (now Velotic) Comprehensive industrial software platform for operations management, data historian, and manufacturing intelligence. Distributed and implemented in Switzerland; recently rebranded under Velotic.
• PTC ThingWorx (now Velotic) Industrial IoT platform for building and deploying smart connected products and solutions; recently rebranded under Velotic.
• AMDT Octovision Industrial vision and visualization solution for manufacturing operations. Distributed in Switzerland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased efficiency through timely data delivery in correct format to the right location
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GE VernovacoreTechnology or IntegrationGE Vernova is a key technology partner providing Proficy software solutions. Novotek Switzerland distributes and implements GE Vernova's industrial software products including Proficy, and recently announced that GE Vernova Proficy has been rebranded under Velotic.
• PTC KepwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationPTC Kepware provides industrial connectivity solutions. Novotek offers Kepware products and recently announced Kepware Server 7.0 which unites KEPServerEX and ThingWorx Kepware Server. PTC Kepware has also been rebranded under Velotic.
• EmersoncoreTechnology or IntegrationEmerson is mentioned as one of the leading providers whose standard products form the basis of Novotek's solutions, providing industrial automation and software products.
• VeloticcoreTechnology or IntegrationVelotic is the new brand name for GE Vernova Proficy, PTC Kepware and ThingWorx. Novotek Switzerland announced the rebranding and is a distribution partner for Velotic products.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric Industrial Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent whose EcoStruxure platform spans PLC/SCADA/MES/IIoT and competes directly with the GE Vernova/Kepware/Proficy stack that Novotek Switzerland implements for Swiss customers.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Global incumbent whose SIMATIC/Opcenter/MindSphere portfolio overlaps the industrial automation software, MES and IIoT capabilities Novotek Switzerland distributes. Competes broadly with the Novotek vendor stack and can choose to bypass local distributors.
• Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent offering FactoryTalk, Pavilion8 and related MES/IIoT software. Overlaps with Novotek Switzerland's portfolio in industrial software for plant digitalization and data management.
• Emerson (AspenTech): Global industrial automation incumbent; Aspen Technology provides MES and process optimization software comparable to the GE Vernova Proficy portfolio Novotek distributes. Emerson is also referenced as one of Novotek Switzerland's named partners.
• ABB Process Automation: Swiss-headquartered global industrial automation incumbent offering Ability 800xA, MES and industrial software across process and discrete industries. Comparable vendor-side competitor with overlapping IIoT/automation software reach into Swiss accounts.

Direct peers

• COPA-DATA: Austria-based vendor of the zenon industrial automation software platform (HMI/SCADA/IIoT). Operates in the same industrial automation software category as the GE Vernova Proficy/Kepware/OPC Router portfolio that Novotek Switzerland distributes and integrates.
• Inray (OPC Router developer): Developer of OPC Router, the very data integration platform Novotek Switzerland distributes. Closest comparable as a vendor of the same core integration technology Novotek resells, with overlapping customer base in DACH industrial accounts.
• MPDV Mikrolab: German vendor of the HYDRA MES suite and manufacturing IT solutions for discrete and process manufacturing. Comparable as a European industrial software specialist targeting the same Smart Factory and production digitalization use cases that Novotek Switzerland addresses.
• AIS Automation Dresden: German specialist in industrial software, MES and SCADA solutions for process and discrete manufacturing. Comparable as a regional Central European industrial software system integrator with similar vertical focus.
• Forcam: German provider of MES and shop-floor digitalization software for manufacturing. Directly comparable in focus on Industry 4.0 production digitalization and connecting machines to higher-level systems, competing for similar European industrial accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NovotekCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novotek-switzerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about B I Automation AG