AI That Understands Industry – Hexagon’s Path to Smarter Operations

In the era of digital transformation, Hexagon places a strong focus on embedding Artificial Intelligence (AI) into every aspect of industrial operations — from manufacturing, metrology, and asset management to construction and infrastructure operation. The goal is not merely to apply AI in a general sense but to advance industry-specific AI — models trained to solve the unique challenges of each process and sector Hexagon serves.

1. From Real-World Data to Industrial Intelligence

Hexagon goes beyond general-purpose AI by developing domain-specific models designed and trained for each industry — manufacturing, construction, mining, and beyond — and tailored to different sensors, equipment, and workflows.
This approach enables AI to understand the true context of each industry — “learning deeply” not just from generic big data but from enterprise-specific operational data — thereby delivering more precise and practically applicable insights.

2. Connected Platform Architecture: Nexus and the Collaborative Ecosystem

At the core of Hexagon’s AI strategy lies Nexus, a cloud-based ecosystem that connects data from sensors, devices, software, and people.
Hexagon collaborates closely with major technology partners such as Microsoft, leveraging advanced AI platforms, databases, and cloud infrastructures. For example, ProPlanAI, a solution within the Nexus platform, automates machine tool programming (CAM), reducing programming time by up to 75%.

3. Applied and Autonomous AI – From Assistance to Independence

Hexagon defines several levels of automation and AI:

• Human-assisted autonomy: AI supports human decision-making by offering insights and recommendations while keeping human validation in the loop.
• Partial or conditional autonomy: AI executes defined tasks under specific conditions, often with supervision or within constrained contexts.
• Fully autonomous: AI operates complete workflows independently, without human intervention.

Hexagon’s products and solutions — from design and operation to measurement — are built upon this model, embodying the mission of “automate where it matters, and let people focus on higher-value work.”

4. Highlighted Applications

• ProPlanAI: A collaboration between Hexagon and Microsoft that integrates Azure OpenAI, Cosmos DB, and Databricks to automate CAM programming based on real operational data, dramatically boosting productivity.
• Autonomous Metrology Suite: An intelligent measurement automation suite that ensures manufacturing quality and speed.

5. Business Benefits and Value

Through this approach, Hexagon delivers significant value to its customers:

• Improved efficiency and productivity: Shorter processing times and reduced labor costs.
• Lower risks and higher quality: Industry-specific AI detects anomalies and ensures compliance with quality standards.
• Knowledge retention: AI systems capture and preserve expert knowledge, mitigating the impact of workforce changes.
• Scalability: AI solutions can be expanded across design, operation, maintenance, and metrology domains.