
According to the report, “Manufacturers with operations that include processes that are not fully automated should consider a combination of hardware and software solutions to provide end-to-end process integration.” Moreover, “Manufacturers have traditionally been receptive to using small vendors that bring innovation and leading-edge functionality, particularly at the plant level.”
Gartner defines a cool vendor as a company that offers technologies or solutions that are: Innovative, enable users to do things they couldn't do before; Impactful, have, or will have, business impact.