From Firefighting to Flow – How Industrial AI Predicts and Prevents Disruptions

How askPixi™ Improves Flow, Cycle Times, and Delivery Performance

In this article, Inpixon’s SVP of Product, Ersan Guenes, explores how Industrial AI connects digital intent with physical execution, helping manufacturers' logistics operations turn visibility into flow.

Industrial AI as the Missing Link Between Data and Delivery

AI in manufacturing has entered a new stage. Many factories have invested in IoT, automation, and process control. The next step is connecting these systems so data becomes actionable in real time.

Most factories today don’t struggle with missing data. They struggle with timing and disconnection.

Every process, machine, and system already generates streams of information. But much of it remains isolated. ERP here, WMS there, paper forms in between. Systems that can’t truly talk to each other. The result is a fragmented picture where insights arrive too late. Dashboards show what’s happening, but not how it connects or what should happen next.

That’s where industrial AI changes the equation.

askPixi™ is Inpixon’s industrial AI for real-time material flow visibility. askPixi connects data from existing systems with what’s happening on the shop floor, combining live location, process, and event data into one continuous view of operations. It anticipates disruptions, recommends corrective actions, or even executes them automatically, turning data into action before the problem surfaces.

AI can only act on what’s digitally available. That’s why askPixi uses the data you already have, linking systems and live inputs to make them work together in real time. It transforms fragmented data into timely, intelligent response — often within just a few minutes, the difference between a smooth day and a costly delay.

AI in Real Operations: A Morning Before the Problem Appears

8:52 a.m. Everything looks fine, almost.

askPixi detects that three priority orders will hit Dock 5 at the same time, two forklifts are delayed in staging, and the shipping papers for order 224 haven’t been printed.

Seconds later, a notification appears:

“Predicted congestion at Dock 5 in 25 minutes. Root causes: missing documents, low forklift availability. Recommendation: notify shipping, reassign Forklift 12, activate Dock 7.”

One click, and the issue disappears before it ever existed.

That’s the essence of askPixi: it doesn’t just show data. It understands your flow, connects the dots, and acts in real time across systems, safely and transparently.

Why Traditional Systems Reach Their Limits

Every factory is full of data, but most of it’s trapped in silos. ERP, WMS, MES, RTLS, and maintenance systems all hold valuable information, but each one only sees a part of the process.

As a result, information breaks, and decisions come too late. That’s exactly the moment where askPixi steps in, transforming data latency into real-time responsiveness.

"Factories don't lack data. They're missing the connections to transform that data into understanding."
— Ersan Guenes, SVP of Product, Inpixon

askPixi unifies these fragmented data sources and gives operations teams a real-time view of material flow, cycle times, and performance — across every process and every shift.

What Makes askPixi Different

askPixi adds three layers of intelligence to your operations:

1. Visibility: Sees what’s happening in real time, across machines, people, and materials.
2. Context: Understands why it happens by combining process data, timing, and dependencies.
3. Autonomous Action: Acts within defined policies and guardrails. Safely, transparently, and with full traceability.

The result is a digital twin that doesn’t just monitor, it responds.

Where Industrial AI Delivers Measurable Results:
Three Real-World Examples

1. Material Supply Without Shortages

A manufacturer of industrial sealants faced recurring silica shortages. ERP alerts came too late, and production stopped.

With askPixi, material movements and consumption are tracked continuously. When a shortage risk appears, the AI triggers a replenishment order, notifies suppliers, and adjusts schedules automatically.

Result: 18 potential line stops prevented. +12% on-time delivery.

2. Smooth CNC Production Despite High Mix

In a high-mix CNC environment, production often stalled when parts arrived out of sequence.

askPixi correlates material movements and system data to detect when flow drifts from planned cycle times, predicts bottlenecks, and re-prioritizes jobs or AGV routes automatically.

Result: +17% throughput, –60% manual interventions, reduced idle time.

3. Adaptive Shift and Capacity Planning

Static Excel-based shift plans couldn’t keep pace with daily order changes.

askPixi analyzes order load, operator availability, and machine status in real time. Generating adaptive shift plans and instant digital work instructions.

Result: –28% idle time, 50% faster shift prep, and more satisfied teams.

What This Means for Operations Leaders

• Early Warning: Disruptions are detected before they impact throughput.
• Automated Response: Routine actions run autonomously within safe limits.
• Unified Insight: All systems speak the same language, in real time.
• Stronger Predictability: Schedules stay on track; teams act proactively, not reactively.

Looking Ahead: Where Timing Becomes Intelligence

Factories are no longer limited by how much data they collect, but by how fast they can act on it. When real-time location data meets Industrial AI, the result isn’t just visibility, it’s flow.

Inpixon’s component-based approach brings together:

• RTLS: The sensing layer that captures what happens — every movement, delay, and process step in real time.
• askPixi: The cognitive and agentic AI layer that understands why it happens — detecting root causes, predicting deviations, and directly executing corrective actions.
• System Integration: The connective layer that synchronizes data and actions across ERP, MES, and WMS — ensuring every decision is traceable and every system stays aligned.

Together, these components create a continuous event-to-action loop that transforms factories from reactive to responsive.

Visibility turns into predictability.

Predictability turns into flow.

The smart factory doesn’t start with more data, it starts with connected components that understand, decide, and act before disruptions occur.

Next Step: See How Industrial AI Works

Experience askPixi in action.

Watch the on-demand demo to see how askPixi delivers real-time material flow visibility and helps operations stay ahead of disruptions.

Or secure your spot in the askPixi Early Access Program — free for a limited time — and experience askPixi live in your own environment.