Network APIs are transforming manufacturing by turning connectivity into a strategic advantage. By enabling real-time data sharing, automation and secure integration between systems, they enable manufacturers to drive efficiency, resilience and innovation, driving the next wave of industrial competitiveness.
By Jo Gilbert, GSMA Manufacturing Lead
The manufacturing industry is at a crossroads. As Industry 4.0 accelerates, the sector faces increasing pressure to deliver smarter, more resilient operations while navigating global supply chain disruptions, rising costs and increasing demands for customization. Connectivity alone is no longer enough. The real question is: how can manufacturers realize the full value of their networking investments?
The foundation of this revolution lies in technical capabilities that span provisioning, service, and performance, including use cases such as application credential management, asset tracking, quality on demand (QoD), and network resource reservation. These were the initial four use cases prioritized for exploration by the GSMA Connected Production and Manufacturing community.
The second GSMA whitepaper in the manufacturing series is titled Network APIs for Manufacturing: From Technical Potential to Business Impact and addresses this challenge head-on. Building on the fundamental concepts presented in the first article, this second installment shifts the focus from “what is possible” to “what has value.”
Explore how network APIs are driving the transformation of manufacturing from a connectivity-driven model to one that leverages programmable networks for measurable business outcomes and substantial gross value added (GVA) growth—a fundamental shift that is currently occurring in disconnected areas around the world but demonstrating significant momentum.
Why network APIs are important now
Network APIs act as digital gatekeepers, allowing applications to directly and securely interact with network capabilities. Instead of treating connectivity as a passive pipeline, manufacturers can dynamically orchestrate network behavior to meet real-world operational needs. This means real-time responsiveness for critical processes, improved security, and the ability to scale innovation without overhauling existing infrastructure.
Our latest whitepaper emphasizes the important benefits that network APIs bring to manufacturing. By enabling automation and greater agility across the factory, APIs support operational efficiency in areas such as predictive maintenance and real-time logistics. They also play a crucial role in strengthening security (an imperative given that 68% of manufacturers now consider cybersecurity their top priority in digital transformation) with programmable safeguards capable of mitigating costly threats.
Additionally, integrating cutting-edge capabilities such as dynamic network slicing and AI-powered analytics through APIs allows manufacturers to maintain an advantage in a highly competitive industry.
From vision to value
Early implementations are promising, but widespread adoption requires a clear return on investment. Manufacturers need to trust that these technologies will deliver tangible benefits, whether through reduced downtime, better quality control, or new revenue streams. The whitepaper discusses a series of real-world case studies that demonstrate how network APIs are already bridging the gap between enterprise IT and operational technology and enabling automation at scale.
Looking at complex environments such as Airbus aircraft assembly facilities, a location API can be used to manage both the precise application and logistical tracking of high-value smart tools. This capability could supply real-time positioning data to a central quality system, guiding operators through thousands of fasteners in sequence and recording torque and position data for complete traceability. By allowing instant pinpointing of the location of a specific tool, this capability would eliminate personnel searching time, prevent loss, and enable hands-free commands for a safe and streamlined process.
In Portugal, CIMPOR's cement plant relied on a standalone private 5G network to modernize its energy-intensive operations and lay the foundation for an API-driven strategy. This project illustrates the value of creating a programmable, API-ready environment that can be leveraged to support Industry 4.0 applications. Advanced networking enables crucial benefits such as real-time monitoring and control of production lines, reducing downtime, and improving anomaly response capabilities.
Additionally, this environment allows CIMPOR to enhance applications such as augmented reality maintenance (by potentially calling a quality-on-demand (QoD) API to ensure a low-latency connection) and drone inspections (to ensure reliable, high-performance video feeds and command and control signals).
We also examine industry initiatives such as GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA, which standardize secure access to network capabilities, making them as easy to consume as cloud services. This “network as code” approach allows developers (even those without deep telecommunications experience) to integrate advanced functionality into their applications.
Your next step
The manufacturing sector is on the verge of a transformation that promises to redefine productivity, resilience and competitiveness. However, achieving this vision requires strong cross-industry collaboration so that the mobile networking ecosystem can innovate, develop and expose network APIs tailored to industrial applications.
Network APIs are not just a technical upgrade: they are a strategic and transformative imperative.
I would like to thank our contributors and white paper reviewers from Aduna, Airbus, Ericsson, IBM, Orange, Shabodi, Verizon and Vodafone; and our workshop collaborators from Accenture, BT, Capgemini, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, DroneUp, Ericsson, KPN, Microsoft, Nokia, NTT Data, Palo Alto Networks, Rohde & Schwarz, Telefónica and Unmanned Life. To join the conversation, see participate in the GSMA Connected Manufacturing and Production Forum
