When manufacturers think of cloud adoption, they often picture a daunting journey filled with technical jargon, integration headaches, and cybersecurity risks. But with Ankercloud’s adoption strategy, it doesn’t have to be that way.
“We take a different approach by building solutions around our clients’ business objectives rather than forcing the technology to fit,” said Wesam Iwas, Managing Director of Ankercloud US. “We are not technology first; we are business objectives first.”
That philosophy underpins Ankercloud’s rise as a trusted partner for manufacturers operating on a patchwork of outdated legacy systems, rising cloud costs, and a workforce still catching up to Industry 4.0.
At the heart of Ankercloud’s DNA are four guiding values: agility, trust, sovereignty, and innovation. Agility ensures rapid adaptation to client needs and evolving technologies. Trust drives long-term partnerships built on transparency and accountability. Sovereignty reflects Ankercloud’s commitment to data protection and control—critical in both Europe’s strict regulatory climate and the emerging U.S. data governance landscape. And innovation fuels the continuous development of solutions that anticipate what manufacturers need next, not just what they need now.
European Roots, U.S. Expansion
Founded in 2018, Ankercloud is a new player in the U.S. cloud adoption market after successful enterprises in Germany and India. Now, with an office in Michigan, Ankercloud seeks to bring its proven formula for cloud implementation to metro Detroit and beyond.
Ankercloud’s European foundation gives it a unique edge in navigating complex compliance and security frameworks. Operating in Germany—one of the most tightly regulated data environments in the world—has honed its ability to design resilient, sovereign cloud solutions that protect sensitive industrial data. As U.S. manufacturers face growing concerns around data sovereignty, vendor lock-in, and cybersecurity, Ankercloud’s European experience provides a proven model for secure, scalable modernization.
The company specializes in cloud, AI, cloud security, and data analytics services with partnerships across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. It serves industries including mobility, manufacturing, process automation, technology, healthcare, financial services, life sciences, and the public sector.
Their expansion aligns with global trends: cloud adoption in the industrial sector is accelerating. The global cloud manufacturing market is projected to expand from $85.9 billion in 2024 to $100.3 billion in 2025, growing nearly 17% year over year.
Cloud Implementations Without the Headache
Iwas says one of the biggest mistakes manufacturers make is jumping into pilot projects without a clear business case.
“Lots of times, what we see is they want to start a project but don’t have a business case,” he said. “We always try to get customers to go back and define a business case with a tangible return. When you can show leadership a real return on investment, the project can move forward with confidence.”
One of the most persistent challenges in manufacturing is dealing with decades-old ERP, MES, and SCADA systems that weren’t built for today’s data-driven world.
“Many plants still rely on systems that are decades old,” Iwas said. “We help clients connect these systems to the cloud to avoid data silos and create the seamless flow they’re looking for.”
Factories generate mountains of data, but without proper governance, much of it is useless.
“AI is 100% based on data; without reliable, organized information, you cannot move forward with AI solutions,” Iwas said. “That’s why we help manufacturers establish governance frameworks that make their data reliable and ready for analytics.”
The need is pressing. A Deloitte survey found only 29% of manufacturers are using AI or machine learning at the facility or network level, while just 24% have deployed generative AI in operations. That gap underscores the importance of preparing infrastructure before chasing advanced applications.
Making Security a Strength
Cybersecurity is a constant worry for manufacturers adopting digital systems. But Iwas argues that the cloud, when designed correctly, can actually enhance protection.
“When the cloud is designed properly, it actually strengthens security,” he said.
The company combines this with hands-on training to close the skills gap.
“If you develop a tool but your staff isn’t trained or motivated to use it, it’s wasted opportunity,” Iwas said. “That’s why we always pair implementation with workshops and training so engineers and managers feel confident adopting the new tools.”
AI as a Competitive Edge
Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract buzzword—it is saving manufacturers money and making production more resilient.
“AI is making cloud solutions more predictive and more automated,” Iwas said.
For manufacturers, that translates into concrete advantages.
“We’re reducing downtime with predictive maintenance, detecting defects with computer vision, and automating quality control,” he said.
One mid-sized manufacturer worked with Ankercloud to apply AI-driven image recognition to its quality control process, cutting defect rates by more than 20%. Another used predictive maintenance models to reduce unplanned downtime by almost 30%, saving hundreds of production hours.
“That’s an amazing outcome,” Iwas said. “You can imagine how much impact that has for a production director.”
For a precision parts supplier, Ankercloud automated quotation generation, shrinking response time from days to minutes. “That’s a real competitive advantage,” he added.
Industry-Specific Solutions
Each industry brings unique challenges to cloud adoption, but Iwas says manufacturing and mobility share some of the toughest obstacles: legacy systems, real-time constraints, and uneven connectivity.
“Factories and mobility companies often face the same issues—they have long-established systems, and there’s a mindset of ‘it’s working, why change it?’” Iwas said.
Still, the opportunities are enormous.
“In manufacturing, we’ve seen efficiency gains from reducing downtime, improving quality control, and enhancing security,” he said. “In life sciences, cloud enables research that would take forever on-premises. With scalability, companies can expand rapidly during peak demand and scale down when it’s time to analyze.”
Looking at the data, targeted hybrid adoption is the norm. A recent report found 67% of global enterprises now run on hybrid cloud architectures, combining on-premises, edge, and public cloud systems for resilience.
Building for the Long Term
Unlike firms that deliver a project and disappear, Ankercloud emphasizes support long after launch.
“We have a 24/7 managed services team that continuously monitors clients’ cloud environments,” Iwas said. “We make sure everything is secure, running smoothly, and without disruption. That’s especially critical for manufacturers that don’t always have the in-house engineering resources to manage it.”
The proactive approach extends to compliance as well.
“We design solutions from the very beginning to align with industry standards like ISO, reducing the risk of breaches or non-compliance,” Iwas said. “We don’t bolt security or compliance on later; it’s built in from day one.”
Governance also matters. A survey found that 44% of manufacturing firms allow any department head or IT manager to deploy new cloud applications, raising risks of fragmentation and security gaps. Ankercloud’s framework, Iwas said, ensures oversight and consistency.
Measurable Impact
The results speak for themselves: manufacturers working with Ankercloud have achieved up to 30% less downtime, 20% cost savings, and 20% fewer defects.
“These examples show how we help clients achieve tangible business impact, higher productivity, and faster time to market,” Iwas said. “The companies implementing these solutions aren’t worrying about falling behind; they’re competing at the top.”
A Confident Future
Ankercloud’s strength lies in its agility, sovereignty, and trustworthiness—qualities that help manufacturers modernize confidently in an era of constant change. With proven expertise from Europe’s most regulated markets and a growing U.S. presence, Ankercloud invites manufacturers to reimagine what’s possible with the cloud.
“At the end of the day, our clients want confidence,” Iwas said. “They want solutions that are robust, effective, and scalable. That’s what we deliver.” As Ankercloud expands in the U.S., the company is inviting manufacturers to take the next step toward secure, scalable modernization.
Interested in Ankercloud? Visit their website here.
