Kepware KEPServerEX
PTC's industrial connectivity platform bridging OT equipment to IT systems - the OPC-UA server for factory data.
What it does
Kepware KEPServerEX (now part of PTC) is the most widely deployed industrial connectivity platform - acting as a universal translator that connects hundreds of different industrial devices and protocols (PLCs, CNCs, SCADA systems, robots) to IT systems, cloud platforms, and analytics applications through OPC-UA and other standard interfaces. AI capabilities include AI-assisted device configuration that recommends optimal tag and polling configurations for connected equipment, intelligent data quality monitoring that identifies communication errors and data gaps in real time, automated protocol detection that identifies device communication parameters without manual configuration, and analytics integration that routes clean, contextualized production data to AI platforms like Azure IoT or AWS IoT for ML applications.
Why AI-ENHANCED
Kepware KEPServerEX is an established industrial connectivity platform that has integrated AI-assisted configuration, intelligent data quality monitoring, and automated protocol detection into a mature OT-to-IT data integration product.
Best for
Mid-market manufacturers use Kepware for industrial data connectivity - bridging legacy PLCs and equipment to modern cloud and analytics platforms without replacing operational technology infrastructure.
Large manufacturers and utilities use Kepware for enterprise OT connectivity - connecting thousands of industrial devices to IT systems and enabling AI analytics platforms to access production data at scale.
Limitations
Kepware moves data between OT and IT systems but does not analyze or visualize it — AI analytics value requires connecting Kepware to platforms like Azure IoT, AWS, or Osisoft Pi.
Connecting diverse industrial equipment with different protocols requires OT engineering expertise — organizations without operational technology knowledge need specialized integration partners.
Kepware integrates most deeply within PTC's ThingWorx and broader platform — organizations not using PTC's industrial IoT stack may find alternative connectivity tools more ecosystem-neutral.
Alternatives by segment
| If you need… | Consider instead |
|---|---|
| Industrial IoT connectivity platform | PTC ThingWorx |
| Industrial data historian | Osisoft Pi |
| Cloud industrial IoT platform | Aws Iot |
Kepware KEPServerEX from $1,295 one-time per server. Driver licenses additional per protocol. Annual maintenance 20% of license. Enterprise volume pricing available.
