How to solve the OEMs dilemma of having cookie-cutter solution to meet needs of different markets?

One of the consistent comments i hear from service providers/manufactures is how we can chart the maze of remote asset to enterprise technologies, how we integrate newly acquired companies and have a cookie cutter solution to serve different clients?

I always tell my clients (current and potential) , think of this problem as manufacturing of car..in the world of manufacturing its called the "T" model. i.e 70% common processes (like need a chassis/wheels/seats etc.) and 30% customization (color etc.)...ideally the goal should be how we can get %age higher for common and lower for customization.... but in practical world achieving 70% common is great trust me due to reasons like market segmentation/disparate technologies/processes etc.

Translate this into your world and evaluate what is common and what is not ...and you will start to get closer to addressing this question...Having worked in many different industries, visiting over 100 industrial plants in various sectorss worldwide as part of my education back in those days seeing what works/what doesn't etc....and moving through Manufacturing Systems to ERP-Ebusiness-Wireless world we came out with this clever software agent which can essentially sit on any PLC/Machine/Device of any manufactuer in any industry vertical..you should check it out Kanak Service Agent Now imagine you have disparate products you sell or acquire to different markets and you simply embed this small software footprint in it...it makes all of them talk instantly one global internet language, it can now easily feed your central systems specific to the industry verticals, it can report by exception, it can help you launch innovative after sales service models, it helps you extend support globally, it helps your client reduce downtime, mean-time to repair etc. etc.

Some companies say that answer to this is middleware software which works great in all centralized application scenario, but in relam of remote asset to enterprise, i ask them a question back; if you put 10 humans in different remote areas, centrally knowing where they are/what they upto makes sense, but if we expect their brains to be in central place they will remain dumb and not be able to change/adapt/react to their individual circumstances.....so sure make some things central, but making source(s) intelligent will be game changer especially with computing power doubling/tripling every year/bandwithds going everywhere....and cost of hardware decreasing rapidly....think about it!!