SUSE, a global leader in enterprise open source solutions, has acquired Losant, an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform provider, in a move designed to extend its edge computing strategy deeper into operational environments.

The acquisition completes SUSE’s Edge vision, expanding its footprint from the Near and Far Edge to what it describes as the Tiny Edge — the point where devices, sensors and machines operate in real time. By integrating Losant’s low-code IIoT capabilities, SUSE aims to position itself as the first vendor to deliver a full-stack open process automation platform for industrial environments, combining infrastructure, application enablement and AI-driven intelligence at the edge.

Industry analysts suggest the timing is significant. According to 451 Research, part of S&P Global Energy, IoT endpoints are rapidly evolving into AI-enabled endpoints, supported by more cost-efficient connectivity and triggering the most substantial device refresh cycle in a decade. “This evolution is driving the maturation of hybrid AI architectures, integrating the edge as an indispensable execution layer that ensures performance and scalability. The result is a decisive leap in operational maturity, moving industrial control from digital oversight to semi-autonomous, AI-orchestrated systems.”

SUSE believes the addition of Losant strengthens its ability to respond to that shift.

“The acquisition of Losant transforms SUSE from an edge infrastructure provider to a full-stack Industrial IoT leader. It allows us to deliver to customers the part of the Edge where the digital world directly meets the physical one, where machines, environments, and people interact in real time, and where AI can be meaningfully deployed to gain better insight into real-world processes,” said general manager of SUSE Edge, Keith Basil. “With Losant, we will move faster from infrastructure to operational outcomes combining our Edge portfolio and products like SUSE AI, allowing deeper collaboration with industrial partners, equipment manufacturers and industrial open source communities as the ecosystem continues to evolve.”

Losant’s leadership framed the deal as a natural progression.

“Joining forces with SUSE is the natural next step for Losant. Combining our low-code Industrial Internet of Things platform with SUSE’s 30 plus years of experience in enterprise software will provide customers with stability and interoperability, allowing us to accelerate our mission to help IT leaders turn complex data into immediate operational value,” said Charlie Key, CEO of Losant. “We are excited to bring our Tiny Edge capabilities to a much larger stage.”

Losant was recognised in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Global Industrial IoT Platforms. The company and its platform will now sit within the SUSE Edge business unit. SUSE also plans to open source the Losant technology, assessing how it can accelerate interface standardisation, interoperability and process automation across industrial ecosystems.

The integration is intended to bridge operational technology and enterprise intelligence. By combining device orchestration, data management and application development tools with SUSE’s core edge infrastructure, customers can connect plant-floor systems directly with enterprise workflows and analytics platforms. A manufacturer, for example, could collect real-time sensor data from production lines and trigger automated maintenance or AI-driven quality checks before faults escalate.

Industry partners have welcomed the development.

“As a leader in manufacturing-centric industrial OT and software engineering, we view this acquisition as a significant step forward for the industrial technology sector. Our clients—across manufacturing, processing, and other asset-intensive industries—are working to connect real-world operational technology, including sensors, controllers, and production equipment, with modern IT systems that enable analytics, governance, and enterprise decision-making,” said Keith Gamble, Director of Software Engineering, Barry-Wehmiller Design Group.

“By bringing Losant’s Industrial IoT application platform under the SUSE umbrella alongside its secure, scalable edge infrastructure, SUSE is delivering a unified foundation purpose-built for industrial environments—linking physical operations on the plant floor to enterprise systems. We’re excited about the direction this sets for manufacturing and industrial technology, and the potential it creates for a more cohesive, open toolkit that helps organizations turn machine data into actionable intelligence.”

"We are excited to see SUSE grow into the IIoT space. For evroc, building the world’s most sustainable hyperscale cloud requires significant innovation in IIoT,” said Mattias Åström, CEO of evroc. “Bringing Losant’s tech into the open source fold could be a massive catalyst for greener, smarter datacenters across the continent. Sovereignty and cutting-edge tech are finally converging.”

“Margo was created to advance open interoperability in industrial automation and to ensure that innovation at the edge remains collaborative and standards-driven,” said Bart Nieuwborg, Chair, Margo. “With SUSE's elevated contribution to Margo as a Steering committee member we look forward to working together closely to evaluate how the Losant platform, along with elements of SUSE’s core edge and orchestration technologies, can accelerate interface standardization and strengthen the broader Margo ecosystem across industries. SUSE’s deeper engagement at the governance level reflects their continued commitment to the Margo vision on open industrial automation and long-term collaboration.”