The digital transformation of industrial systems is accelerating rapidly – and with it, the demand for scalable software solutions. Whether you’re a component manufacturer, machine builder, or industrial software provider – the same strategic question arises:
Should you build your own platform to distribute and manage your software, or is it smarter to rely on an existing, specialized solution?
A closer look reveals that developing an in-house platform rarely delivers the expected benefits – neither economically nor functionally. The demands are high: software must be delivered directly to machines, controllers, or custom systems, updates must be distributed securely and efficiently, and ideally, all of this should happen via a brand-aligned, fully integrated platform.
At this point, it becomes clear: building your own solution is complex, costly, and difficult to maintain long-term.
The Complexity and Cost of In-House Development
Creating an industrial app store goes far beyond traditional e-commerce. In addition to handling transactions, licenses, and payment processing, a comprehensive system must also manage:
- Secure software distribution and deployment
- Update mechanisms and license management
- Device onboarding and configuration
- Seamless integration into existing automation infrastructures
In practice, this means:
- Initial costs easily exceeding €1 million
- Ongoing annual maintenance of around €300,000
- Major migrations every 4–5 years as platforms become outdated
- Additional strain on internal teams and IT resources
The Alternative: A Modular, Ready-to-Use System with FLECS
With FLECS, companies receive a fully customized app store within just six weeks – including a white-labeled interface, update management, deployment, and lifecycle control.
What sets it apart:
- Over 70 ready-to-use standard apps, instantly available with no integration or partner overhead
- Flexible pricing, starting at approx. €25,000 per year plus success-based revenue sharing
- Fully maintained, with ongoing updates and platform enhancements handled by FLECS
More Than Just an App Store
The FLECS Marketplace is more than a sales channel – it’s a full-featured, end-to-end platform for industrial software delivery:
- Lifecycle and update management for industrial applications
- Direct deployment to edge devices and controllers
- Automated device onboarding with preconfigured rollouts
- Whitelabeled interface tailored to your corporate identity
More Than Technology: Proven Industry Know-How
One of the most valuable aspects of working with FLECS: We don’t just deliver the technology – we bring real-world experience in launching industrial app stores and marketing automation software.
We actively support customers in entering new markets, positioning their apps, and establishing scalable B2B business models. You benefit from a solution that doesn’t just work in theory – it’s proven in the field.
Seamless Integration Instead of Isolation
Thanks to FLECS Core’s open architecture, the platform integrates smoothly into existing automation landscapes. Importantly, you maintain full control over your customer relationships – unlike with many cloud-based marketplaces. The platform also supports key industry standards, such as Open Industry 4.0 Alliance, MARGO, and Asset Administration Shell (AAS).
Conclusion: Good Intentions, High Costs
Owning your platform may sound appealing – more control, more flexibility. But in reality, it often leads to skyrocketing costs, long project timelines, and high maintenance demands.
FLECS offers a much faster, more cost-effective, and future-ready path – without sacrificing branding, integration, or business control.
Ready to simplify your software distribution?
Let’s talk about how FLECS can help you launch your own industrial app store – faster, leaner and future-ready.
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