A platform for facilitating development of intelligence in an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) system can comprise a plurality of distinct data-handling layers. The plurality of distinct data-handling layers can comprise an industrial monitoring systems layer that collects data from or about a plurality of industrial entities in the IIoT system; an industrial entity-oriented data storage systems layer that stores the data collected by the industrial monitoring systems layer; an adaptive intelligent systems layer that facilitates the coordinated development and deployment of intelligent systems in the IIoT system; and an industrial management application platform layer that includes a plurality of applications and that manages the platform in a common application environment. The adaptive intelligent systems layer can include a robotic process automation system that develops and deploys automation capabilities for one or more of the plurality of industrial entities in the IIoT system.