Software-defined factories make extensive use of software and hardware automation to support flexible and adaptable production. These technologies augment the plant and people, enabling the same facility to produce a multitude of products and product variants. Software-defined factories appeal to business leaders facing unpredictable customer demand, for whom traditional volume production models may no longer be economically viable. Technology architecture and delivery professionals modernizing enterprise applications and services to support a strategic focus on deploying software-defined factories should read this research to understand where to begin.