Navico, the parent company of Lowrance, Simrad and B&G, has purchased Naviop, a leader in marine monitoring and control systems.

The acquisition is expected to help boaters turn their multifunction displays into hubs for complete system control and information.

“For years, auto manufacturers have provided consumers with a complete integration solution at their fingertips, and we, as a marine industry have fallen behind the curve to provide the same level of convenience and control,” Navico CEO Leif Ottosson stated in a press release. “With Naviop, we have taken a step forward to provide a comprehensive system-integration package for the boatbuilding market.”

The tech vision for every helm: Navico intends to shift the idea of a central MFD to an integrated, cloud-connected information system. Naviop systems work as an integration hub as well as a digital switching solution, and can manage everything from air conditioning and engines to diesel generator units and stabilization systems.