IoT & Automation

The IoT takes most industrial organizations into a new operating domain and requires a process of self-education to begin with. Most of the questions I encountered began around the two topics of connectivity technology choices and approaches to justify the IoT business case. A major challenge for industrials is to plan their strategies and business-cases with the right frame of reference. Much like navigating with a map, the best way to make significant progress involves zooming out to see the bigger picture.

True IoT application opportunities, however, present a new challenge because of the value potential arising from cross-silo applications. The implication for IoT platforms is that they will need to support cross-platform application usage scenarios. This may be through inter-operability capabilities such as APIs with application and application-performance status capabilities to enable a dependable quality of service and rapid problem diagnosis. Coherent data models will also be required to allow sensors to be recognised automatically by non-related applications, for example, and also to support the flow of sensor data across platforms that might be configured for silo applications.

Organizations are looking at how AI and IoT can reduce cost, drive efficiencies, and enhance competitive advantage and support emerging business models. The industry has, in the past, pursued a siloed approach to applications and technologies. As ubiquitous connectivity continues to permeate technology sectors, an increasing need to unite energy technologies, operational technologies and IT with consumer technologies is observed in the industry. Here are few examples of how Utilities Industry can benefit from top technology trends:

Smart Cities will be built on a combination of infrastructure from players, including telecoms operators, mobility operators, public safety agencies, and utilities, as well as infrastructure from cities themselves, cities that will run different legacy and platform-based IoT deployments. It is widely acknowledged that no single IoT platform will dominate the market. Here we see the increasing need for IoT platforms to exchange data to address the requirements of cross-application use cases. This will only be achieved by IoT platforms designed and managed for interoperability.

The smart city concept is now firmly on the operational agenda of government officials and private sector solution providers. The evolution towards grounded solutions means that adopters and solution providers require tangible strategies along with workable frameworks and planning tools to initiate their smart city initiatives. Look at how the emerging smart city industry acts as a host to multiple smart city reference architecture initiatives in parallel with multiple check-list criteria that aim to rank cities on smart city implementation roadmaps. Let’s focus on two structural features of city planning and management to illustrate the real-world challenges that city authorities will have to overcome. The first deals with differing economic profiles that characterize individual cities.

The technical and commercial success of cloud computing technology made it feasible to evolve the most demanding information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructures, such as communication networks, from specialized hardware and software to new software paradigms, referred to as ‘cloud-native’. Internet of Things (IoT) virtualization – IoT built on cloud-native principles – is to IoT platforms what Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is to communication networks.

Ready to learn Internet of Things? Browse courses like Cyber Security for the IoT developed by industry thought leaders and Experfy in Harvard Innovation Lab. Whether it’s smart wearables, connected cars and machines, consumer electronics or smart city deployments, there is no denying the internet of things is growing at an increasingly rapid rate. According to the

There is more than one way in which IoT can enable industries to accelerate growth, transform economies and achieve a new level of competitiveness. With IIoT, manufacturers can ensure greater efficiencies across the value chain, ranging from operations and services to engineering and product supply. The inherent benefits of IIoT, including asset optimization, smart monitoring, predictive maintenance and, most importantly, intelligent decision-making, are rapidly making it an irreplaceable technology.

One of the top challenges of IIoT is keeping valuable business data secure. Cyberattacks against IIoT systems and critical network infrastructure have severe consequences, putting world governments on high alert. Enterprises must take adequate precautions to manage and protect data related to IIoT or machine-to-machine security. By securing every necessary remote connection with VPN management, it will be possible for enterprises to stay ahead of future cybersecurity threats.

Most of the traditional large system integrators focus on the higher end of the technology stack – connectivity is usually assumed to exist.  But the core of their offers focusses on analytics and business process integration with legacy ERP and other systems.  Newer connectivity solutions such as LPWAN are not yet fully integrated into their domain expertise.  The current need for IoT network integrators is driven precisely by this need – the capability to determine the right network connectivity solution for lower tier access in terms of power consumption and cost is nascent, and this very capability is what determines whether new projects can be delivered at a reasonable ROI. 

Car manufacturers, ride-hailing services, public transportation, car washes and parking garages will all go through some major shifts for obvious reasons. Driverless cars are bound to change not only the automotive industry but revolutionize our daily lives, as well.