- What do you need to know about Industrial IoT
- How do companies implement industrial IoT platforms in real life?
- Summary and future predictions
The Industrial Internet of Things is by far one of the most important breakthroughs in recent years, as it provides amazing opportunities for companies operating in various industries.
What's important is that Industrial IoT offers advancements not only for enterprises but also for small and medium-sized organizations. Leading corporations like Amazon have already adopted IIoT but SMEs are also starting to implement technologically advanced solutions, with incredible results!
Read on to find out how organizations of different sizes and across industries, are adopting IIoT solutions to improve their optimization efforts. On their example, discover the most effective solutions and get inspired to start your own journey with the Industrial Internet of Things!
What do you need to know about Industrial IoT
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a term that describes interconnected devices that are networked with industrial computer applications. The IIoT is revolutionizing various industries by introducing automation based on data collected from connected sensors, machines, tools, and more.
Here are some statistics that show how industrial IoT is changing the world:
- Global spending on IIoT platforms for manufacturing is predicted to grow from $1.67B in 2018 to $12.44B in 2024, attaining a 40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in seven years - According to Forbes
- Sector-wise break-up of manufacturing shows that the reliance on IIoT applications is the highest in power and energy (64%), aviation and aerospace (62%), and utilities (58%). - According to TechJury
- IIoT platforms are beginning to replace MES and related applications, including production maintenance, quality, and inventory management - According to Forbes
It is impossible to talk about IIoT without providing some information about Industry 4.0.
The fourth industrial revolution refers to technological progress and the concept of process improvement in various industries driven by automation and interconnection. It points the direction of the entire digital shift in the industry. The Industrial Internet of Things plays an important role in the implementation of the Industry 4.0 concept.
Challenges in industrial IoT projects
If you are thinking about implementing IIoT solutions in your company, you need to be aware of the challenges that you will have to face.
- High Investment Cost
To lower your operating costs with IIoT, you first need to invest in advanced technology and deploy connected systems. This of course requires a significant upfront investment.
- Data Safety
IIoT devices collect and analyze huge amounts of data in real-time. In this way, companies obtain business insights that allow them to streamline processes and reduce costs. Additionally, based on the analyzed data, organizations can prevent failures before they occur and increase the safety of their employees.
On the other hand, to be able to offer all this valuable information in real-time, huge amounts of data must be processed extremely quickly. That is why cybersecurity in IoT systems is so important.
How do companies implement industrial IoT platforms in real life?
Energy Industry: Industrial-scale solar energy system
One of the main advantages of Industrial IoT solutions in the energy industry is that they enable companies to take full advantage of the data collected from smart devices and sensors. This allows you to improve energy management and offers an intelligent way to distribute energy according to the collected data. As a result, companies can prevent unnecessary energy waste.
The IIoT also offers tremendous opportunities for sustainable energy resources. It can increase the efficiency of solar panels, etc., and thanks to the use of predictive algorithms, it ensures the proper cooperation of units with the environment.
KYOTO - industrial IoT platform for energy industry
KYOTO is a company focusing on environmental and renewable energy consultancy services, as well as on initiatives aimed to prevent climate change.
Their goal was to build a new industrial-scale solar energy system (CSP) for heat and power generation (CHP) with thermal energy storage (TES). They needed our team to create a web-based interface that monitors and controls the equipment in the power plant as well as the thermal energy storage unit.
Our experts have used Industrial IoT to create a secure cloud infrastructure that connects and operates all systems and devices in a concentrated solar power plant. It is equipped with a surveillance system that uses image recognition to alert you to potential dangers on the site of the power plant.
In addition, we have developed a platform that, based on various data sets, simulates its performance and improves cost-effectiveness.
Moreover, we have built a battery management system that controls various parameters in the molten salt battery and introduced dashboards to help manage battery operations and maintenance.
Aviation Industry: Improving the safety in the air operations & monitoring heliport systems
The aviation industry implements Industrial IoT in various ways. Some of the main benefits include improved airplane safety and an improved passenger experience.
Clear AirSpace
Our team had the privilege of working on a solution for Clear AirSpace, which offers comprehensive services to the aviation industry, supports airport services in their duties and improves safety in air operations.
The aim of the project was to build from scratch an auxiliary navigation tool for pilots that would show the best route of the aircraft from point A to point B.
Our solution uses the collected data from international air traffic management institutions and analyzes them in order to support pilots and the rest of the crew during work even in the most difficult conditions. To learn more about this project, read our case study.
HRESS
HRESS is a company operating in the aviation industry that needed a scanning and monitoring system of heliport surface limitation.
Our development team has built a custom software system that models the heliport area and notifies pilots if they can land on it right now. The system reacts to all types of threats and significantly increases the safety of operations. Additionally, it facilitates the management and use of the heliport infrastructure. Find out more about the HRESS case study.
IoT Logistics Solutions: Reduced shipping costs & improved supply chain planning
The IIoT connects many links in the supply chain to ensure consistency, transparency, speed, and scalability in product development and delivery to all involved.
The Industrial Internet of Things connects all aspects of the supply chain and offers everyone involved fast, consistent and transparent information that streamlines product development and delivery.
Key elements of supply chain optimization, such as asset tracking and inventory management, are now driven by real-time data by deploying IIoT sensors on all assets. This results in fewer lost assets and improved process efficiency.
Amazon
Amazon uses the Industrial Internet of Things to optimize logistics operations. In huge warehouses, Amazon uses Wi-Fi-connected robots to collect and sort various products.
As a result, Amazon was able to reduce operating costs by 20%.
SMIGA - IoT solution for smart cities
SMIGA is a startup that offers an innovative platform for long-term bike rental. Each Smiga bike is equipped with a dedicated IoT module. The challenge was to enable these hardware modules to transmit information to our backend.
Our team has developed a solution that enables constant communication with the equipment, which helps users to track the condition of the bike in real-time. Even if your phone loses its network, the connection to the bike is always on.
Manufacturing Industry: Predictive Maintenance based on real-time data
The Industrial Internet of Things combined with real-time data collection enables predictive maintenance in the manufacturing industry.
Real-time data provided by smart equipment with sensors that are all connected together enables companies to perform continuous analysis of the condition of the equipment while regular operations take place and prevent unexpected machine failures based on the information obtained.
Manufacturers are most relying on IIoT platforms for general process optimization (43.1%), general dashboards & visualization (41.1%), and condition monitoring (32.7%). - According to Forbes
Airbus: ‘Factory of the Future'
Airbus is an aviation corporation that runs an IIoT-based digital production project called Factory of the Future. The goal of this initiative is to increase employee safety and reduce errors.
The company placed interconnected sensors in the stores, and Airbus employees received advanced wearable devices such as smart glasses, etc. They collect data from sensors and devices and send it to robotic tools that perform multiple tasks. Thanks to continuous connection, production processes are now faster, more reliable, and of better quality.
Summary and future predictions
Industrial IoT offers amazing opportunities for companies operating in various industries. It increases the efficiency of operation, guarantees the safety of employees, and lowers operating costs.
As more and more companies adopt various Industry 4.0 concepts, IIoT already offers some of the most exciting solutions that are driving digital transformation. However, some may still wonder how it will evolve in the future?
The future of the Industrial Internet of Things will focus on better communication between devices and improved predictive maintenance. There will be increasingly affordable opportunities for SMEs to take advantage of what IIoT has to offer.
Our experts at Order Group have experience working on IIoT solutions for various industries. Contact us if you are looking for a reliable partner to support your digital transformation!
