What industrial IoT solutions should look like to boost productivity
In an industry where efficiency and productivity are vital, industrial IoT solutions are the key to operational evolution. This article explores how some of their key properties are shaping the future of industry. Read on to find out how you can reach new performance horizons with IoT technology in your facility.
Over the past decade, digital transformation has reached a tipping point in the industrial sector, where IoT solutions are positioned as crucial catalysts for a new level of productivity and operational efficiency.
In this article, we detail what these industrial IoT solutions need to look like to maximise performance and how Noxium's products are realising this potential.
What is the status of the implementation of industrial IoT solutions?
Industry players expect the adoption of IoT solutions to significantly boost their productivity and operational efficiency in the coming years.
In fact, a survey realizada por una de las empresas distribuidoras de componentes y módulos de electrónica (Farnell) sobre tendencias globales de IoT, revela que el 48% de los participantes tiene como principal objetivo de la implementación de soluciones IoT las mejoras en la productividad y la optimización de sus procesos industriales.
This relies on the ability of modems/routers/gateways to connect machinery, systems and people in real time, providing critical data that can transform decision making and operations management.
This same study also brings us interesting conclusions, one of which we would like to highlight is that industrial automation and control industrial is the sector that is at the forefront of the implementation of IoT solutions across different industrial sectors.
Within this, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and remote monitoring are projected to be one of the fastest growing areas, implementing high value-added solutions for the sector.
Another factor that stands out from the article is how respondents think the adoption of IoT would be accelerated if measures related to interoperability (19%), ease of development (19%), the need for open standards (19%) and connectivity standards (16%) were taken.
Must-have features for truly effective industrial IoT solutions
Secure and reliable connectivity
The foundation of any efficient IoT solution is reliable, secure and highly available connectivity. This means having a constant connection and ensuring that every transmitted data point is protected against intrusions and cyber threats.
Implementing advanced encryption technologies, the use of tunnels, and security protocols are essential to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.
In addition, the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and network segmentation is vital to protect industrial control systems.
Flexible integration
The true power of industrial IoT solutions lies in their ability to integrate seamlessly with a wide variety of existing systems, SCADA, control and management systems, as well as data management platforms.
Interoperability between different devices and software, facilitated by open standards and APIs, enables effective synchronisation of data and processes, minimising downtime and maximising production efficiency.
Adaptability to different network architectures and support for various IoT communication protocols, such as MQTT and CoAP, are essential. As well as other management protocols such as SNMP that provide information about the status of the networks and the devices themselves.
Advanced analysis and real-time data processing
The ability to analyse and act on real-time data is crucial to optimise processes, predict maintenance failures and improve decision making.
Industrial IoT solutions must incorporate advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to analyse complex patterns, predict trends and provide prescriptive recommendations.
Esto puede llevar a mejoras significativas en la eficiencia operativa, la reducción de costos y el aumento de la calidad del producto.
Customisation and scalability
Because no two industries or businesses are alike, IoT solutions are designed to be highly customisable and scalable across networks.
They must be able to adapt to the exact specifications of any production environment and scale from small operations to multinational companies without losing effectiveness.
The modularity of the solutions and the ability to upgrade and add new modules or functionalities as business needs grow are essential to maintain relevance and long-term ROI.
Comprehensive technical support and maintenance
Implementing IoT solutions is just the beginning. To maximise their value over time, proactive technical support and maintenance services are needed to ensure continuous uptime and optimisation of the systems.
This includes software and firmware updates to address new security threats, as well as technical support to resolve any operational issues.
Continuous training of personnel on new IoT solution capabilities and security best practices also plays a crucial role in long-term success.
Noxium's industrial IoT solutions not only meet these essential characteristics, they exceed them.
Through projects in various industries, we can demonstrate how the implementation of these solutions has resulted in significant improvements in productivity, efficiency and profitability.
