Business Strategy and Innovation Framework
Interoperability is also a driver for the development of new and innovative applications across clusters of stand-alone silo applications.
6.2.2 IIOT PLATFORM SELECTION PARAMETERS
When designing IIoT applications, the IIC’ s IIRA [ IIC1 ] recommends that industrial users should consider business, usage, functional and implementation perspectives.
In the case of IIoT platforms, each of these perspectives has a tactical and strategic component. An operational solution intended for a rapid market launch might require a customized IIoT platform( e. g. for a one-off, capital-intensive machine in a factory environment). Over the medium to long term, this approach is not ideal if the platform requires customization to support new IIoT applications, such as interoperating with other machines or an entire assembly cell in the same factory environment. The table below highlights the main tactical and strategic platform selection considerations from each of the IIRA’ s main viewpoints.
IIRA viewpoints Tactical considerations Strategic considerations
Business
Usage
Functional
� Platform supports immediate IIoT application requirements
� Platform demonstrates implementation track record � Adequacy of duty-cycle loading � Dynamic response capabilities( i. e. from non-time-critical responses to real-time responses)
� Support for highly automated( rules engines, protective overrides) and humanoperated( visualization, intervention controls) usage environments
� Functional alignment between platform feature set and usage priorities
Implementation � Infrastructure choices( on-premise, hosted, virtual environment, etc.)
� Solution choices( in-house, managed service, etc.)
� Solution provider expertise and viability
Table 6-1: IIoT platform selection considerations
� Platform offers resource re-use capabilities
� Visibility in terms of platform roadmap( new capabilities, protocols, and support for interoperability)
� Extensibility to support use-case evolution( IT / OT integration) as the boundaries of an IIoT application expand
� Support for new business models( from B2B to B2B2C, for example)
� Roadmap for next-generation features and composable value-added services( analytics, data monetization, etc.)
� Scope for interoperability across different layers of the IIoT value stack
� IIoT application expansion requirements for hybrid platforms( multi-provider cloud computing, geographic diversity, etc.)
� Solution multi-sourcing to increase bargaining leverage
Organizations will base their platform investment decisions on their specific requirements. Some enterprises may want to invest in a platform to explore the various opportunities presented by IIoT; others may have a well-defined, long-term roadmap in place. In both cases, enterprises must be clear on how best to internalize the experience they have gained and simplify its dissemination to other business units.
Enterprises will often collaborate with specialist service providers in designing and launching their IIoT applications. It is therefore important to balance business and technology
IIC: PUB: B01: V1.0: PB: 20161115- 42-