New Service-provider and Business-model Disruption in the IIoT
1.
INTRODUCTION
Horizontal IIoT platforms will proliferate once organizations implement multiple IIoT applications
across different business units within a single corporation, for example, and in communal
environments, such as smart cities and multi-modal transportation systems. Two other factors
that will fuel this trend are the favorable economics of shared platforms and the innovation
potential of interoperable IIoT applications. This paper illustrates such a future from the
perspective of a large-scale, intelligent transport systems trial (ITS). It involves four customers
using a single, horizontal, standards-based IIoT platform to deploy six, interoperable IIoT
applications. One disruptive objective of the trial is to enable different Data-as-a-Service business
models. These allow device, sensor and transportation-data owners to monetize their assets
through incentives for independent IIoT application developers and data-processing service
providers.
2.
NEW SERVICE-PROVIDER AND BUSINESS-MODEL DISRUPTION IN THE
INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS
Thanks to low-cost electronics, miniaturization and near-ubiquitous wireless connectivity, the
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) opens up new commercial opportunities in both industrial and
consumer sectors.
Many of the early-stage applications focus on point solutions for high-value industrial assets.
Examples include remote monitoring and diagnostics for jet engines and industrial machinery.
The same principles apply to assets that operate in groups. Thus, a logistics manager can optimize
delivery routes for a fleet of vehicles while a beverage vendor has better information for stock
control and replenishment schedules across its collection of connected vending machines.
To deliver reliable and high-quality services, these types of applications depend on IIoT serviceenablement platforms for three key functions.
Firstly, they manage network-connectivity services. These are necessary for attaching
devices to networks in ways that conserve network resources while enabling identity and
security services, for example.
Secondly, they help to maintain devices over their operating life cycle. Supervisory
capabilities ensure that devices are performing within design specifications while remote
updating helps to fix software problems and to deliver new functionality.
Thirdly, service-enablement platforms include features and tools to implement and
manage IIoT applications themselves.
The first two sets of functions typically map onto connected device platforms (CDPs).The third
category maps to application-enablement platforms (AEPs).
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June 2016