The Internet of Things (IoT) is now an established and widely used reality. Beginning in the consumer context, where virtually every smart device is by definition connected, this technology is also becoming increasingly established in the corporate and industrial spheres.
IIoT (Industrial IoT) starting from its role as an enabling technology in the context of Industry 4.0, is now a concrete reality for companies that have started a modernization process and will become so in the short term even for those that have chosen a more cautious approach.
Adoption and implementation: the Industrial IoT on the test bench
When discussing technology in the business context, however, some distinctions need to be made.
While it is true that there are many companies that have adopted industrial IoT solutions, often even to meet supply chain requirements or comply with regulatory requirements, the implementation of real solutions based on these technologies is not as widespread. The reality is that Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 have great potential that, however, in many cases is not fully exploited, and this lack of pervasiveness rarely stems from a true strategic choice.
The main opportunities offered by the IIoT
Companies, particularly those that have already taken their first steps in digitization and automation, should reflect on the opportunities available to them and assess their potential positive impact on their production processes. Below, we list some of the main opportunities that a successful implementation of industrial IoT makes available.
Optimization of production processes
The implementation of IIoT enables more efficient management of operations, processes and resources: through real-time monitoring and automation of processes, business efficiency can be checked, margins for improvement can be identified and, with the support of appropriate analysis tools, simulations can be carried out to identify more effective solutions.
Predictive maintenance
Analysis of the data collected by the sensors makes it possible to predict failures and plan maintenance work. This increases plant reliability, reduces downtime and improves the overall safety of machinery, production lines and plants.
New business models
IIoT facilitates new approaches to business, such as servitization. The company can identify additional services to offer based on collected data, such as remote monitoring, performance optimization, and product customization. This creates new opportunities to build value-added services, which are an important element of competitiveness today.
Integration with Artificial Intelligence
The combined use of IIoT and AI enables advanced analytics, automated decisions, and enables the adoption of new decision-making models that improve the quality and efficiency of production processes.
Environmental Sustainability
The IIoT facilitates the adoption of sustainable practices through energy consumption monitoring and efficient resource management, making an important contribution to environmental impact reduction and sustainability reporting.
The conditions necessary for these opportunities to materialize lie, as mentioned above, in proper implementation, which in its basic elements consists of three aspects: the ability to collect data from the readings, proper integration with the enterprise IT infrastructure, and the use of advanced analytical tools to enhance the value of the data obtained.
Industrial IoT: the challenges of an industry on its way to maturity
The successful implementation of industrial IoT, while presenting numerous benefits, is not without its challenges, most of which stem from the need to reconcile production and organizational needs with what is for all intents and purposes an overhaul, in many cases even a profound one, of plant, machinery and processes. Below, we list three of the main challenges:
- Cybersecurity: the increase in connected devices expands the attack surface, necessitating specific strategies to protect data and infrastructure from cyber threats.
- Interoperability: the coexistence of devices and systems from different manufacturers can create critical compatibility issues, necessitating the adoption of common standards to ensure effective communication.
- Data management: massive data collection requires adequate infrastructure for storage, processing and analysis, as well as specific skills to extract useful information.
The transformation of industry to smart manufacturing implies a much more careful and in-depth strategic approach than simply adopting technologies, not least to effectively manage the new fronts that this adoption often, even with little awareness, opens or has opened within the company.
Implementing industrial IoT solutions with the right approach
The Industrial IoT is not simply a technology to be adopted, but an opportunity to rethink the way companies create value, interact with the market and manage production. It is about building a new organizational awareness, in which data and connectivity become strategic levers to respond to an increasingly competitive and demanding market , including, for example, in terms of sustainability.
Companies that know how to meet the challenges and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the IIoT can, in addition to improving production processes, redefine their role within complex digital ecosystems, transforming themselves into key players in innovation. The transition to an increasingly connected industry is inevitable: success lies in the ability to anticipate this transformation, with the right investments and an informed approach.
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