Location Intelligence brings accuracy and precision to the Industrial Internet
The sky is the limit, literally and economically, when it comes to the Industrial Internet. Location intelligence will play a key role in strengthening and creating new use cases for the Industrial Internet, and while we dont have a business case yet for outer space Location Intelligence, with the speed in which technology is changing and advancing, I wont rule that topic out for a future blog post.
A key component of the Internet of Things is, of course, the actual Thing. And each physical object is located somewhere. We believe thatlocation intelligencewill play a pivotal role in industrial IoT applications because it can help deliver geographic context and expose proximity relationship that are sometimes hidden within raw data. Our analysis shows that roughly 80% of all Industrial Internet data contain a location. Sensors are already embedding GPS chips, for example, that will capture latitude and longitude coordinates.
Predix will essentially allow developers to build industrial IoT applications in an environment that is highly secure and scalable, and where they have better access to partnerships in industries ranging from agriculture to aviation to health care. Agreeing with our assessment that location will play a key role in the Industrial IoT, GE has already incorporated Pitney Bowes GeoEnhance Location Inteligence API into their Predix.io catalog . This will help both GE business units and third-party developers create applications that leverage Pitney Bowes location intelligence capabilities.
As IoT connectivity begins to extend to machines, sensors, devices and processes in an industrial setting, clear business outcomes such as increased manufacturing efficiencies, better resource utilization, and transformed support models are driving adoption.
Within the factory, assets and inventory can be tracked with sensors, allowing for better accountability and product management. From there, industrial IoT allows the business to look at almost all components of the operationfrom employees to forkliftsas assets that can provide opportunities for revenue growth if managed correctly.
Building a Business Case for the Industrial IoT
Understanding the massive potential for industrial IoT, GE recently opened Predix to a wide swath of developers in an effort to create the worlds first and largest marketplace for industrial applications.
Heavy Industry Equipment Manufacturing
The Internet of Things (IoT) is already a familiar concept for many consumers. Common devices now regularly collect and share data with each other in an effort to improve user experience for everything from wearable tech to household appliances. While there is massive potential for how these devices can impact our lives, todays typical outcomes are centered on fitness monitoring, home security, and novelty applications such as discovering how many hours each day your dog is sleeping.
Building a Business Case for the Industrial IoT
Predix Operations Performance Management
Using location intelligence as part of the industrial IoT model can also have an impact on municipal processes, changing how governments aid citizens and the way they interact with city services. Smart city initiatives, for example, can already utilize location intelligence to better understand population distribution. Analyzing neighborhood demographics supports improved routing of public transportation and identifying urban infrastructure inefficiencies to better educate policymakers. When location intelligence is utilized within Intelligent Cities applications, city managers will be able to make swifter and better business decisions.
To accomplish the promise of the Industrial Internet, partnerships between software developers and big data platform providers is key. IoT business models will need to place greater emphasis on services produced by an ecosystem of technologists that are collaborating to find the best possible, industry-wide solution rather than serving competing interests.
Business outcomes are leading the way in IoT adoption
Some early IoT adopters are seeing economic benefits, such as those who are lowering their homes heating and cooling costs using Nest, one of several smart thermostats. But a large majority of Americans90% according to icontrol networks2015 State of the Smart Home Reportstill view home security, and not economic objectives, as one of the top reasons to invest in smart technologies for their home. With home security legacy technology adoption at only 17%, consumer marketers still need to build broader and more compelling use cases for IoT adoption.
Roger Pilc leads worldwide engineering, strategic technology and innovation, enterprise innovation and technology alliances for Pitney Bowes. Before joining Pitney Bowes in 2013, Roger was Senior VP and General Manager with CA Technologies, the leading enterprise management software provider. Prior to that, Roger was Chief Operating Officer at SMARTS, and previously, he was CEO of Whale Communications. Roger holds aB.S. and a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.S. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is on the board of directors of both the American Red Cross of Connecticut and the Fellowship of Fathers Foundation.
Outside of the factory, location intelligence can help managers streamline fleet routes by looking at a bevy of data points, including traffic patterns, weather and even crime rate information related to a specific latitude or longitude. Viewing the fleet as an asset rather than an undisturbed cog in the greater business mechanism will inherently open up doors for optimization and monetization that were previously hidden.
Platforms and marketplaces will drive growth
Heavy Industry Equipment Manufacturing
The following blog post was submitted by Roger Pilc, Chief Innovation Officer, Pitney Bowes. Pitney Bowes began its Industrial Internet journey in 2014 by joining the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC). Soon thereafter PB partnered with GE to use GEs Predix platform to improve outcomes for PBs production mail clients (mailers who generate hundreds of thousands of physical bills and transactional statements). This includes redefining PBs maintenance relationship with its clients via proactive maintenance and productivity analytics, resulting in increased mail piece production and machine efficiency.
Predix Asset Performance Management
While today consumer IoT applications are most successful in niche markets, the business case for the Industrial IoT is rapidly evolving. As IoT connectivity begins to extend to machines, sensors, devices and processes in an industrial setting, clear business outcomes such as increased manufacturing efficiencies, better resource utilization, and transformed support models are driving adoption. Companies like GE are already using data from sensors on jet engines, gas turbines and MRI scannerscollected and analyzed using GEs cloud-based Predix platform to make them run better. At Pitney Bowes we are using Predix to improve business outcomes for our production mail clients. Harel Kodesh, Chief Technology Officer at GE Digital, predicts, In the next five years, the Industrial Internet will break the zettabyte barrier, which is 1,000 exabytes. (In 2009, the entire World Wide Web contained 500 exabytes.)
Predix Asset Performance Management
Business outcomes are leading the way in IoT adoption
Predix Operations Performance Management