The Internet of Things (IoT) is the ability of internet-enabled devices, sensors, machines, gadgets, and appliances to connect and share data over a common network..
Like a smart watch, smart TV, lights, AC, vacuum cleaner, and all the other smart devices or objects that can be operated via an app on an Android or iPhone..
Needless to say, it gives you complete remote access and control of your devices whether you are right there or away. Bringing all your devices on a single platform or app, be it a computer or a smartphone, IoT can help you automate them too depending on your schedule and requirements..
As a vast and diverse application, it can be applied to various fields and premises including commercial, residential, and industrial. .
Although, the first two are technically summed up as one. That is the Consumer Internet of Things (CIoT). The other major type of IoT is the Industrial Internet of Things.
What is the Industrial Internet of Things?
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), or Industrial Internet, in short, is the industry-oriented version of IoT that lets you connect the machinery and equipment that are used in an industrial setting to a shared network.
By connecting all the devices on a single network or platform, you can be in a far better position to streamline the production, manufacturing, or provision of your products and services.
As a multidimensional discipline, IIoT is already being used in several sectors such as healthcare (IoHT), energy, agriculture, transportation, construction, and so on as we speak.
On a deeper level, the scope of IIoT goes far beyond a single company or organization. It encompasses a wide range of solutions between different retailers and manufacturers such as logistics or supply chains.
With better control and management of your assets and resources, and that too remotely, you can improve multiple aspects of your business including efficiency, intelligence or data gathering, operations or productivity, and ultimately customer satisfaction.
By employing various advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, Machine Learning (ML), etc, IIoT has already proven to be a key force behind the accelerating growth of the industrial space that had never been seen since its evolution.
How does the Industrial Internet of Things work?
The Industrial Internet of Things stands for Industry, Internet, and Things.
Components of IIoT
- Sensors and IoT devices.
- Connectivity or internet for communication or data exchange.
- Data analytics.
- Cloud platform for storage.
- Industry-specific applications and services.
That mentioned, let’s take a look at how IIoT works in practice once everything is live and connected to the internet.
How IIoT works
Step 1: Data Collection
Data is collected by the sensors that are connected to the industrial equipment on several parameters based on the industry.
Step 2: Data Transmission
The collected data is then transferred to a centralized server or cloud platform via the Internet for further processing.
Step 3: Data Processing
Technologies such as cloud computing and edge computing are implemented to preprocess the data.
Step 4: Data Analytics
The accumulated data is studied or analyzed using advanced data analytics and AI algorithms to bring out meaningful insights to help improve the working capacity or efficiency of the industry as a whole.
Step 5: Decision-making
Based on the insights, you can make informed decisions about multiple aspects of your business such as operations, security, maintenance, and risk or disaster management.
Step 6: Action (Manual or automation)
Finally, you can take a desired or necessary action manually or automate the system to regulate its functions autonomously.
And the cycle continues.
Difference between IoT and IIoT
While IoT and IIoT both signify the technology of the Internet of Things, IoT is the layman's term for commercial or consumer IoT (CIoT). Whereas, IIoT has more to do with its industrial applications.
As such, IoT is used to depict internet-enabled devices such as home appliances, smart wearables, and sensor objects within homes, offices, and shops.
Industrial IoT, on the other hand, is used in industrial settings including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, energy sectors like oil, gas, and utility, transportation, and mining, etc.
Another key difference is that IoT applications are consumer or user-centric, whereas, IIoT is more system-centric.
Nonetheless, an IIoT ecosystem tends to be more health or safety-critical than CIoT applications as a failure in the latter does not cause any harm to the users. Whereas, a failure or malfunctioning of Industrial IoT devices can pose several health risks and potential threats to life.
Moreover, since more data is generated and processed in an IIoT setup, the rates at which it is done are relatively higher than consumer-oriented Internet of Things.
Which Industries are using IIoT?
As a multi-faceted technology, IIoT is being employed across a vast range of industries to create smarter processes and workflows that offer the utmost safety and efficiency.
Some of the common industries that have already adopted IoT on a big scale include
- Manufacturing- Monitoring, predictive maintenance, automation, quality control, and supply chain.
- Energy- Oil, gas, and utilities.
- Transportation and Logistics- Fleet management, supply chain, public transport.
- Healthcare- Medical equipment and asset and staff management.
- Agriculture- Precision farming, livestock monitoring, and automation.
- Automotive Industry- V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communication, and production and assembly of automobiles.
- Smart Cities- Infrastructure surveillance, traffic management, and public safety.
- Retail- Inventory management, supply chain, and customer experience.
- Mining- Remote monitoring, safety, and automation.
- Water Management- Smart water and irrigation systems.
- Aerospace and Defence- Asset management and tracking, operations, and predictive maintenance.
- Building and Construction- Smart building and construction.
As you can see, the extent of IIoT is widespread, and for all the good reasons.
Benefits of using IIoT
IIoT offers several benefits such as remote monitoring, controlling, and automation of industrial equipment and machines. Let’s take a closer look:
1. Increased Efficiency
IoT can improve the overall efficiency of a manufacturing facility by streamlining the various processes and workflows involved in the production and provision of products and services. At the same time, it minimizes the risk of environmental impact or industrial waste.
2. Predictive maintenance
One of the biggest advantages of incorporating IoT into industrial spaces is the ability of IoT devices to give early warning signs of equipment failure and requisite maintenance to avoid major failures and downtime at a later time.
3. Enhanced safety
With round-the-clock monitoring and tracking of industrial equipment as well as the working conditions, an IIoT-enabled factory would be more likely to ensure safety and compliance.
4. Asset management
A centralized IIoT ecosystem can also help manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and consumers to track their assets and products whether they are allotted or in transit.
5. Informed decision-making
Regular updates through notifications and alerts further help businesses to make informed decisions using the data and insights that have been gathered by AI-enabled data analytics.
6. Cost cutting
By streamlining or automating several tasks such as operations, manufacturing, and resource management, companies can significantly lower the overall costs of running their facilities much more efficiently.
7. Customer Satisfaction
When it’s all said and done, IoT devices can also provide real-time insights about customer shopping and usage behaviors which businesses can use to improve or innovate their products and services for the clients.
What are IIoT applications?
IIoT applications refer to all the innovative ways in which the Internet of Things can be used to ultimately improve the overall efficiency, safety, and productivity of an industrial landscape.
For instance, using GPS and RFID technologies to better track the location or status of your assets such as vehicles, machines, and inventory.
Or, connecting sensors to mechanical devices to monitor their performance and maintenance needs.
Similarly, employing advanced robotics and AI-enabled systems with machine learning capabilities can help manufacturers improve and increase their production.
Another example of an IIoT application is the use of smart wearables and health monitors to remotely check the vitals and health conditions of the patients.
In essence, IIoT applications include a wide range of use cases across various industries that boost efficiency and safety while reducing the total cost of running the facility.
What is the future of IIoT?
The future of IIoT is anticipated to be aligned with the next industrial revolution aka Industry 4.0 or the fourth Industrial revolution.
Thanks to technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Analytics, and Cloud computing, IoT-enabled devices are rapidly transforming the industrial sector into a new era of digitalization where not only humans can interact with the machines, but machines themselves can communicate or share information.
With faster Internet such as 5G connectivity, the scope of IIoT is further expected to rise and expand.
Despite the growth, there are certain challenges that need to be addressed and improved. These are security, interoperability, data management and storage, and continuous scalability.