7 Takeaways from Internet of Things World 2019
Systems integrators, hardware developers, software programmers, end customers and more gathered in Santa Clara, California, this week to discuss the latest advances in the internet of things (IoT). The setting, of course, was the IoT World Conference & Expo 2019, which attracted more than 12,000 participants.
Channel Futures was on hand to facilitate a day-long channel seminar that looked at the readiness of channel partners to make the most of IoT opportunities. From interactions with organizations in attendance, it was abundantly clear that there is plenty of interest among partners and vendors alike in the IoT. But it’s also clear that business models, use cases and technology implementations are still in an early stage.
Here are seven takeaways from the event.
The “IoT-in-a-Box” Is Slowly Coming Together
Incomplete standards. Competing platforms. Ill-defined business models. All of these and more have been a drag on the growth of the IoT. But progress is being made on several fronts. Take tech platforms. Several companies now tout “IoT-in-a-Box” capabilities. This includes Sprint, whose Curiosity IoT Solutions offer plug-and-play solutions for vehicle and fleet management, mobile commerce, smart cities and more. The solutions, of course, are focused primarily on Sprint’s wireless technologies but increasingly anticipate more. Think machine learning and AI, 5G networks and edge computing, just to name a few.
In addition to networking companies, a number of developers are working on IoT platforms that promise “IoT-in-a-box”-like compatibility, albeit for specific industries or use cases. This includes IoT in a Box by myDevices, which bills itself as “the world’s leader in turnkey, fully automated remote refrigeration monitoring solutions for a variety of vertical markets.”
The company’s platform allows partners to craft solutions using sensors and gateways from a variety of manufacturers, and then monitor the installations using a variety of monitoring applications that offer real-time reporting and instant SMS text message alerts. The company works with a variety of partners today including referral resellers, systems integrators and ICT consultants.
In addition to software developers and device manufacturers, distributors are also playing a significant role in creating “in-a-box”-like solutions for various use cases and industries. At IoT World, Andrea Miner, director of consulting services for analytics and IoT at Tech Data, shared her company’s recent progress with its new Solutions Factory, which is used to vet IoT solutions to make sure that they’re repeatable for partners.
Channel Opportunities Abound, But Systems Integration Will Dominate in the Short Term
Because there’s no one de facto “IoT-in-a-box” today, most installations have to be cobbled together using a variety of parts and innovations.
At some point, IoT solutions will be more plug-and-play, says Steve Brumer, a partner at the Atlanta-area BH IoT Group. But for now, solutions are mostly custom installations.
“The big opportunity for the channel when it comes to the IoT is …