Key takeaways:

Nokia, Warner Music, Oxford University, Tesla, and Pfizer run on Drupal
Its vast community and open-source nature ensure top-notch code security
Drupal remains current on best practices, emerging technologies, and IoT integration
Drupal add-ons always meet code requirements, supporting seamless interaction with IoT systems
Views, Webform, and Token are reliable business modules with potential IoT applications

Many well-known organizations, including Nokia, Warner Music, Oxford University, Tesla, and Pfizer, host their websites on Drupal. These corporations and establishments rely on the open-source CMS for its scalability, secure infrastructure, and application integration. In the IoT space, where devices must constantly communicate and share data across networks, Drupal’s ability to integrate multiple systems securely is vital.

Drupal’s Code is Examined from Every Angle

Drupal’s vast community and open-source nature ensure top-notch code security. This feature becomes increasingly relevant as IoT expands and more devices become connected, raising potential security risks. With IoT, massive amounts of data are transmitted between devices, making security paramount. Drupal’s dedicated team quickly eliminates vulnerabilities, ensuring that IoT ecosystems built on Drupal remain secure and functional. Real-time updates and security patches minimize exposure to threats, which is essential in preventing breaches in IoT frameworks.

As more than 70% of all breaches involved malware so far in 2024, and 32% of malware is distributed via the web, IoT networks relying on Drupal’s infrastructure benefit from robust security standards. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach reached $4.45 million, making Drupal’s focus on code security a key feature in protecting not only websites but also IoT devices.

Open-Source Architecture Encourages New Contributions, Including IoT Innovations

Drupal’s open-source infrastructure invites developers to contribute new themes, modules, and features that help the system keep pace with both best practices and emerging IoT technologies. As IoT becomes a dominant force across industries, developers are increasingly building new modules and tools to manage device-to-device communication, sensor data collection, and real-time analytics, all of which can be integrated with Drupal.

The collaborative development environment means IoT-specific contributions, such as modules for sensor data aggregation or device management, can be swiftly adopted. Since 97% of all developers use open-source software, Drupal is positioned as a powerful CMS platform to manage both traditional web environments and IoT ecosystems.

Working with Drupal requires skill, but adding a Drupal site to a web hosting account shouldn’t. Look for easy installation when choosing a Drupal hosting provider.

Drupal Enforces Quality Code for IoT Reliability

In IoT environments, efficient data handling is critical. Drupal’s adherence to best code practices ensures that its infrastructure can handle the vast amounts of data and real-time communication that IoT devices require. Fast load times are crucial, particularly in IoT applications where time-sensitive data from devices like sensors or smart meters must be processed without delays.

As page loading time increases from one to three seconds, the probability of a bounce increases by 32%, and this effect is even more pronounced in IoT applications where latency can disrupt functionality. Drupal’s automated updates further ensure that IoT systems relying on the platform will remain secure and optimized, minimizing the risk of user error.

Drupal Modules for Business Sites and IoT Applications

These are the most popular Drupal modules for businesses. Views lets site administrators create customizable and dynamic lists, tables, grids, and other content displays. Businesses can create and manage complicated data presentations, such as user directories, event calendars, and product listings.

The modules that make Drupal appealing for business websites—such as Views, Webform, and Token—are equally valuable in IoT-related applications:

Views allows businesses to create dynamic lists, tables, grids, and content displays. In an IoT scenario, Views could be used to present data from various connected devices, such as visualizing sensor data in real time or generating reports from device logs.
Webform can be used to collect data from IoT devices or user inputs related to IoT systems. For instance, Webform could be integrated with connected home devices to gather feedback or manage device registration.
Token simplifies the management of dynamic data, which is critical in IoT environments where variables such as device IDs, user inputs, or location data must be processed and displayed accurately.

Developers and Enterprises Will Continue to Choose Drupal for IoT Integration in 2024 and Beyond

Users have access to the reliable Drupal core through the Drupal Enterprise CMS platform. As IoT continues to grow, Drupal is a powerful platform for managing both traditional content and the complex data streams generated by connected devices. Large international organizations, especially those managing diverse IoT networks across multiple regions, will find Drupal’s scalability and security essential for supporting their systems. With its reliable core, flexible modules, and integration capabilities, Drupal is positioned to support the evolving demands of IoT, making it a top choice for businesses and developers alike.

The post Reasons Why Developers and Large Organizations Continue Choosing Drupal in 2024: The Case for Open-Source CMS appeared first on IoT Business News.

IoT Analytics released the Q3/2024 results of their quarterly company earnings call analysis.

This analysis is based on a comprehensive dataset of over 8,000 earnings calls from ~4,000 global companies listed in the U.S. in Q3 2024 and Q2 2024. CEO discussions are increasingly focused on practical AI applications, renewable energy sources, unpredictable IT outages, and election-related topics, while mentions of generative AI, NVIDIA, and the cloud have decreased.

Key insights:

According to the latest “What CEOs talked about” report, four themes gained noticeable traction in Q3 2024: 1) practical AI applications, 2) renewable energy sources, 3) unpredictable IT outages, and 4) election-related topics.
Discussions regarding AI slightly declined; however, there is a noticeable shift toward discussions about specific AI applications, such as process automation, predictive maintenance, and digital twins.
Renewable energy sources climbed in mentions, as did discussions around IT outages and the upcoming US election (including candidates).
Generative AI, NVIDIA, and the cloud all see drops in their mentions.

Select quotes:

Knud Lasse Lueth, CEO at IoT Analytics, comments:

“In Q3 2024, we observed a notable shift in CEO discussions toward AI applications, renewable energy, IT resilience, and the upcoming U.S. elections. Despite this shift, economic concerns remained the most discussed theme overall. Historically, changes in CEO discussion themes have been indicators of shifts in sentiment and corporate investment behavior. I expect these emerging topics to play a more prominent role in corporate decision-making moving forward.”

Philipp Wegner, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, adds that “AI might have been mentioned slightly less in Q3 2024 but it is still the key technology that executives discuss. More and more CEOs talk about concrete use cases rather than AI in general.”

What CEOs talked about in Q3 2024: Practical AI applications, renewable energy sources, and unpredictable IT outages

The big picture

CEOs’ economic concerns remained similar to Q2 2024. According to IoT Analytics’ “What CEOs talked about” report for Q3 2024, CEO discussions related to economic concerns have generally leveled off or decreased in importance quarter-over-quarter (QoQ). There was little change in the number of discussions around interest rates—still at ~27%—while inflation dropped 1.9% QoQ to 35.8%.

Meanwhile, discussions regarding recession significantly climbed 29.5% QoQ to 5.3% of calls. CEO feelings about a recession appeared mixed, as many saw the risk of global recession as lower, while many others shared concerns about industrial recession or country-specific recession, such as in China or Germany.

Global GDP growth expected for next few years. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forecasts global GDP to grow by 3.1% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025. Notable growth projections include:

India: 6.7% in 2024; 6.8% in 2025
China: 4.9% in 2024; 4.5% in 2025
US: 3.2% in 2024; 1.6% in 2025
Euro area: 0.7% in 2024; 1.3% in 2025
Argentina: minus 4.0% in 2024; 3.9% in 2025

Inflation trending downward in many areas. In August 2024, US consumer prices fell to their slowest rise since February 2021 at 2.5%. The Euro area has also seen lower inflation rates in August, reaching an annual rate of 2.2% compared to 2.6% in July 2024. China, which has struggled with depressionary pressure after muted economic growth in 2023, reported that its consumer price index rose 0.6% year-on-year (YoY) in August 2024.

Interest rates dropping, though investors remain wary. In response to the lower inflation rate, the US Federal Reserve made the long-awaited decision to lower its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point on 18 September 2024, bringing it to its lowest level since March 2023. The forecasted US economic growth slowdown and a weakening labor market appeared to play heavily in the high cut made by the Fed. Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China also cut rates by 0.5 percentage points in late 2024 and signaled it would follow up with further cuts to help spur its sluggish economy.

Key CEO quote on the macroenvironment

“After a break in progress, inflation now appears back on a downward trajectory.” – Jane Fraser, CEO, Citigroup Inc., July 12, 2024

“We’ve seen what I call industrial recession.” – Sanjiv Lamba, CEO, Linde plc, August 7, 2024

Key rising themes in Q3

1. Practical AI applications

Increased interest in applications for AI. In Q3 2024, CEOs discussed using AI and automation to streamline processes at a higher rate than quarters before. Some of the key AI-related use cases mentioned in this regard are:

Process automation – Up 59% QoQ to ~0.6% of earnings calls
Digital twin – Up 35% QoQ to ~0.6% of earnings calls
Conversational AI – Up 28.6% QoQ to ~0.4% of earnings calls
Predictive maintenance – Up 48% QoQ to ~0.4% of earnings calls
Building automation – Up 29.5% QoQ to ~0.2% of earnings calls

The rise in discussions about AI applications indicates that companies are looking to improve business outcomes.

Key CEO quote on practical AI applications

“For large enterprise clients, they look at work streams like invoice processing, invoice accuracy, the types of things that are both ingested via scanning and things that are printed, PDFs and their formats, and all the handling of all of that robotic process automation and all the types of advancements in that space is just helping clients be much more efficient.” – John Bruno, COO, Xerox Holdings Corporation, July 25, 2024

2. Renewable energy sources

Renewables experienced significant rise, though with regional disparity. In Q3 2024, green energy topics rose significantly in mentions. Discussions around solar power climbed 78.6% QoQ to ~1% of earnings calls, while wind power rose 58.3% QoQ to ~0.5%. Relating to these topics, energy prices also climbed 38% QoQ to 1.6% earnings calls, providing some indication as to why mentions of these renewable energy topics rose.

These topics did not experience growth evenly worldwide, however. Asia-Pacific (APAC) companies discussed wind power in 1.6% (+306% QoQ) of their calls, while European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) companies discussed it in 1.2% (+92% QoQ) of their calls. In contrast, North America was the only region with fewer mentions of wind power QoQ, down 47% to 0.12% of calls. Regarding solar power, EMEA companies discussed it in 1.52% (+886%) of earnings calls, APAC companies in 1.56% (+103%) of calls, and North American companies in 0.61% (+13% QoQ).

General climate-related keywords remain fairly steady QoQ. Compared to renewables, global boardroom discussions regarding general climate- and sustainability-related topics were relatively unchanged QoQ:

Sustainability – Rose 8.5% QoQ to 19.3% of calls
Emission – Declined 0.7% QoQ to 11.1% of calls
Climate – Rose 8.3% QoQ to 8.3% of calls
ESG – Declined 0.2% QoQ to 6.5% of calls

Key CEO quotes on renewables

“Continue to progress our sustainability agenda, and recent notable highlights include the extension and for higher volume of a solar power purchase agreement to 2030 will cover up to 40% of German demand needs.” – Oliver Graham, CEO, Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.,July 25, 2024

“On current estimates, China will add 250 gigawatts of new wind and solar power capacities just this year.” – Chiang Tung Keung, CEO, CLP Holdings Ltd, August 05, 2024

3. Unpredictable IT outages

Crowdstrike/Microsoft outage generate discussion around ways to avoid system failures. Corporate executives discussed IT-related outages in 6.5% of earnings calls, a 65.7% rise QoQ. Spurring this discussion was the July 2024 worldwide IT systems crash affecting Microsoft Windows, caused by a faulty update pushed by US cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Traditionally, companies worry about cyber attacks from nefarious sources; however, with this threat coming from inside the house, corporate leaders appear to be considering the essentiality of their IT systems, the impacts of not only cyberattacks but also catastrophic mistakes, and what preparation is needed for quick responses to such events.

Key CEO quotes on outages

“Certainly, the focus has historically been on kind of malicious intent on a cyber hack, but certainly a system outage not driven by a cyber assault does create a new form of risk exposure. That’s always been there, honestly, but maybe now is at the front of mind as people look to see the type of cover that they have.” – Eric Anderson, CEO, Aon Plc, July 26, 2024

“So the importance of mission criticality has gone up significantly since the outage that was caused by CrowdStrike.” – Jay Chaudhry, CEO, Zscaler, September 03, 2024

4. Elections and policy

Election discussions are heating up. The US presidential race on November 5th is soon upon us, and with it, a steep climb in discussions around it. General mentions of election rose 47.7% QoQ to 24.8%, and though Doland Trump has had mentions in a small number of earnings calls throughout 2024, Kamala Harris’s sudden entry into the race put specific mentions of her in some boardroom discussions as well.

Policy at the forefront of CEO minds this election season. While specific mentions of the candidates were a very small portion of earnings calls, the impact they could have on policy was more prevalent. Discussions regarding policy in general rose 21% QoQ to 22% of earnings calls, and tariff discussions rose 56.7% QoQ to 7% of calls.

Key CEO quotes on the election and policy

“Now the entry of Kamala Harris into the presidential race and the high level of fundraising for both Harris and Donald Trump is resulting in new dollars spent with us.” – Adam P. Symson, CEO, The E.W. Scripps Co., September 8, 2024

“We could be seeing some pulling forward of demand, most notably in North America, with the US election in November and the uncertainty about future import tariffs.” – Vincent Clerc, CEO, A.P. Moller – Maersk, August 10, 2024

Declining themes in Q3

AI and generative AI

Generative AI (GenAI) continues decline in mentions. CEO discussions regarding GenAI dropped 16% QoQ to 6.6% of earnings calls—the 2nd consecutive quarter for such decline. Noteworthy in this is that for the first time since entering the scene in Q4 2022, ChatGPT experienced growth in discussions while GenAI declined; however, ChatGPT was only mentioned in 1% of calls (+3% QoQ)—still lower than GenAI mentions.

General AI discussions dip compared to Q2 2024. General AI discussionsdropped 2.4% QoQ to 34.4% of earnings calls. That said, it should be noted that similar to IoT Analytics’ Q2 2024 coverage, AI was the second most discussed topic, and it inched closer to surpassing discussions about inflation compared to Q2 2024.

NVIDIA and GPUs

GPUs and their largest producer, NVIDIA, less important to CEOs in Q3 2024. US-based chips and semiconductor manufacturer NVIDIA—the world’s leading data center GPU producer— declined 19.5% QoQ to 2.6% of earnings calls, and mentions of GPU also dropped 3.2% QoQ to 3.5% of earnings calls. However, executives emphasized NVIDIA‘s critical role in their companies’ AI strategies, particularly for high-performance computing needs. There are growing worries about the availability of GPUs and escalating costs.

“I guess I’m quite concerned about actually being able to get state-of-the-art NVIDIA GPUs when we want them.” – Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla, July 24, 2024

“We are going to buy more and more GPUs.” – Eric Yuan, CEO, Zoom Video Communications, Inc., August 21, 2024

Cloud providers

Cloud providers see drops in mentions. Mentions of two major cloud providers, AWS and Azure, decreased in Q3 2024. AWS fell 12.3% QoQ to 2.3% of calls, while Azure dropped 11.3% QoQ to 1.5%.

What it means for CEOs

5 key questions that CEOs should ask themselves based on the insights in this article:

AI applications: Are we adequately exploring practical AI applications like process automation, predictive maintenance, and digital twins within our organization? How can these enhance our operational efficiency and reduce costs?
Renewable energy: How is our company leveraging renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce our environmental footprint and meet regulatory or market-driven sustainability goals?
IT outages: Do we have sufficient disaster recovery and response plans to mitigate the impact of unpredictable IT outages from both external cyberattacks and internal operational errors?
Economic outlook: Given the mixed sentiments on recession and economic growth forecasts, how are we preparing for potential downturns, especially in key markets like China or Germany?
Election influence: With the US election on the horizon, how could potential changes in policy, tariffs, and government spending affect our business operations and strategy?

What it means for those serving CEOs

5 key questions that those serving CEOs should ask themselves based on the insights in this article:

AI integration: Are we staying informed on the latest AI advancements, and have we evaluated whether AI use cases such as automation and predictive maintenance could improve efficiency in specific departments?
Sustainability initiatives: Are our sustainability goals aligned with the growing importance of renewable energy sources, and have we considered updating our reporting or project strategies to reflect this focus?
IT resilience: What steps are we taking to ensure IT resilience in the face of increasing discussions around unpredictable IT outages? Is there any gap in our current IT infrastructure that requires immediate attention?
Economic forecasts: Should we present an updated analysis of how recession concerns, inflation, and interest rate changes may impact our current projects or long-term strategy?
Election and policy: How do we anticipate the outcome of the upcoming US election will affect key areas of our business, and have we prepared any scenario planning based on potential policy changes?

The post What CEOs talked about in Q3 2024 appeared first on IoT Business News.

ByteSnap Design, an award-winning embedded design consultancy, has announced a strategic partnership with Particle, a leading edge-to-cloud infrastructure for the Internet of Things that helps thousands of companies power world-class connected machines, sensors, and devices.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the development of integrated IoT solutions that are both efficient and scalable and will be demonstrated at the Engineering Design Show (EDS) on stand H52.

The partnership will combine ByteSnap Design’s extensive expertise in embedded systems development and Particle’s robust IoT infrastructure to deliver enhanced connectivity solutions to industries ranging from automotive to healthcare and smart cities. Together, ByteSnap Design and Particle aim to simplify the IoT development process with embeddable modules and off-the-shelf gateways, all integrated into the Particle IoT Platform-as-a-Service. This allows for the faster deployment of smart, connected products that drive tangible outcomes in efficiency, sustainability, and user experience.

ByteSnap Design to demo mmWave tech for non-invasive people tracking with Particle integration

At this year’s EDS event, from 9-10 October 2024, ByteSnap will showcase an exciting demo that combines millimeter wave (mmWave) technology with Particle’s IoT platform for advanced remote sensor management. The centerpiece will be a “spinning head” mechanism, expertly tuned to track movement across a wide field of view in real time, highlighting its ability to monitor people and occupancy without missing a beat.

With Particle’s Photon 2 Wi-Fi development board and the IoT Platform-as-a-Service, the ByteSnap team quickly brought this demo to life, seamlessly streaming sensor data to the cloud for instant analytics, remote management, and diagnostics. Using mmWave technology, the system discreetly tracks individuals without cameras, ensuring privacy by never storing personal data—a smart, non-invasive solution designed for the future.

The partnership is set to kick off with a series of joint development projects, including an IoT module that provides enterprise-grade security and easy integration across various platforms and devices.

ByteSnap has developed IoT solutions for diverse sectors, including software for electric vehicle charging for major brands, smart home systems, environmental monitoring tools, healthcare monitoring devices, and agricultural technologies, though specific large brand names they’ve worked with on these projects are not publicly disclosed.

Graeme Wintle, Director at ByteSnap Design, said:

“By combining our deep knowledge of embedded systems with Particle’s cutting-edge IoT technology, we are poised to offer our clients unparalleled integrated solutions. This partnership underscores our commitment to remaining at the forefront of the development of connected devices that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

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OptConnect, a leader in managed wireless services, today announced it has acquired Netherlands-based Capestone, a provider of 4G and 5G IoT solutions across Europe.

Capestone follows the acquisition of Premier Wireless Solutions and M2M DataGlobal, which were completed in November 2021 and January 2024, respectively. Together these businesses create a premier global managed wireless connectivity platform of scale, capable of supporting customers across multiple industries and solution needs around the world.

The Capestone acquisition significantly increases OptConnect’s global coverage and enhances the number of end markets and verticals that the combined business can support. Capestone adds a rich legacy of hardware relationships along with a proprietary set of IoT software, services, and connectivity bundled together under the Comgate brand. In terms of reach, Capestone is active in more than 60 countries and supports over 1,000 channel partners and enterprises.

Headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, Capestone has spent 15 years perfecting IoT solutions including robust mobile internet solutions, IoT networks, and critical communications across diverse industries. These include — but are not limited to — healthcare, transportation, maritime, construction, industrial IoT, retail, and surveillance. Capestone and OptConnect share a customer-centric model that simplifies connectivity while providing a wide range of managed services. With fully managed solutions, customers can focus on core business decisions instead of managing their cellular devices. Capestone has many local carrier relationships to support customers with a variety of solutions and competitive rate plans throughout Europe and beyond.

In January of 2024, OptConnect acquired M2M DataGlobal, expanding its reach and services into Latin America. Collectively, OptConnect, M2M DataGlobal, and Capestone provide managed wireless services to more than 10,000 unique customers across the globe.

“This new partnership is a key step in strengthening our global presence,” said Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect. “With the addition of Capestone, OptConnect can now significantly expand its capabilities in Europe and provide more seamless and reliable wireless connectivity solutions worldwide. Our focus remains on empowering customers to achieve their IoT goals, and this strategic move ensures we can continue delivering value and innovation on a global scale.”

Capestone will continue to operate under the Capestone name at its European headquarters in Leiden, Netherlands. The company will also continue operations in Dusseldorf, Germany and London, United Kingdom. Jos Ouwerkerk will continue as Managing Director of the Capestone business unit.

“Our company has always prioritized delivering cutting-edge connectivity solutions to meet the evolving demands of our customers,” said Jos Ouwerkerk, Managing Director of Capestone.

“By joining forces with OptConnect, we’re not only expanding our reach but also enhancing our ability to provide even more innovative and scalable IoT solutions. This partnership allows us to leverage OptConnect’s global experience while continuing to deliver the exceptional service and tailored solutions our customers have come to expect.”

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New Omdia insights into 5G technology have forecast that 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) will surge by 66% CAGR to reach 963.5 million connections by 2030.

These findings highlight the growing influence of 5G technology on IoT (Internet of Things) use cases, as well as the industry’s increasing readiness for RedCap and eRedCap solutions.

As 4G networks begin their gradual phase-out over the next decade, RedCap and its enhanced counterpart, eRedCap (enhanced Reduced Capability), are poised to take over from current LTE Cat-1 to Cat-4 devices.

The latest 3GPP Release 18 introduces eRedCap, designed to offer further reduced capabilities and lower data rate requirements, making it an ideal choice for cost-effective IoT applications. Omdia predicts this evolution will follow the path of RedCap, but with a slight delay of a year or two, helping bridge the gap as industries transition from 4G to 5G technologies.

Alexander Thompson, Senior Analyst, IoT stated:

“5G RedCap was specifically designed for IoT applications, and in just a year since the first module launches, we’ve already seen small-scale deployments and trials begin to take shape. We expect 5G eRedCap to follow a similar path addressing use cases that demand reduced complexity and lower performance thresholds.”

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IoTech and Netmore to Jointly Develop Large-Scale Smart City Projects and New IoT Market Opportunities in the Region

Netmore Group, a leading global LoRaWAN network operator, today announced that IoTech, a provider of LoRaWAN solutions for smart cities and IIoT, has selected Netmore’s Operator Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) to deliver LoRaWAN connectivity and IoT applications to its customers across Greece.

Netmore’s Operator PaaS enables network operators like IoTech to easily deploy and operate LoRaWAN networks, combining future-proof connectivity with carrier-grade reliability for the delivery of critical infrastructure and essential business applications.

IoTech’s mission is to transform cities into smart communities using LoRaWAN networks to optimize infrastructure, enhance safety, and promote sustainability. Serving 15 cities in Greece, IoTech offers solutions for smart parking, metering, waste management, environmental monitoring, and smart lighting. With Netmore Operator PaaS, IoTech is enhancing their network planning, IoT gateway and device installation, and network and device monitoring services with the carrier-grade reliability needed to transform communities into sustainable and efficient hubs.

IoTech has started the migration of thousands of devices to Netmore’s platform and will deploy all new devices using Netmore Operator PaaS, eliminating separate fees for gateway deployments and platform usage in favor of Netmore’s cost-effective per-device pricing model.

Through this partnership, Netmore customers can immediately access LoRaWAN network coverage in Greece, while IoTech customers have access to both local coverage and Netmore’s global network to support application-specific requirements.

“Partnering with Netmore allows us to provide best-in-class LoRaWAN network infrastructure for our smart city solutions. Netmore not only offers a true carrier-grade platform that can scale with our growth, but their commercial model, infrastructure partnerships, and partner-focus seamlessly support our efforts to deploy and monetize digital transformation initiatives across the region. Together, we will power Greece’s cities of the future and the sustainability initiatives within them,” says Georgios Stefanidis, General Manager, IoTech.

“The rapid adoption of LoRaWAN for municipal applications requires a dedicated focus and IoTech’s technical expertise and innovation in the smart city market make them an ideal partner. We’re excited to have IoTech join our growing Operator PaaS ecosystem and look forward to jointly developing the LoRaWAN market in Greece. This collaboration will provide customers of both Netmore and IoTech with access to an enhanced network footprint for many business-critical applications,” says Martin Flenhagen, Business Developer, Netmore Group.

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Industrial DataOps is becoming a key solution for addressing the challenges of industrial digital transformation, according to a new research article from IoT Analytics.

Based on the Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028, the research article explores how industrial DataOps, along with protocol converters and message brokers, can help companies tackle complex issues around data management and system integration that often hinder digital transformation efforts in industrial settings.

Industrial connectivity market growth projections: The Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028 projects that the global industrial connectivity market, valued at $89 billion in 2023, will grow to $104 billion by 2028. The report highlights that software, especially DataOps, is the fastest-growing segment, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49%. This indicates the increasing importance of managing industrial data efficiently as companies accelerate their digital transformations.

Key insights:

Industrial digital transformation projects, though as grand and promising as they are, face many obstacles along their journeys, such as data management and integration complexity.
Among the industrial connectivity technologies covered in IoT Analytics latest market report on the topic, 3 can help steer projects away from project icebergs and reach their final destinations: 1. Industrial DataOps, 2. Protocol converters, 3. Message brokers.

Select quotes:

Knud Lasse Lueth, CEO at IoT Analytics, comments that

“Industrial digital transformation holds immense potential, but 62% of companies face severe challenges, particularly in areas like data management and integration complexity. The emerging field of Industrial DataOps is showing promise, offering manufacturers a way to simplify their digital infrastructure and enabling key industrial use cases. We’re seeing innovative solutions from both startups and large incumbents, signaling that this technology is poised to play a central role in successful digital transformations.”

Anand Taparia, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, adds that “Industrial connectivity is evolving beyond just linking industrial systems. It’s about creating a data-driven ecosystem. With advancements like DataOps, manufacturers can access and manage data more efficiently than ever, unlocking new levels of productivity and operational intelligence. The global industrial connectivity market is projected to grow from $89 billion in 2023 to $104 billion by 2028, with software, especially DataOps, being the fastest-growing segment at 49% CAGR. Start-ups and Scale-ups like Cognite, Litmus orHighByte are at the forefront of this transformation, providing tools for a data-driven ecosystem.”

Industrial digital transformation: An adventurous voyage with unforeseen challenges

Digital transformation is like embarking on the Titanic for a daring voyage across the North Atlantic—full of potential but also accompanied by significant risks. While many companies set sail on this journey with high expectations—believing their digital initiatives to be robust and well-prepared—unforeseen connectivity challenges can emerge like icebergs, threatening to turn even the most promising projects into a Titanic-like disaster.

Much like the iceberg that the Titanic failed to navigate around in 1912, these challenges—ranging from data silos and incompatible systems to protocol complexity—can cause even the most well-planned digital transformation strategies to fall short or even falter. In 2020, research from the Boston Consulting Group found that 70% of digital transformation projects fail to reach their objectives. IoT Analytics research continues to show that major obstacles remain.

Recognizing and addressing these hidden obstacles is crucial to ensuring that digital transformation initiatives stay on course and achieve their intended outcomes. Fortunately, lessons learned from industrial digital transformation case studies have helped others navigate the journey, just as lessons learned from the Titanic have led to modern safety measures to prevent such tragedies.

Key industrial digital transformation challenges in 2024

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of organizations face severe, unforeseen challenges—metaphorical icebergs—during their industrial digital transformation journeys, according to Microsoft’s June 2024 report, Accelerate industrial transformation: How manufacturers prepare shop floors for a future with AI, which was supported by an IoT Analytics survey conducted for ongoing research into smart factory adoption.

The following is the share of survey respondents who marked each challenge as either severe or major:

Cybersecurity at 58%
Data management at 49%
Integration complexity at 48%
Change management or cultural resistance at 45%
Skill gaps at 44%
Regulatory compliance at 44%
Legacy system modernization at 43%
Reliability and uptime at 40%
Scaling solutions or devices at 39%
Updating devices, assets, or systems at 38%
Energy management and sustainability at 37%

The role of industrial connectivity

Connectivity at the core of industrial digital transformation. Connectivity is one of the foundational elements of industrial digital transformation, be it connecting devices and equipment in factories or in the field. Of the 11 challenges listed above, 7 relate to industrial connectivity (as denoted by asterisks), indicating that connectivity significantly contributes to industrial digital transformation challenges. Connectivity enables companies to collect operational data for automation and decision-making. The overall market size for industrial connectivity hardware and software reached $89 billion in 2023, according to the Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028 (The largest portion of the market being industrial automation hardware like PLCs or I/O modules).

Navigating hazardous seas: 3 technologies that could help avoid industrial digital transformation project icebergs

Avoiding industrial digital transformation icebergs

3 technologies address digital transformation challenges. The report dives into 3 industrial connectivity software technologies that help manage the issues related to connected OT and IT equipment outlined above:

Industrial DataOps
Protocol converters
Message brokers

The following is a deeper look into these 3 technologies and how they address digital transformation challenges.

1. Industrial DataOps

“The importance of industrial connectivity for making the vision of our smart factories a reality is underestimated. A unified shopfloor connectivity architecture is the key to realizing various use cases that we want to implement.” – Director of Digitalization Production at Porsche

Industrial DataOps on the rise. According to the industrial connectivity report, the growing importance of industrial DataOps is the #1 general industrial connectivity trend. Manufacturing landscapes are complex, with numerous sensors, machines, and systems interacting. Industrial DataOps helps capture these intricate relationships and derive meaningful insights by processing, cleaning, and transforming data into usable formats, making it easier for downstream applications to leverage the data for analytics, machine learning, and other purposes. By standardizing how industrial assets are modeled, industrial DataOps brings uniformity across the industrial data landscape. This consistency simplifies the integration and consumption of data by various applications, reducing errors.

From a simplified, high-level perspective, industrial DataOps consists of two core elements: data quality management and data modeling. The former ensures reliable OT data for downstream applications through profiling, verifying, and cleaning, while the latter is the process of creating a logical representation of assets, processes, and systems.

As the established core element, data modeling provides a framework that allows different systems to communicate and integrate seamlessly, facilitating data flow and analytics. Several data modeling standards exist in industrial settings, such as OPC-UA, Sparkplug B, Asset Administration Shell, and Web of Things.

These standards help with two core subelements of data modeling:

Structuring – This involves organizing entities—i.e., distinct components representing real-world concepts that have data associated with them—into hierarchies—i.e., structures that organize entities into various levels, establishing relationships and dependencies.
Contextualizing – This adds attributes, standardizes values via specific transformation, and details relationships both within the model and across interconnected models. This process converts raw data into valuable information by clarifying what entities represent, how they relate to one another, and their roles in a broader network of models. Contextualization is achieved via attributes, transformation, and relationships.

Ultimately, all of this leads to the creation of a Unified Namespace (UNS). This centralized, real-time framework allows data from all systems, machines, and sensors to be organized and accessed seamlessly. A UNS serves as a single source of truth across the organization, making data from various sources instantly available, structured, and contextualized for use in analytics, automation, and decision-making. By integrating the principles of industrial DataOps and leveraging UNS, organizations can achieve greater interoperability, reduce data silos, and ensure that data flows freely and efficiently throughout the entire digital ecosystem.

Selection of challenges that industrial DataOps can help address

Data management – Industrial DataOps ensures that data is cleaned, validated, and standardized as it moves through different systems, reducing errors and inconsistencies. This makes data reliable for analytics, decision-making, and operational processes.
Integration complexity – With differing data structures from different connected devices, normalizing incoming data into a consistent, usable format helps make data easier for downstream applications to consume and analyze.

Selected industrial DataOps trend from the Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028:

Vendors are creating products that combine IT, ET, and OT data. Operational (OT) data is a hygiene requirement in today’s transformed industrial space. It is needed for all industrial use cases. In the vendor community, there is a growing realization of the need for conventional (IT), engineering (ET), and even location and social data to implement the use cases better to achieve the desired results. Industrial software vendors and OEMs are focusing on providing/integrating connectors to access these varied data sources.

Example: Norway-based data modeling software company Cognite offers Cognite Data Fusion, a data operations platform for production, asset maintenance, and sustainability use cases in asset-intensive industries. The platform aggregates, cleans, and contextualizes real-time and historical data from OT, IT, and ET sources from a suite of pre-built ‘extractors’.

2. Protocol converters

“Stop arguing about [protocols]! Modern protocols are a little better than old ones. There [are] only really two kinds of implementations to worry about: Client/Server (polled) and Pub/Sub (pushed). We have to deal with both kinds, and none of the protocols are going away any time soon.” – Jonathan Wise, Chief Technology Architect, CESMII, during the CESMII Online Workshop on February 14, 2024

Protocol converters help systems understand one another. Often, systems from various vendors leverage various protocols—a standardized set of rules and formats that govern how data is transmitted and exchanged between different devices, systems, or applications. Software is needed to translate one input protocol and produce a different output protocol. Protocol converters enable this translation between different protocols, allowing various operational systems (such as machines, sensors, and controllers) to communicate with each other.

Selection of popular OT and IT protocols

Selection of challenges that protocol converters can help address

Integration complexity/interfacing with OT networks – Protocol converters enable seamless communication between varying networks, reducing the need for custom integrations and streamlining the connection of disparate networks.
Legacy system modernization – Many industrial operations rely on legacy systems that use outdated or proprietary protocols. Protocol converters allow these systems to interface with modern platforms and technologies by converting data into compatible formats.
Scaling solutions/devices – As organizations scale their operations and add new devices, protocol converters ensure that new and existing systems can communicate effectively.

Select protocol converter trend from the Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028

Protocol converters increasingly deployed at the edge. Edge-based industrial protocol converters facilitate instantaneous data transfer and task synchronization in automated systems. While they were often installed on desktops and centralized servers in the past, now they are being increasingly installed on edge devices on containers. This expands their capability and enables applications such as predictive maintenance, automated quality inspections, and real-time cloud services to be installed and carried out efficiently at the edge.

Example: Prosys’ OPC-UA Forge accesses operational data from OPC-UA servers, and via Modbus, ADS (Beckhoff), and S7 (Siemens) protocols. It can run on a variety of hardware using containers.

3. Message brokers

“Today, MQTT [broker] is used by many companies to connect data from OT machines and processes to IT systems to improve factory process efficiency, increase OEE, and decrease costs.” – Ravi Subramanyan, director of industry solutions, HiveMQ

Message brokers coordinate data messages across systems. In industrial setups where multiple systems must communicate, a tightly coupled setup can create rigidity. Message brokers enable a decoupled architecture, facilitating scalable communication between different systems, applications, or services, making them ideal for adoption in digital transformation projects. They act as intermediaries that route, transform, and manage messages, allowing systems to communicate without being directly connected or dependent on each other. This decoupling enhances the overall system architecture’s flexibility, scalability, and fault tolerance, making it easier to handle high volumes of data and integrate disparate systems.

MQTT leads the pack in popularity. By far, MQTT—listed above as a popular IT protocol—is the most adopted message broker system in industrial settings. MQTT is a lightweight, publish-subscribe messaging protocol designed for efficient, low-bandwidth communication. It can support different message formats, such as JSON or XML, and the payloads can carry a range of information, such as sensor data, commands, or settings changes. Receiving systems can subscribe to the data topics most relevant to them, and the interpretation of the data is up to the receiving application.

MQTT has 4 key features that make it stand apart from other, lesser-used protocols and make it ideal for adoption in digital transformation projects:

Connection and topic management – Oversees network connections, maintains sessions, handles topic subscriptions, and ensures message delivery
Quality of service (QoS) management – Implements different QoS levels, guaranteeing that messages are delivered as per broker-client agreements, from single attempts to guaranteed delivery
Message retention – Enables storing the most recent message for a topic to update new subscribers
Last will and testament feature – Provides a mechanism for clients to designate a message for the broker if it disconnects suddenly

One drawback of MQTT is that it lacks certain standardizations, which limit data interoperability across industrial applications. To address this, an additional specification, Sparkplug B, is added to the MQTT protocol. Sparkplug B standardizes MQTT message structures, adding time stamps, metrics, sequences, device data messages, and other elements to the message.

Selection of challenges that message brokers—specifically MQTT brokers—can help address

Data management – Message brokers organize data using topics, ensuring receivers subscribe to and access only the relevant data. They also ensure data integrity and reliability with features like message retention and simplify data handling by standardizing the exchange of data between different systems.
Scaling solutions/devices – Message brokers are designed to handle thousands of concurrent connections and high throughput, enabling systems to scale without performance degradation. Further, by decoupling publishers and subscribers, message brokers allow new devices and systems to be added without disrupting existing infrastructure.

Select message broker insights from the Industrial Connectivity Market Report 2024–2028

Sparkplug B continues to attract interest from vendors. TheMQTT wave is making the Sparkplug B specification popular. Managed by the Eclipse Foundation and based on the MQTT 3.1.1 standard, Sparkplug B is an open specification for MQTT nodes to communicate within the MQTT infrastructure. MQTT is the exchange protocol, and Sparkplug defines the data sent. The MQTT + Sparkplug B combination is an alternate option to the OPC-UA standard in the opinion of several industrial software vendors.

For example, a robust set of vendors developing SCADA, MQTT brokers, and other applications (like historians, protocol converters, and DataOps solutions) have implemented Sparkplug B in their products. These companies include ABB, Schneider Electric, Wago, Inductive Automation, HiveMQ, and Canary Labs.

Analyst opinion: The role of industrial connectivity for digital transformation

DataOps hold promise. Much like the fateful voyage of the Titanic, industrial digital transformation projects start with big celebrations and high expectations but face obstacles for a successful journey—the hidden icebergs. Technologies and tools that have recently emerged—such as DataOps and message brokers—promise to address these challenges.

The market is very nascent. Many of these tools are nascent, as many of the market players that are working to elevate the tools (e.g., Cognite, Litmus, Highbyte, or Cybus, among others) were founded in the last 10 years. For perspective, the DataOps market segment, made up less than 0.1% of the total $89 billion industrial connectivity market in 2023 and less than 0.025% of the whole $269 billion enterprise IoT market. Larger industrial automation hardware and software vendors only recently started integrating dataops solutions into their overall tech stack. One notable example is AspenTech DataWorks, which is marketed as an “industrial data management solution”. DataWorks heavily relies on technology developed by Inmation, a Germany-based company founded in 2013 which Aspentech acquired in 2022.

Growth prospects are strong. Nonetheless, companies are increasingly looking to adopt these tools to circumvent the project icebergs, and the ability of these tools to help steer digital transformation projects clear of connectivity obstacles is a major factor in the high projected CAGRs of each through 2028:

DataOps – 49%
Protocol converters – 12%
Message brokers – 28%

In turn, IoT Analytics expects the collective industrial connectivity software segment to be a key driver behind overall industrial connectivity market growth—5% CAGR until 2028.

Yes, DataOps can help steer away from disaster but much more is needed. These tools do not solve all industrial digital transformation challenges, as change management and skill gaps still remain. However, much like the International Ice Patrol helps ships navigate the iceberg-laden waters of the North Atlantic today, these tools promise to help manufacturers navigate dangerous points along their industrial digital transformation journey if properly adopted and used.

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According to a new research report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of telematics service subscribers using embedded systems will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6 percent from 239.7 million subscribers at the end of 2023 to 473.8 million subscribers by 2028.

Shipments of embedded car OEM telematics systems worldwide are expected to grow from 59.3 million units in 2023 to reach 82.9 million units in 2028, representing an attach rate of 94 percent at the end of the forecasted period. The attach rate of embedded car OEM telematics systems in 2023 was about 75 percent globally. New passenger car and light truck registrations increased 11.6 percent to 79.3 million worldwide in 2023. The market grew for the second consecutive year and reached pre-pandemic levels. Berg Insight anticipates high growth of OEM telematics subscribers in the next years as connected car services become ubiquitous in all major car markets.

Today, most OEM telematics services focus on core propositions such as emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and remote control, which are made available as standard or premium subscriptions. A new generation of connected entertainment services has been launched in the past few years. These services include for example video and music streaming, gaming and video calls. Such services are moreover mainly available in new premium car models. Carmakers are still experimenting with business models for connected services to match customer demands better and leverage connected car data for internal purposes.

“Carmakers are increasingly bundling core services for free for extended periods to boost brand loyalty and ensure that a large portion of cars have active connections. This strategy enables big data collection to enhance product development processes and reduce warranty and product recall costs”, said Martin Cederqvist, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight.

Carmakers are gradually focusing on incorporating third-party apps into infotainment systems, providing access to the same apps that drivers have in their smartphones. Smartphone-mirroring solutions such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have been a way to incorporate third-party apps. Still, carmakers are increasingly focused on providing access to the apps directly through the car infotainment system, without the need for smartphone connectivity. Some carmakers are even considering removing support for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and other smartphone mirroring solutions in order to take charge of the connected driving experience themselves.

“Carmakers are focusing on enhancing digital driving experiences by leveraging connected car services, which are becoming an increasingly important factor in customers’ purchasing decisions”, continued Mr Cederqvist.

Toyota Motor Group had more than 23 million connected cars at the end of 2023. General Motors and BMW had at the same time more than 20 million connected cars each. Stellantis and Ford make up the remaining top five carmakers in terms of embedded OEM telematics subscribers. Additional automotive OEMs with more than 13 million active connected cars at the end of 2023 include Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.

Mr Cederqvist, concluded:

“In mature markets, shipments of connected cars are expected to grow in line with new car sales as the attach rate of embedded telematics systems in the future reaches close to 100 percent.”

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The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping industries worldwide, and building management systems (BMS) are no exception. Traditionally, BMS has been centered on manual operations and isolated systems, often leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs. Today, IoT-enabled smart building technology is transforming how buildings are managed, making them more efficient, sustainable, and responsive. This article explores how IoT is revolutionizing building management systems and what this means for the future of smart buildings.

Understanding Smart Building Technology

Smart building technology refers to the integration of IoT devices and sensors into building management systems to create an interconnected environment. These systems collect real-time data on various building functions, including HVAC, lighting, security, and energy usage. By leveraging IoT, smart building technology enhances the efficiency, comfort, and safety of building occupants while reducing operational costs.

The key to smart building technology lies in its ability to connect and communicate. IoT devices and sensors transmit data to a central system, allowing for continuous monitoring, analysis, and optimization of building operations. This interconnectedness offers building managers unprecedented control over their assets, enabling predictive maintenance, energy savings, and a more responsive environment.

The Role of IoT in Smart Buildings

IoT plays a crucial role in the transformation of traditional buildings into smart buildings. By integrating a wide array of sensors and devices, IoT enables real-time data collection and communication across various building functions such as HVAC, lighting, security, and energy management. This interconnected approach allows building management systems to continuously monitor and optimize operations, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and improving occupant comfort and safety. The ability of IoT to provide predictive insights and automate decision-making processes is a game-changer, positioning IoT as a key driver in the evolution of smart building technology.

Key Benefits of IoT in Building Management Systems

1. Enhanced Energy Efficiency: One of the most significant advantages of IoT in building management is improved energy efficiency. IoT sensors monitor real-time energy consumption and adjust lighting, heating, and cooling systems based on occupancy and environmental conditions. For instance, smart thermostats can automatically adjust temperature settings when rooms are unoccupied, reducing energy waste.

2. Predictive Maintenance: Traditional building maintenance often relies on reactive approaches, addressing issues only after they arise. IoT changes this paradigm through predictive maintenance. Sensors continuously monitor the health of equipment, detecting signs of wear and potential failures before they become critical.
For example, a sensor on an HVAC unit can detect abnormal vibrations or temperature changes, alerting maintenance teams before a breakdown occurs. This proactive approach not only minimizes downtime but also extends the lifespan of equipment and reduces repair costs.

3. Improved Occupant Comfort and Safety: IoT enhances the comfort and safety of building occupants by automating environmental controls and security systems. Smart lighting systems adjust based on natural light levels, improving visual comfort and reducing energy usage. IoT-enabled HVAC systems ensure optimal indoor air quality, adjusting ventilation rates based on occupancy and pollutant levels.
In terms of safety, IoT sensors can monitor smoke, gas leaks, or unauthorized access, providing real-time alerts to building managers and emergency responders. This level of responsiveness is critical in minimizing risks and ensuring the safety of building occupants.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making: The vast amount of data generated by IoT devices in smart buildings is a valuable resource for decision-making.Aggregating and analyzing this data offers insights that can inform strategic decisions regarding building operations. For instance, data analytics can reveal patterns in energy usage, helping managers make informed decisions about retrofitting, equipment upgrades, or adjusting operational schedules.
Moreover, advanced analytics can simulate different scenarios, allowing building managers to test the impact of potential changes before implementation. This data-driven approach reduces uncertainty and enhances the effectiveness of management strategies.

Challenges and Considerations in IoT-Enabled Building Management

While the benefits of IoT in building management are significant, there are challenges to consider. These include:

1. Data Security and Privacy: The interconnected nature of IoT devices raises concerns about data security and privacy. With numerous sensors collecting data from various building systems, the risk of cyber-attacks increases. It is essential for building managers to implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as encryption, firewalls, and secure access controls, to protect sensitive information.

2. Integration of Legacy Systems: Many buildings still rely on legacy systems that are not designed to communicate with modern IoT devices. Integrating these older systems with new IoT technology can be complex and costly.

3. Cost and ROI Considerations: Implementing IoT technology requires upfront investment in sensors, devices, and platforms. Building managers must carefully assess the costs and potential return on investment (ROI) to justify the expense. However, the long-term benefits of energy savings, reduced maintenance costs, and improved building performance often outweigh the initial investment.

The Future of IoT in Building Management Systems

The future of IoT in building management looks promising, with continued advancements in technology set to further enhance the capabilities of smart buildings. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are expected to play an increasingly important role, providing predictive analytics and autonomous decision-making capabilities that will make building management even more efficient.

Moreover, the integration of IoT with other emerging technologies, such as 5G and edge computing, will enable faster data processing and real-time responsiveness. This will allow building managers to react instantly to changing conditions, further optimizing performance and improving the overall occupant experience.
As smart building technology continues to evolve, CIM platforms will remain at the heart of these advancements, providing the critical infrastructure needed to support the seamless operation of IoT-enabled building management systems.

Conclusion

IoT is revolutionizing building management systems by making them smarter, more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of occupants. Through the integration of IoT devices, sensors, and platforms, smart building technology provides real-time insights and automation capabilities that drive significant improvements in energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, and occupant comfort.

While challenges such as data security and integration remain, the benefits of IoT in building management far outweigh the hurdles. As technology continues to advance, IoT-enabled building management systems will become an essential component of modern building operations, setting the stage for a more connected and sustainable future.

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