The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will change the basis of competition, redraw industry boundaries, and create a new wave of disruptive companies. The business will shift from products to outcome-based services that compete on their ability to deliver measurable results to customers.
A fully functional digital ecosystem will require seamless data sharing between machines and other physical systems from different manufacturers. Industrial internet system components must have a big picture view that allows them to reconfigure their operation and maintain mission-level performance when under stress. Convergence will demand a flattened architecture and seamless communication.
Key to Success
The divide between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) starts with the problems faced by each area. OT professionals are focused on keeping manufacturing, plant, and remote physical equipment in operation for extended periods of time, while IT professionals focus on keeping data flowing and accessible to all facets of an organization.
Because OT and IT have distinctively different requirements, their solutions also differ. OT solutions tend to be restrictive and proprietary, whereas IT solutions are generally more open and cutting-edge.