Embracing machine-to machine ecosystem is a necessity as it presents multifold opportunities in manufacturing | BY Sudheer Polavarapu |
Internet of Things (IoT)/ Machine to Machine (M2M) is transforming the way organisations conduct their business by collecting data from remotely located machines or equipment and applying it in ways that impact their business. IoT is no longer a buzzword, and embracing it is no more an option for organisations that wish to stay competitive. A recent research from Cisco substantiates the same, “M2M has already generated $613B in corporate profits in 2013 and $544B is still up for grabs by end of the year.”
IoT is a web of intercommunicating devices talking to each other over different physical media, channels and protocols. It is based on the paradigm of ‘everyware’, a combination of pervasive computing and ambient intelligence. IoT or M2M technologies include sensors, actuators, RFIDs, smart plugs, smart meters, etc. with wireless communication capabilities. So far, the Internet has been used to connect informally, conduct transactions, and of course, for entertainment. However, the next wave of Internet usage will enable connections with the physical objects and things around people. Picture a tomorrow where a mobile phone app will help locate car keys or a medicine bottle will track your dosage. Tomorrow everyday objects will come alive and enable control over the Internet.
Owing to ‘Internet of things’, the everyday objects ranging from electrical appliances to what you wear, what/where you drive, what you read/see and anything humanely perceptible will be more addressable and controllable (over the Internet). The implications of such an intelligent network where even the most miniscule objects can be accessed and/or controlled are only limited by one’s imagination. In a future reigned by ‘Internet of Things’, there are a plethora of technologies and facilitators which provide much momentum. Going by market trends and technology evolution, getting closer to a world without IoT/ M2M communication will be hard to imagine.
IoT has the ability to profoundly transform the manufacturing industry. It can help connecting production line with material requirements planning, manufacturing resource planning, manufacturing execution systems, enterprise resource planning, etc. and enable organisations to improve operational efficiency, customer service, differentiate products and add new revenue streams. IoT opens up plenty of opportunities in manufacturing; prominent ones include:
- Plant visibility – Connecting production line with enterprise systems and enabling real-time information accessible from mobile improves decision making and collaboration among the staff. Visibility also enables third-party providers of services, consumables, and capital goods with new service and business models linked to plant operations and maintenance.
- Plant automation – Manufacturers can use connected machines to automate workflows and processes, optimise production line with minimal manual intervention.
- Predictive maintenance – By predicting equipment failures and correcting them proactively, manufacturers can improve overall efficiency of the equipment. Advanced analytics can help predicting failures given the machine data and health patterns.
- Supply chain visibility – Connecting production line with suppliers will help manufacturers with supply chain information that can be delivered in real-time.
Organisations may face few challenges during early stages of strategy development like infrastructure and capability to take the data from machines to the organisation and beyond, lack of standardisation to collect and process variety of data, higher costs and security. Into realization, new obstacles can be found in the form of complex supplier marketplace, longer lead time for ROI.
The current M2M technology landscape is complex and filled with multiple players. The technology landscape can be broadly categorised into four layers:
Devices and connectors are seen as primary source and feed of information in a typical M2M solution. The advances in remote device identification, data collection, data filtering, device connectivity, data transportation, device management and more have really simplified the low level enablement. E.g. RFIDs, sensors, chips, MIMs, gateways, ZigBee, MQTT, OMA, APIs, ARM, Raspberry, Digi devices, at&t, Vodafone, Jasper Wireless, Wyless.
M2M platform ecosystem comprises platforms and services, which simplify M2M application enablement through seamless device connectivity, data management, high availability and accessibility across verticals. M2M platforms, data hub, marketplace, cloud services, device management, integrations, service enablement services, data access and integrations are typically covered here. E.g. Axeda, Bosch, Digi Cloud, Gemalto, Xively. Apps accelerators in rapid application development, testing, reporting, visualisations, industrial simulations and machine learning can expedite M2M application development and deployment across verticals. Providers of these accelerators constantly innovate to have cross vertical accelerators and help bring down the costs associated with M2M enablement. E.g. ThingWorx, Bosch, Grok.
The ecosystem is vital for achieving the business value of M2M solutions. The traditional way of M2M business development, where value chain is more horizontal, has posed many challenges through increased costs, inflexibility and decreased innovation. However, these challenges can be addressed through vertical expansion of M2M platforms and accelerators and well-constructed strategic alliances. Quietly, these two are becoming the heart of the ecosystem.
The M2M platforms and app accelerators have lots of potential for vertical expansion across industries and businesses. We have seen good progress in the last two years with a number of M2M platforms coming out in the market with features such as device connectors, device management, device cloud, data management, data availability, seamless connectivity and dashboards. However, these platforms have a long way to go, adding features such as remote diagnostics, predictive analytics and machine learning. With multiple players trying to latch onto opportunities created by the IoT, it is going to be difficult for organisations to adopt M2M and realise business value unless these players come together and work towards mutual benefits. Making strategic alliances with providers of network, hardware, M2M platforms and accelerators will become more relevant for building successful M2M solutions.
The current M2M ecosystem is going through consolidation. Recent acquisitions — Telit acquiring ILS Technology, Digi acquiring Etherios, Wipro investments in Axeda and Gemalto acquiring SensorLogic — are supporting this, and we might even see more of such activities in a coming year or so. Through alliances or acquisitions, network carriers are trying to seize the opportunity with additional offerings in the form of M2M services such as device cloud, device connectivity, device management, integrations, vertical solutions, etc. along with their regular network services.
To simplify and scale up M2M adoption, M2M adopters and network carriers are emphasizing on the development of ‘horizontal’ standards independent of industries. Key standardisation initiatives such as MSTF, ETSI, 3GPP, oneM2M and MQTT are underway to simplify the communication and bring uniformity to M2M implementations across verticals.
To be competitive, organisations should embrace M2M technology and look at options to derive value out of connected devices, at least on the ones that are already connected. The M2M platforms evolution pace, innovations in sensors and battery technology, and progress in standardisation will soon bring the IoT and M2M within the reach of everyone.