Part of a two-part video series based on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for IoT platforms released in April.
Aim: Critique the Magic Quadrant and lay the framework for selecting top IoT platforms
Need: Manufacturing Executives should stop relying on firms like Gartner and Forrester as their guidance is potentially misleading.
Definition of an IoT Platform
Clarifying what constitutes an IoT platform and the criteria for the upcoming tier list.
Criticism of Gartner Report
Observations on the Magic Quadrant:
Lack of qualification regarding vendor ranking within the quadrant.
Suggestion that being listed is influenced by financial relationships with vendors.
Many vendors listed do not fit the true definition of an IoT platform.
Importance of independent evaluation and accountability among analysts.
Digital Maturity Assessment
Scoring manufacturers on digital maturity based on ten industry pillars:
Operations
IT
Engineering
Quality
Leadership
Infrastructure
Platform
Network Connectivity
Strategy
Overall score ranges from 1 to 5 (1 = no platform, 5 = optimal performance)
Average scores:
Operations: 2.92
IT: 2.8
Leadership shows potential but lacks a cohesive strategy.
Quality is the lowest scoring category, while Infrastructure and Leadership show slightly more promise.
Goal of Digital Transformation
Aim: To achieve fully integrated digital factories, where various business operations plug into a unified network.
Emphasis on real-time data use and the automation of processes across manufacturing layers.
Data-driven operational adjustments informed by predictive analysis and machine learning.
Steps in Digital Transformation
Identify current business issues and assess digital maturity before implementing IoT platform solutions.
Journey includes:
Step 1: Becoming a Smart Business
Duration: 3-5 years
Involves connecting, collecting, storing, analyzing, and visualizing data.
Step 2: Plugging into Digital Supply Chains
Example of collaboration between clients in a digital supply chain.
Functional Requirements of an IoT Platform
Must integrate at all layers of the automation stack (L1 to L5).
Support needs for citizen developers.
Capable of connecting, collecting, storing, analyzing, visualizing, predicting, reporting, and solving data issues.
Must allow for short time-to-value and scalable solutions, supporting agile development processes.
Upcoming Content
Next video will provide a tiered list of IoT platforms based on established criteria and will delve deeper into how these platforms enable digital transformation.
Importance of sharing this information with executives to better understand IoT transformations inside their operations.
Conclusion
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