To have a clear, transparent, and simple company digitization process, it is first necessary to allow the collaborative integration of technologies. Separate initiatives carried out by different sectors, within ecosystems that do not communicate, do not place the company in a scenario of digital transformation.
The digitization process begins when there is a single initiative integrating various technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), but also Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Big Data, and many others that make up Industry 4.0.
Just as in an orchestra where dozens of instruments need to converge their sound into a clear and pleasing melody, so too is it necessary to integrate different technologies within companies.
For most companies, the basic concept of digital transformation is unclear. The pressure of daily operations, the need to meet targets and increase efficiency turn the digitization process into a disoriented race, and only later, after the investment has already been made, is it realized that the decision was made incorrectly.
Therefore, one of the biggest challenges for companies to keep up with this transformation process is awareness of collaborative technologies. Digitization will be complete when applications from different verticals can communicate horizontally and in a decentralized way with other solutions.
This article will focus primarily on aspects related to IoT, as it is one of the cornerstones of a digital transformation process and one of the main challenges for companies.
Who should carry out the process?
A complete digital transformation process should involve the entire company, from the C-level to operational staff, encompassing changes in organizational culture and processes. Specifically in IoT projects, the initiative is often led by IT in conjunction with OT.
However, the innovation process should ideally involve specialized suppliers from outside the company. IT/OT departments are already overwhelmed by day-to-day internal demands and, moreover, tend to operate according to the company's core business, leaving the responsibilities and deliverables of an IoT project to suppliers qualified for the task.
Companies experienced in marketing and implementing Internet of Things solutions are attentive to trends, market problems, and customer pain points, and are already experimenting with solutions in various projects.
It's common for clients to want to define applications and areas for data integration and collection. But just as important as collecting data is knowing how to manage all that information for the benefit of the company.
The path to Digital Transformation in industry
The solution as a service is the most economical and secure way for a company to digitize its operations. In this model, the most important thing for the client/company is to know what the KPIs are for the solution's success.
Managers need to ask themselves, "What do we want to achieve by improving efficiency?" and "What pain point will IoT solve?" Many companies don't know what they want to measure with IoT or where they hope to go, and this is an important process for Digital Transformation.
It's possible to start small. Some clients start with just one machine. Size isn't the problem; the most important thing is the concept. After all, how will the profit be visualized? At this point, the solution as a service is another factor in helping the client visualize the returns through technology.
There is a range of information that is extremely useful and helps the company save money and get a return on its investment . In preventive maintenance contracts, for example, predictive and remote monitoring generates logistical savings for teams and avoids unnecessary operational downtime.
Another point is that in a solution-as-a-service model, the operational burden falls on the solution provider, who is responsible for monitoring and delivering the data. The company/client does not need to invest in developing a solution and is free to search the market for providers that best meet its needs.
IoT plug and play is the trend for 2023
The variations in protocols that exist in the industry make it somewhat more conservative in adopting off-the-shelf IoT solutions. Introducing plug-and-play devices into the industry requires a platform compatible with various protocols, interfaces, and flexible communication with different software.
This interoperability capability qualified Bridgemeter, Above-Net , to modernize the M2M communication of a large sanitation company . The challenge was to enable different technologies to read the data and share it with the SCADA systems of four companies.
“We built a product based on observing market problems. It's not about thinking the market needs a solution and then trying to push it onto the public. We observe the intersection of problems in all our clients, then we devise a solution for that, because we know there will be high demand,” commented Marcelo Ramos, Vice President of Above-Net.
Bridgemeter is a modern and innovative cloud solution capable of connecting to any industrial sensor or equipment, enabling monitoring, data collection, programming of intelligent rules for problem prediction, and data analysis from remote locations.
The system can receive information from equipment, PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), digital or analog sensors, motors, trucks, and even light vehicles, as well as cameras, tablets, and smartphones with tracking capabilities, and generate real-time alarms quickly and accurately.
Above-Net's Industrial IoT platform is offered as a solution as a service (SaaS) with OPEX-based investment and zero CAPEX investment. With a small monthly fee per monitored point, it's possible to deploy a highly available and secure industrial solution without worrying about developing and integrating systems that deviate from your company's business model.
