Unpacking IoT Platform - back to the basics
Miss-use of “IoT Platform”
IoT Platform Logic
Before you invest in an IoT Platform, unpack it first, have a full understanding of what IoT Platform is, its functions, and how such a platform will support your business intent.
If,
the characteristics of IoT include intelligent data sources, data collection, connectivity for forwarding data and device interactions, processing of data (analytics, visualization, reporting), and decision making.
And
the technologies that support the realization of IoT include: connectivity, mobility, data management, cloud (data ingestion), analytics (pruning, analysis, stream analytics, machine learning and decision making), security, and interoperability.
Then
the intent of an IoT platform is to provide a bundle of common, compatible, extendible, and ready-to-use components (i.e., hardware, software, computing, and services) that solves a common set of challenges. As a result, promoting rapid roll out of scalable, available, reliable, stable, and secure IoT apps, products, solutions, and services.
IoT Platform Definition
Today, there are various IoT Platforms in the market. After a quick look analysis of the IoT Platform offerings, some are IoT solution vertical centric, some are IoT infrastructure specific; and some are proprietary cross verticals IoT solution platforms. Basically, the claims and offering differentiators are based on how the vendors are monetizing their IoT Platforms.
Assuming that you subscribe to the above IoT Platform logic, the specificity of what IoT Platform is and what it is being used for; then the definition an IoT Platform must be based on the following set of common enablers that will:
monitor, manage, and control connected devices/sensors;
secure connectivity between devices;
collect data from connected devices; and
allow developers to rapidly connect, build and deploy IoT solutions.
This implies that the realization of this definition is either through multiple IoT Platforms, or a holistic platform (a.k.a. platform of platforms).
IoT Solution and IoT Platform
If we look at the structure of IoT solution development, we can categorize the solution fabric into three broad groups; namely, device, data and action.
Now, where do we see applicability of platforms? When we overlay the IoT Platform possibilities on the IoT solution fabric; we get the results shown in the diagram below.
IoT Platform Landscape
Noting that an IoT Platform bundles common components to support the development of IoT solutions, the IoT Platform landscape in the diagram above shows five types of IoT platforms and additional insights provided below.
IoT Device Platform
The goal of an IoT Device Platform is to provide the common components for the creation, deployment and secure management of IoT devices. The common platform components include operating system, cloud services, tools and developer ecosystem. However, today, majority of the IoT device platforms are proprietary.
According to the Cisco Visual Networking Index™ (VNI), the global IP networks will support up to 10 billion new devices and connections, increasing from 16.3 billion in 2015 to 26.3 billion by 2020.
IoT Connectivity Platform
The intent of an IoT connectivity platform is to connect (i.e., connectivity pathways) devices, sensors, edge devices, etc. horizontally (i.e., device layer) and vertically (network elements - bridges, access points, etc.) into the Internet. In addition, the connectivity pathways are managed, monitored, secured and supported. The communications service providers are key players in this space.
From market sizing perspective, Machina Research estimates that the number of M2M connected devices will grow from 3.5 billion in 2013 to 22.2 billion by the end of 2023.
IoT Integration Platform
Inherent in any IoT solution is a high-level of integration (a.k.a. interoperability) - vertical and horizontal. As a result, the goal of an IoT Integration Platform is to provide a set of common integration capabilities that will facilitate the vertical and horizontal seamless interactions between solutions for a connected experience - device, data, and action.
The global IoT middleware market is expected to grow from USD 3.86 billion in 2015 to USD 11.58 billion by 2020.
IoT App Enablement Platform
In general, the IoT Application Enablement platform is what most vendors mean when they claim and offer IoT Platform. Its goal is to provide a set of common platform functionalities that will enable rapid development and deployment of IoT apps and solutions.
However, vendors generally extend their IoT App Enablement Platforms to include functionalities of connectivity and device platforms. For example, PTC’s IoT Application Enablement Platform consists of “connectivity & normalization, device management, database, processing & action management, analytics, visualization, additional tools, and external interfaces.”
According to the Research and Markets, IoT software revenue will reach $379B by 2021, and will account for 23% of total revenue. While, MGI estimated the potential economic impact of IoT applications at $3.9 trillion to $11.1 trillion a year by 2025.
IoT Platform of Platforms
The need for an IoT Platform with multiple common capabilities (a.k.a. platforms) such as connectivity management, device management, application enablement, etc. is clear for the support of IoT solutions. The goal therefore, is to advocate a holistic platform that involves device, data, network, application and interoperability layers of the IoT stack.
As for benefits to be derived from an IoT Platform of Platforms, they includes:
Bundling of functionalities such as connectivity and device management.
Lower cost of standardized components due to leveraging across multiple solutions/platforms.
Rapid development and deployment of IoT apps, etc.
Improving operations and lowering costs through predictive maintenance, by reducing business risk, or through factory automation, for example
Correct use of “IoT Platform”
After unpacking IoT Platform, we hope the readers are now aware that the correct use of IoT Platform should be with a qualifier such as “IoT Device Platform,” “IoT Connectivity Platform,” “IoT Integration Platform,” “IoT App Enablement Platform” or “IoT Platform of Platforms” to support the specific capabilities and to convey the true intent of messages being communicated.
Today, there is no one vendor, offering all the capabilities (i.e., device platform, connectivity platform, integration platform and IoT application enablement platform) of a holistic IoT Platform (a.k.a. Platform of Platforms). At best, which is what prevails in the market today, it is the forming of partnerships, alliances and collaborations to address gaps within each vendor’s IoT portfolios. Nonetheless, the IoT platform space is changing quickly and vendors are after the perfecting of the platform of platforms concept.