You’ve learned a bit about IoT platforms and have some ideas about how you can benefit from them. But going from idea to implementation is not an easy task, especially given that IoT systems will become increasingly complex and massive. Even a developer or veteran entrepreneur who already has extensive experience in this field can hardly realize the IoT vision alone.
1. What is the Platform of IoT?
Generally speaking, IoT platforms are tools for managing IoT systems. It is an important part of the IoT ecosystem.
Hardware, software, network, and user interface are four components of an IoT system. These four parts are connected into a manageable and interpretation system. The platform unifies the functions of data collection, device management, and communication. The app operates very smoothly.
Not only that, but the IoT platform also gives you a build framework so you don’t have to build an IoT system from scratch. It makes developing IoT systems faster, easier, and more practical.
To sum up, an IoT platform is a stepping stone to making your idea a reality.
2. What are IoT platforms examples?
01. Industrial manufacturing scene
Industrial manufacturing consists of people, goods, machines, workshops, and enterprises, covering design, research and development, production, management, service, and other links. In this process, the network system is responsible for the extensive and deep interconnection of the whole industrial chain; As a connection hub, the platform system is responsible for data summary, processing, and analysis; The application system is the key to the sustainable operation of the platform, and also the key to building a complete industrial chain ecology.
02. Smart Life scenario
Smart life refers to a very wide range of scenarios. Compared with the industrial manufacturing mentioned above, which belongs to the production scene, the smart home, smart real estate, smart community, and other applications can be summarized in the field of smart life. It is known from the survey that the application of the Internet of Things platform in the scenario of smart life is mainly divided into two stages:
The first is the IoT equipment stage. A lot of the early companies around the intelligent hardware have done a lot of investments, while from the aspect of commercial intelligent household industry did not as successful as expected at the time, and even a lot of enterprise transformation or death within three years, the left company have taken the opportunity to get through the ability to access from the underlying hardware to the clouds. They have accumulated rich customer resources during this period.
The second is the data operation stage. Device objects in the field of smart life are much simpler than industrial manufacturing. Whether the family home appliances/smart lighting/smart sheet or the entrance guard in the community/camera/parking brake/security system, platform enterprise believe the field content problem has been solved, at least item intelligence and imagination have been intelligent linkage. The next stage is to connect the devices and systems and think about how to provide customers and operators with the best smart service.
3. What are 5 types of IoT Platforms?
There IoT platforms are basically divided into five types:
01. Network connection platform
The main responsibility of the network connection platform is to ensure the stability of the terminal network channel and to provide users with software and data support needed to keep the device online. The operation of the network link platform usually uses WIFI or the service network of the operator.
02. Equipment management platform
The device management platform is mainly responsible for remote monitoring, setting and upgrading, and troubleshooting IoT terminals. It focuses on the heavy work related to IoT devices. The platform can provide real-time application status and give monitoring alarm feedback. It ensures all devices are connected and secure and improve customer service satisfaction. The IoT platform is responsible for the daily work of your devices and all device-related data collected by the platform can be stored in the cloud.
03. Cloud platform
Cloud platforms provide IoT infrastructure for the users. They are the hub where all back-end processes and data live and run. Cloud platforms are famous for their scalability. Even though you just have a small enterprise cloud platforms can grow with you and your IoT systems.
04. Application support platform
The app provides everything the platform needs. They provide you with the equipment, software, development, and deployment you need for your IoT system. They are a one-stop shop for implementing systems, saving you from having to manage developers, network configuration, and hardware engineering yourself.
The application support platform architecture is based on the CMP platform. They are one-stop services for realizing the Internet of Things system, such as terminal management, connection management, etc., reducing the cost of development.
05. Advanced analysis platform
An advanced analytics platform is a form of PaaS, a data-driven IoT platform. It can also provide SaaS solutions for sophisticated analysis tools that can interpret and process collected data to extract actionable scenarios from IoT data.
4. The most popular IoT platform List
01. Google Cloud Internet of Things Platform
Google is the leading cloud provider and is growing extremely fast. Its main focus is computing infrastructure and modern analytical applications. By extending its data management capabilities into the areas of data pipelining automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Google has laid a very strong foundation for its Internet of Things platform called Google Cloud IoT platform.
02. PTCThing Worx
PTC launched the ThingWorx platform based on its accumulated experience in the field of industrial software, and its positioning is to provide industrial SaaS operators with modern rapid application development tools and service operation capabilities.
The platform is born for Industry and IoT, existing for digitalization.
The ThingWorx® Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform is recognized as the IIoT platform of choice for industrial companies worldwide. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connects industrial equipment, industrial participants, products, and processes to power digital transformation, using IIoT platforms to connect, monitor, analyze and manipulate data in new ways. It’s easy to get the most value out of your data for a successful digital transformation.
03. Deutsche Telekom
They are experts in the Internet of Things, especially mobile Internet of Things. Deutsche Telekom is now the largest Telecom operator in Europe and an expert in the field of mobile Internet of Things. They also provide complete solutions for narrowband IoT with numerous applications.
04. Cisco IoT Platform and Edge Intelligence
Cisco, as a global pioneer in networking, connectivity, and device security, has jointly partnered with IBM company, aiming to provide enterprises with real-time Internet of Things (IoT) insights at the network edge.
05. Microsoft Azure Internet of Things Platform
Regardless of the size of your industry or organization, or whether you work with a partner or independently, AzureIoT has all the equipment, tools, data analytics, and security capabilities needed to achieve IoT goals.
06. RadixIoT Platform
RadixIoT may be a newcomer, but it will be closely watched in 2021. Built on the synergy of the MangoIoT platform and the BitBoxUSAIoT platform, it is billed as “extremely simple”, a turnkey software and hardware solution that eliminates the need for complex IoT development. RadixIoT also features a range of IoT gateways to address both small and large IoT applications.
07. General Predix
GEPredix provides a complete solution for data monitoring and management. It is unique in its understanding of manufacturing operations, providing centralized visibility, enhanced analysis, and analysis capabilities for monitoring, exception handling, and decision-making in a single platform.
5. How to choose the right IoT platform?
While IoT platforms are diverse and very different from each other, there are some common points to consider when choosing the best IoT platform.
First, it’s important to understand whether your application is industrial (like oil and gas, manufacturing, or asset management) or consumer (like smart homes or wearable products).
The industrial IoT platform and consumer Internet of Things platform have different needs, so there are significant differences. For the IIoT platform, the failure of the system will cost a lot of money, which may involve millions of dollars and even cost lives. In the case of consumer IoT platforms, a failure may simply inconvenience the end user.
Different applications have different platform requirements, even if they are industrial or consumer. While IoT applications vary widely, some common points should be considered when choosing the best IoT platform. The picture Important things to consider when choosing the best IoT platform:
Firstly, you should consider the stability of the platform. With so many IoT platforms offering services on the market, some are likely to fail. It’s important to choose platforms that have been around for years, or your investment will be lost if the platform provider fails.
Secondly, the flexibility of the platform should be taken into consideration. Your needs will change over time, so make sure you can use the platform when you’re starting small and when you’re growing quickly and getting bigger.
Thirdly, how platform providers handle security issues is important. Security is crucial to any IoT system, and the IoT platform must ensure that every aspect is safe and correct.
When you ask about platform security, please pay close attention to cloud network security devices, user applications of wireless network security, cloud security, equipment safety, including the authentication and the latest certificate), application authentication, data encryption, data protection, storage, transportation, and cloud), session starts, and update the specific plan, including through OTA.
Fourth, data analysis capability is an important criterion for choosing IoT platforms. Data provides recommendations for operations or simple daily activities to improve efficiency or experience.
