What is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?

IIoT, which stands for "Industrial Internet of Things", consists of machines connected to the internet and advanced analytical platforms to process the data they produce. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a term that refers to the use of sensors in manufacturing and other industries. The data generated by these sensors is analyzed to make better business decisions. This can lead to better customer service, increased efficiency, reduced costs and more.

IIoT represents Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution today. It integrates smart devices, advanced data systems, physical and human networks. It is a network of smart devices with its own computing capability that connects to create systems that collect, monitor, modify and analyze data at an industrial level.

There are many types of IIoT devices, from small environmental sensors to complex industrial robots. The benefits of IIoT are versatile and have multiple applications in many industries. The focus of IIoT is mainly on industrial applications such as manufacturing, power plants, agriculture, oil, and gas. Connected companies can see reduced downtime and maintenance costs, increased productivity of production, better workplace safety, and a better understanding of their own business processes.

What is the Difference Between IoT and IIoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is often referred to as "smart" objects. Anything that integrates data and connects the physical world to the digital world, from cars to appliances to fashion and the internet, is considered a smart object.

The IoT and IIoT concepts have the same usability and are key features of smart devices and connected devices. The difference between the two is in their general uses. The Internet of Things is most used for consumers. IIoT is used for industrial purposes such as supply chain monitoring, production, and management systems.

How an IoT System Actually Works?

Smartphones play a big role in IoT. Because many IoT devices can be controlled through the application in a smartphone. For example, you can set the best temperature for you through the application. Another plus? This means you can eliminate unnecessary heating or cooling while you are away. This potentially saves you energy costs.

IoT devices include sensors and mini-computer processors that act on data collected by sensors through machine learning. In fact, IoT devices are minicomputers connected to the internet.

Machine learning is when computers learn in a similar way to humans (by collecting data from their environment). It is the process that makes IoT devices smart. This data helps the machine learn your preferences and adjust accordingly. Machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn without the need for human programming.

What are the Benefits of IIoT?

IIoT is about more than just connecting machines to the internet — it's about connecting machines to each other, so they can share data in real time, across organizations, industries, and even continents. This allows companies to monitor their manufacturing processes more closely than ever before, as well as look for ways to improve them.

How are businesses benefit from IIoT now? The IIoT is already being used by companies in almost every industry, from agriculture to manufacturing. It can be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs and provide more reliable data.

The IIoT has many uses:

• It can improve productivity by monitoring equipment so that maintenance can be scheduled before equipment fails or malfunctions.
• It can make production lines more efficient by reducing waste and improving quality control. It can also help companies manage inventories more effectively by using real-time inventory tracking systems that alert staff when products need reordering or replacement parts need replacing.
• IIoT enables the seamless integration of all your devices into one network, so you can capture data from every source, track assets across the lifecycle and access data from anywhere.

Here are the IIoT solutions available:

• With IIoT solutions, you can extend the production run time and reduce risks.
• You can collect and analyze data from people.
• You can connect multiple protocols and equipment, combine, and optimize data streams.
• You can protect devices and data. You can apply stringent security standards to monitor malicious behavior.
• For digital transformation, discover how to optimize industrial operations, improve workspaces, and connect devices in various fields with IIoT solutions.

Examples of IIoT Technologies and Concepts

Digital Twins: For example, the practice of creating a computer model of an object or a process, such as the weather, can be shown. By examining the behavior of the twin, it is possible to understand the behavior of its real-world counterpart and address issues before they arise.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD): Sensors that monitor the speed and driving time of the car, helping to save fuel and increase driving safety are examples. It warns in case of dangerous maneuvers of the driver or when driving for a long time.

Intelligent Edge: Where data is generated, analyzed, interpreted, and addressed. Thanks to the use of smart tips, the analysis is done faster and the data is prevented from falling into a dangerous situation.

Predictive Maintenance: Systems with machines that collect, analyze and store data in databases can be given as an example. Thanks to this, the events that occur are matched with the data in the database. Unnecessary maintenance is eliminated and the probability of failure is minimized.

What is the future of IoT?

When the Internet of Things becomes widespread, digital culture will evolve and transform. Technologies that make life easier will be in all areas of our lives. So, what awaits us in the future?

The health sector will develop.

Applications that monitor health performance, smart wristbands, and interconnected personal objects will create new health models in the future. Thanks to smart services that inform nurses about patients, the workforce of nurses will be reduced. Surgical robots that work thanks to IoT sensors will be able to perform flawless surgeries.

Factories that do not need light.

Manufacturers will adapt to IIoT. With the widespread use of IIoT, an environment that will replace manpower will be provided. 24/7 production will be available, and no one will be involved in the production, except employees who control the systems. For this reason, there will be factories where they do not need light. These will be called dark factories.

Traffic accidents will be greatly reduced.

IoT-based driverless autonomous vehicles and traffic management systems will reduce traffic accidents caused by humans.

Renewable energy will grow.

It will be possible to monitor and analyze the performance of energy-consuming devices. Storage, which is the main component of renewable energy systems, can be made low-cost thanks to IoT. There will be smart grid systems.

Agriculture will get smarter.

Thanks to the internet of things, pollution levels and soil moisture can be analyzed in seas, fields. In this way, measures can be taken for environmental pollution. IoT will usher in the smart farming age. Potential conditions of the crop can be monitored in real-time by using smart devices in farming.