IoT Platform Overview: Key Components, Features, and Applications
IoT Platform
IoT or the Internet of Things is a network of tangible items that are connected to the internet and can be accessed remotely and controlled at any time from any location. IoT is a software platform that braces the access point, data network, and hardware together to the end-user application.
Key Components of the IoT platform
The key components of the IoT platform include;
- Hardware – it is the microcontroller with wireless connectivity which is responsible for running and withholding any application.
- Hub level – the software that acts as a communication bridge between IP-connected cloud and IP non-connected cloud.
- Cloud hub level – it is the part from where the data is sent from devices, to be formatted for output. It allows removing software updates and to control devices remotely.
Features of the IoT Platform
IoT platforms facilitate the purpose of connecting, communicating, and controlling various things. An effective IoT platform acts as a link between machines, applications, devices, and people thus maintains interconnectivity.
Every IoT platform operates in the same way. There is such a wide range of capabilities and features available on the platform based on the unique goals of organizations and unique users. Some of the main features are;
- Safety:
IoT platforms, these days, come with in-built security features. They offer privacy and identity management by providing end-to-end security mechanisms across networks, devices, and cloud services. Data integrity, additional protection for certain proprietary data types, privacy protection, authentication, encryption, and identity are all part of the security wing of an IoT platform and can function at different levels.
- Connectivity:
Connectivity is an integral part of any IoT system. At a basic level, an IoT platform is easy or uncomplicated as a software infrastructure that facilitates and oversees connectivity between physical world objects. Solid connectivity management ensures the security of various IoT devices and administration of effortless integration of multi-protocol, multi-network connections even in this complex environment of connectivity.
In addition, each IoT platform has a connectivity layer that ensures different services. These include data collection, monitoring, control, and asset management.
- Horizontal management:
Mostly, enterprises and municipalities work with multiple agencies, all of which work in seclusion and concentrate only on their requirements. Each vertical can create its custom solution by creating a segmented and inefficient model for operation and development. A horizontal management IoT platform lets an organization incorporate connectivity data collection, analysis, business application development, and service management.
- Real-time Analytics:
When the Internet of Things platform displays real-time analytics, and when it flows through the system, it visualizes and contextualizes the data. It allows an organization to keep an eye on its devices, understand performance, usage patterns, and also identify privacy issues and unsafe situations in advance along with availability.
In short, real-time analytics manages devices and ensures security and performance as resourcefully as possible.
Real-World IoT Applications
- IoT Applications – Wearables
Wearable technology is a trademark of IoT applications and one of the initial industries to have set up the IoT at its service. Heart rate monitors, Fitbits, and smartwatches are commonly used examples.
- IoT Applications – Smart Home
Implementation of IoT in the home resulted in the idea of ‘Smart Homes’. The best examples are Jarvis; a smart home with innovative features introduced by Mark Zuckerberg and Allen Pan’s Home Automation System where the house function on a string of musical notes.
- IoT Applications – Health Care
IoT applications can transform reactive medical-based systems into wellness-based systems. The sources used in current medical research do not have conclusive real-world information. It mostly uses survivor data, restricted environments, and volunteers for medical testing. It provides access to important data through analysis, real-time field data, and testing.
- IoT Applications – Smart Cities
The concept of a Smart City is different for each city and the application of IoT affects each city differently. It can help the government and engineers to analyze complex factors of each city such as town planning, waste control, water management, parking management, and emergencies. The best example is the Smart City Palo Alto, which has sensors installed at the parking ground to guide the drivers.
- IoT Applications – Agriculture
With the growing population, it is necessary to merge agriculture with technology to obtain the best results. There are possibilities such as Smart Greenhouse where farming Greenhouse farming method increases crop yield by regulating environmental parameters and more. Not only does this make it easier to monitor greenhouses with embedded devices, but it also allows to regulate the climate inside.
- IoT Applications – Industrial Automation
With IoT applications, products and their packaging can be re-engineered to deliver better performance when it comes to cost and customer satisfaction. IoT has the capabilities to bring about great changes with the right solutions for all the following areas.
- Digitalization of Factory.
- Monitoring Product flow.
- Managing Inventory.
- Safety and Security.
- Quality Controlling.
- Optimizing packages.
- Optimization of supply chain and logistics.
Choosing the right IoT platform
Choosing the right IoT platforms can be overwhelming as there are a lot of choices and vendors at every layer of the IoT Technology Stack.
When selecting an IoT platform, one should not just consider technical capabilities but look beyond them. One needs to have an eye on technical, business, and operational capabilities as a combination as they align with company strategies and where one stands in their product adoption lifecycle.
For Instance, if you are at the start of your journey, you should pay more attention to IoT platforms that can build and test prototypes very quickly. You should not worry about scalability, cost, and features at this stage. Moving up the ladder you should gather the rest of the factors to focus on like the market fit and scale.
5 crucial areas to consider while choosing the right IoT platform:
- Trustworthy company: It’s very important to evaluate the company’s reputation, stability, financials, and track record before taking the leap.
- Large ecosystem: Many leading IoT platform providers have a strong partner ecosystem as they commonly don’t do hardware in-house.
- Access: Always choose a provider that gives you admission to the maximum of the functionality.
- Vendor: Select a vendor that has expertise in your industry. Having the best solution to handle your data and analytics is an advantage. Some Vendors also assist with techniques in complying with industry regulations.
- Robust onboarding: Always pick companies that have a strong solutions department that can coach your team, and give you a clear understanding during the POC (proof of concept).
Benefits of an IoT platform
The IoT platform is the heart of smart devices. Listed below are reasons why one needs to use an IoT platform.
- It helps to validate a business case much earlier
The primary goal of your project is to validate your business case and present it to your partners. Business case verification should be done as soon as possible – before initiating intensive engineering efforts.
Many IoT platforms allow you to quickly build proof-of-concept prototypes in weeks. Having prototypes in the target user’s hand allows you to quickly verify a business case and take advantage of customer feedback quickly.
- It helps you get to the market quickly
Once the validation is completed, it is a goal for any product to hit the market as soon as possible. Customers are always excited to get their hands on the product and your competition will always be equally closer.
- It consists of existing software, tools, and materials
Existing materials reduce time on development and also help in selling the project to your customers. Customizing existing materials to fit the requirement is way faster than developing it from the start.
For instance:
- Training materials required for installers.
- Already made marketing videos or material.
- FAQs with answers for customers.
- It helps skipping rabbit holes: certifications, security, compliance
Certain features are essential requirements such as security, certifications, and governing agreements but they do not provide much recognizable business value. Security requires ongoing updating of software versions and awareness of the current security. Certifications and regulatory conformance are essential to the system at both the wireless and hardware levels.
IoT platform Vendors can assist you in arranging documentation works and filling up the required catalog for internal approval.
- It offers vital features for your project
It’s obvious for an IoT platform to have unique features and a couple of common features.
IoT platform includes the following features:
- Low-power operation.
- Long distance, unattended networking.
- Ease of installation.
- Integration with third-party software.
- Device management.
- User management.
- Software updates.
- Push notifications or email alerts.
- It reduces costs and risks
IoT projects are naturally risky but they can considerably lessen the risk and cost of the project as the IoT platform vendor can absorb the technical risk.
Wrap Up
To wrap up, IoT is advancing and is continuously building its networks over time. By merging hardware and software to the internet, IoT is building a smarter world. It has been offering a multitude of opportunities for business and government. It’s time to start seeing the real possibilities of this technology.
Author Bio
Mubarak Musthafa
Vice President of Technology & Services at ClaySys Technologies.
