From the Field: Connected Utility Industry Tackles Transformational Technologies

I’m thrilled to be sharing my thoughts for the first time here on Intel’s Grid Insight’s blog. In my role as an energy solutions architect at Intel I have an opportunity to speak with everyone from OEMs and ODMs to systems integrators and utility workers. By listening to a wide variety of perspectives I’m able to see industry trends as they begin to emerge, revealing pathways to innovative utility solutions using Intel technologies.

Spotlight

Sparta Digital

Sparta Digital are a solutions provider for organisations looking to increase user engagement in an IoT connected world. We specialise in augmented reality, smart city solutions, data analysis and more.

OTHER ARTICLES
IoT Security

The IoT Smarthome Battlefield: A Jointly Endorsed IoT Standard for the Home Area Network

Article | June 28, 2023

Google announced that together with Amazon and Apple (the big 3 smart home players) they will work on the adoption of a joint wireless IoT standard for the smart home. This new connectivity standard is designed to make it easier for smart home products to work with each other.In the statement, Google said they were “joining Amazon, Apple and others to create Connected Home over IP, a new independent working group managed by the Zigbee Alliance (separate from the existing Zigbee 3.0/Pro protocol). We’re contributing two of our market-tested and open-source smart home technologies, Weave and Thread. Both are built on IP and have been integrated into millions of homes around the world.”

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IoT Security

Smart Home Technologies: Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and Dotdot

Article | October 11, 2023

If you own smart home products like SmartThings or Nest, you may be familiar with some of the technologies behind them. Network protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave dominate the industry, while Thread, a younger network standard, is gaining headway as a strong contender in the battle for market share. Although this may seem like your typical rivalry between industry leaders, the competitive landscape is more complicated than selecting one over another.

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Security, IoT Security

12 Industrial IoT Companies You Should Know

Article | July 13, 2023

As the industrial IoT market continues to expand at rapid rates, companies across the world are reaping the benefits. Utilizing this growing network of tools and systems, businesses have been able to prevent costly downtime, decrease product development costs, enhance customer engagement and satisfaction and acquire and implement intelligent data for strategic planning purposes.The potential benefits are seemingly endless, and the list of organizations that are embracing this industrial revolution is continuing to grow, so let’s highlight some of the main IIoT companies you need to know for a number of the most common IIoT use cases.

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Who should lead the push for IoT security?

Article | February 10, 2020

The ease with which internet of things devices can be compromised, coupled with the potentially extreme consequences of breaches, have prompted action from legislatures and regulators, but what group is best to decide? Both the makers of IoT devices and governments are aware of the security issues, but so far they haven’t come up with standardized ways to address them. The challenge of this market is that it’s moving so fast that no regulation is going to be able to keep pace with the devices that are being connected,” said Forrester vice president and research director Merritt Maxim. “Regulations that are definitive are easy to enforce and helpful, but they’ll quickly become outdated.”The latest such effort by a governmental body is a proposed regulation in the U.K. that would impose three major mandates on IoT device manufacturers that would address key security concerns.

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Spotlight

Sparta Digital

Sparta Digital are a solutions provider for organisations looking to increase user engagement in an IoT connected world. We specialise in augmented reality, smart city solutions, data analysis and more.

Related News

Enterprise Iot, Infrastructure, Platforms

Emnify Announces First, Cloud-Native IoT Connectivity in Brazil

Businesswire | August 14, 2023

emnify, the industry-leading, cloud IoT connectivity provider, is excited to announce the first dedicated, cloud-native, IoT connectivity in Brazil, in a direct partnership with Claro Brasil. The addition of Brazil to the emnify IoT SuperNetwork advances the company’s mission to provide a single, globally distributed, cloud-native IoT network to reduce the complexity of IoT connectivity while creating new opportunities for growth for IoT businesses everywhere. This most recent expansion of the SuperNetwork marks a significant milestone in emnify’s commitment to unlocking challenging markets while maintaining consistent capabilities against a highly fragmented coverage and regulatory landscape. emnify’s success in Brazil demonstrates the agility of the company’s cloud-native approach to rapidly innovate to help IoT businesses take advantage of new opportunities and work together to achieve successful IoT business outcomes. As an AWS Advanced Technology Partner, emnify will be the first to enable a complete, native, AWS IoT cloud stack, including connectivity, in Brazil. Now, local customers can benefit from a native integration of SuperNetwork connectivity into the leading global IoT application stack of AWS. Innovating to unlock IoT opportunity According to Transforma Insights, cellular-based IoT connections in Brazil are forecast to grow from 29 million at the end of 2022 to 69 million at the end of 2027, a CAGR of 19.1%. “Brazil is the most prominent example of a country where strict roaming regulations have proven to be a challenge for IoT businesses looking to capture the opportunity in the market,” said Matt Hatton, Founding Partner at Transforma Insights. “Enterprises looking for consistency in managing global IoT deployments require a solution that specifically addresses the demands of the Brazilian market, such as emnify’s IoT-specific network access allied with its own cloud-native mobile core network.” "We are proud to be the first cloud-native IoT connectivity provider to add Brazil to the growing list of countries where we currently offer coverage, delivering on the promise of the SuperNetwork," said Frank Stoecker, CEO of emnify. "Wherever you deploy IoT devices, the SuperNetwork provides a consistent and complete set of superior capabilities including connectivity management, cross-network insights, device and data security and a complete set of APIs, creating new levels of scalability and reducing operational friction.” About emnify emnify is the leading cloud building block for cellular communications in the IoT stack, connecting millions of IoT devices globally – from electric vehicles to energy meters, alarm systems to GPS trackers, thermometers to health wearables. The emnify API and SIM technology connect and secure any kind of IoT deployment to its application back-end. emnify’s cloud-native integrations and no-code workflows ensure seamless lifecycle scalability for deployments of all sizes – from local start-up to global enterprise. The award-winning emnify IoT SuperNetwork is the largest globally distributed mobile cloud core network of its kind, supporting local network access (2G – 5G, LTE-M, NB-IoT and soon satellite) in over 180 countries from more than 25 cloud regions – and counting. emnify’s solution is built on partnerships with the leading hyperscale cloud service providers, system integrators, and hundreds of radio network operators worldwide.

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Software and Tools

Hanshow Elevates Retail Digitalization with Its New IoT Platform

Hanshow | June 03, 2022

European merchants were among the first in the world to use electronic shelf labels (ESLs) to cut costs and lay the groundwork for retail digitization. The new IoT platform All-Star is being released and introduced by digital solutions provider Hanshow (EuroCIS booth - 9 D13) at this week's EuroCIS 2022 trade show, ready to drive Europe's brick-and-mortar retail into a new era of efficiency and profitability. Hanshow has been a significant driver of this transition since entering the European market in 2016, with approximately 100 million ESLs installed across the continent. Hanshow is showcasing a variety of new solutions at EuroCIS 2022, ranging from AI-powered shelf monitoring to self-checkout trolleys and in-store marketing, and is continually evolving the smart shops of the future. The IoT platform All-Star, which focuses on the retail industry and is built expressly to assist merchants extend and update their digitalization, is one of the latest innovations showcased by Hanshow at EuroCIS. All-Star provides one-stop IoT solutions ranging from IoT device management to digital operations upgrades, empowering retail customers to quickly establish IoT equipment management capabilities and be able to flexibly build business applications and integrate customized business connections to boost operation efficiency of smart stores further and elevate customer in-store experience. The AllStar platform serves as an integrated system for managing a store's full digital devices, with SaaS and private deployment options that offer unified user authentication and third-party application access integration via an open API based on HTTP. As a result, one of its key product innovations is to address the new challenges posed by the growing number of IoT devices, all of which operate on different networks and communicate using different transmission signals, as a single store may require a number of different login systems, each requiring operations personnel who are trained in each. As a result, each retail solution management platform can now be accessed through All-Star for a holistic integration of all essential business operation activities, making device maintenance substantially easier. "Hanshow has developed All-Star and the rest of its solutions specifically with global retailers in mind to achieve a more holistic form of digitalization. These new solutions, software, and transmission technologies all combine to help retailers in Europe move into an exciting new era of digitalization. This unlocks great new opportunities. We're just seeing the beginning of what's possible," Shiguo Hou In addition to the All-Star system, Hanshow has created an industry-first communications protocol that employs a single transmission frequency to communicate with all Hanshow IoT devices, reducing the number of signal frequencies required previously.

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Software and Tools

Knorr-Bremse is Nexxiot's new client and strategic investor

Nexxiot | June 01, 2022

Nexxiot, the global TradeTech pioneer, welcomed Knorr-Bremse as a new customer and strategic investor. Knorr-Bremse is the global market leader for brake systems and other rail and commercial vehicle systems. Knorr-Bremse and its North American subsidiaries New York Air Brake and Knorr Brake Company will integrate Nexxiot's IoT hardware and software into future rail products and systems, proactively driving digital connectivity into its vast railroad customer base, in a major deal that will shape the future of rail transportation. Knorr-customers Bremse's will benefit from higher vehicle availability, optimized lifetime costs, and greater operational efficiency by linking their rail brakes, doors, HVAC, sanitary, and other systems to Nexxiot's digital environment. The company will also solidify its position as one of the most innovative rail providers, providing clients with appealing new insights and digital services. Knorr-Bremse joins Nexxiot as a strategic minority investor. Existing shareholders and the leading investment management firm QVIDTVM, directed by Burak Alici, have increased their holdings. "As a core element in our strategy, we're using digitalization to leverage our already strong position in safety- and mission-critical rail vehicle systems, and to generate further growth and strong profitability. Together with Nexxiot's dedicated team, we're now pressing ahead with our ambition to add further value for our customers. By combining our systems technology with Nexxiot's digital ecosystem, we're creating a win-win scenario that will boost vehicle availability and lower the total cost of fleet ownership by leveraging a new generation of data-based services," explains Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division. "This partnership with Knorr-Bremse, a leading supplier of rail vehicle systems, will help us build the best products and services for the industry. Together, we aim to accelerate the digitalization of key areas like rail freight and automation services. At the same time, we'll also be able to speed up our own expansion in the rail industry and continue our strong growth, Specifically, our sensors and scalable cloud-based platform help turn rolling stock assets into connected, data-generating industrial objects. Leveraging rail data in real-time will be a key success factor in helping make rail and rail services fit for the future." Stefan Kalmund, CEO of Nexxiot The Nexxiot Globehopper LINK gadget, which checks the status of some of the most critical sections of a railcar, such as doors and brakes, and sends the data to the cloud, will be deployed by Knorr-Bremse. Nexxiot uses unique algorithms and Big Data analytics to transform this data into new business information and data-driven services for all stakeholders in the value chain. This Internet of Things technology will enable operators to automate important business processes and get a wealth of new insights, resulting in a significant increase in efficiency, sustainability, customer service, and profitability. Train parts that haven't been monitored in real time are now visible and accessible digitally.

Read More

Enterprise Iot, Infrastructure, Platforms

Emnify Announces First, Cloud-Native IoT Connectivity in Brazil

Businesswire | August 14, 2023

emnify, the industry-leading, cloud IoT connectivity provider, is excited to announce the first dedicated, cloud-native, IoT connectivity in Brazil, in a direct partnership with Claro Brasil. The addition of Brazil to the emnify IoT SuperNetwork advances the company’s mission to provide a single, globally distributed, cloud-native IoT network to reduce the complexity of IoT connectivity while creating new opportunities for growth for IoT businesses everywhere. This most recent expansion of the SuperNetwork marks a significant milestone in emnify’s commitment to unlocking challenging markets while maintaining consistent capabilities against a highly fragmented coverage and regulatory landscape. emnify’s success in Brazil demonstrates the agility of the company’s cloud-native approach to rapidly innovate to help IoT businesses take advantage of new opportunities and work together to achieve successful IoT business outcomes. As an AWS Advanced Technology Partner, emnify will be the first to enable a complete, native, AWS IoT cloud stack, including connectivity, in Brazil. Now, local customers can benefit from a native integration of SuperNetwork connectivity into the leading global IoT application stack of AWS. Innovating to unlock IoT opportunity According to Transforma Insights, cellular-based IoT connections in Brazil are forecast to grow from 29 million at the end of 2022 to 69 million at the end of 2027, a CAGR of 19.1%. “Brazil is the most prominent example of a country where strict roaming regulations have proven to be a challenge for IoT businesses looking to capture the opportunity in the market,” said Matt Hatton, Founding Partner at Transforma Insights. “Enterprises looking for consistency in managing global IoT deployments require a solution that specifically addresses the demands of the Brazilian market, such as emnify’s IoT-specific network access allied with its own cloud-native mobile core network.” "We are proud to be the first cloud-native IoT connectivity provider to add Brazil to the growing list of countries where we currently offer coverage, delivering on the promise of the SuperNetwork," said Frank Stoecker, CEO of emnify. "Wherever you deploy IoT devices, the SuperNetwork provides a consistent and complete set of superior capabilities including connectivity management, cross-network insights, device and data security and a complete set of APIs, creating new levels of scalability and reducing operational friction.” About emnify emnify is the leading cloud building block for cellular communications in the IoT stack, connecting millions of IoT devices globally – from electric vehicles to energy meters, alarm systems to GPS trackers, thermometers to health wearables. The emnify API and SIM technology connect and secure any kind of IoT deployment to its application back-end. emnify’s cloud-native integrations and no-code workflows ensure seamless lifecycle scalability for deployments of all sizes – from local start-up to global enterprise. The award-winning emnify IoT SuperNetwork is the largest globally distributed mobile cloud core network of its kind, supporting local network access (2G – 5G, LTE-M, NB-IoT and soon satellite) in over 180 countries from more than 25 cloud regions – and counting. emnify’s solution is built on partnerships with the leading hyperscale cloud service providers, system integrators, and hundreds of radio network operators worldwide.

Read More

Software and Tools

Hanshow Elevates Retail Digitalization with Its New IoT Platform

Hanshow | June 03, 2022

European merchants were among the first in the world to use electronic shelf labels (ESLs) to cut costs and lay the groundwork for retail digitization. The new IoT platform All-Star is being released and introduced by digital solutions provider Hanshow (EuroCIS booth - 9 D13) at this week's EuroCIS 2022 trade show, ready to drive Europe's brick-and-mortar retail into a new era of efficiency and profitability. Hanshow has been a significant driver of this transition since entering the European market in 2016, with approximately 100 million ESLs installed across the continent. Hanshow is showcasing a variety of new solutions at EuroCIS 2022, ranging from AI-powered shelf monitoring to self-checkout trolleys and in-store marketing, and is continually evolving the smart shops of the future. The IoT platform All-Star, which focuses on the retail industry and is built expressly to assist merchants extend and update their digitalization, is one of the latest innovations showcased by Hanshow at EuroCIS. All-Star provides one-stop IoT solutions ranging from IoT device management to digital operations upgrades, empowering retail customers to quickly establish IoT equipment management capabilities and be able to flexibly build business applications and integrate customized business connections to boost operation efficiency of smart stores further and elevate customer in-store experience. The AllStar platform serves as an integrated system for managing a store's full digital devices, with SaaS and private deployment options that offer unified user authentication and third-party application access integration via an open API based on HTTP. As a result, one of its key product innovations is to address the new challenges posed by the growing number of IoT devices, all of which operate on different networks and communicate using different transmission signals, as a single store may require a number of different login systems, each requiring operations personnel who are trained in each. As a result, each retail solution management platform can now be accessed through All-Star for a holistic integration of all essential business operation activities, making device maintenance substantially easier. "Hanshow has developed All-Star and the rest of its solutions specifically with global retailers in mind to achieve a more holistic form of digitalization. These new solutions, software, and transmission technologies all combine to help retailers in Europe move into an exciting new era of digitalization. This unlocks great new opportunities. We're just seeing the beginning of what's possible," Shiguo Hou In addition to the All-Star system, Hanshow has created an industry-first communications protocol that employs a single transmission frequency to communicate with all Hanshow IoT devices, reducing the number of signal frequencies required previously.

Read More

Software and Tools

Knorr-Bremse is Nexxiot's new client and strategic investor

Nexxiot | June 01, 2022

Nexxiot, the global TradeTech pioneer, welcomed Knorr-Bremse as a new customer and strategic investor. Knorr-Bremse is the global market leader for brake systems and other rail and commercial vehicle systems. Knorr-Bremse and its North American subsidiaries New York Air Brake and Knorr Brake Company will integrate Nexxiot's IoT hardware and software into future rail products and systems, proactively driving digital connectivity into its vast railroad customer base, in a major deal that will shape the future of rail transportation. Knorr-customers Bremse's will benefit from higher vehicle availability, optimized lifetime costs, and greater operational efficiency by linking their rail brakes, doors, HVAC, sanitary, and other systems to Nexxiot's digital environment. The company will also solidify its position as one of the most innovative rail providers, providing clients with appealing new insights and digital services. Knorr-Bremse joins Nexxiot as a strategic minority investor. Existing shareholders and the leading investment management firm QVIDTVM, directed by Burak Alici, have increased their holdings. "As a core element in our strategy, we're using digitalization to leverage our already strong position in safety- and mission-critical rail vehicle systems, and to generate further growth and strong profitability. Together with Nexxiot's dedicated team, we're now pressing ahead with our ambition to add further value for our customers. By combining our systems technology with Nexxiot's digital ecosystem, we're creating a win-win scenario that will boost vehicle availability and lower the total cost of fleet ownership by leveraging a new generation of data-based services," explains Dr. Jürgen Wilder, Member of the Executive Board of Knorr-Bremse AG and responsible for the Rail Vehicle Systems division. "This partnership with Knorr-Bremse, a leading supplier of rail vehicle systems, will help us build the best products and services for the industry. Together, we aim to accelerate the digitalization of key areas like rail freight and automation services. At the same time, we'll also be able to speed up our own expansion in the rail industry and continue our strong growth, Specifically, our sensors and scalable cloud-based platform help turn rolling stock assets into connected, data-generating industrial objects. Leveraging rail data in real-time will be a key success factor in helping make rail and rail services fit for the future." Stefan Kalmund, CEO of Nexxiot The Nexxiot Globehopper LINK gadget, which checks the status of some of the most critical sections of a railcar, such as doors and brakes, and sends the data to the cloud, will be deployed by Knorr-Bremse. Nexxiot uses unique algorithms and Big Data analytics to transform this data into new business information and data-driven services for all stakeholders in the value chain. This Internet of Things technology will enable operators to automate important business processes and get a wealth of new insights, resulting in a significant increase in efficiency, sustainability, customer service, and profitability. Train parts that haven't been monitored in real time are now visible and accessible digitally.

Read More

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