The potential of the IIoT lies in its ability to link automation systems with enterprise planning, scheduling and product lifecycle systems. This article analyses how this can be implemented across the complete enterprise value chain in order to enable greater business control.

OEMs and machine builders require a secure, easy-to-use, and scalable remote access solution for machines deployed in the field. Traditional VPN and RDC solutions are cumbersome, but new solutions backed by a cloud-based management infrastructure can provide ease-of-use, flexibility, and scalability.

New sensor devices enable the transmission of a signal from a sensor to a remote transmission station up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) away and then, on to the cloud. Previous best efforts using tactical radio based transmission protocols (such as Zigbee) were limited to only about 100 meters.

Based on its future-ready and legacy-friendly design, true multi-vendor interoperability facilitation and an active technical community, OPC UA has gained broad industry acceptance and is well-suited to serve as a solid foundation for the Open Process Automation Forum to build upon to fulfill its vision.

Scalable, high-bandwidth kinetic mesh networks provide unmatched connectivity for upstream, midstream, and downstream applications. To realize peak productivity and savings, mission-critical applications need to run on a communications network that offers highly reliability, agility, and adaptable connectivity.

Wireless mesh networking offers a solution for modern wide-area IoT deployments. Evaluation teams should factor this networking topology into their technology decisions, while also considering characteristics including security, scalability, interoperability, and reliability.

With IIoT applications collecting and processing vast amounts of data, deploying processed data to the cloud securely and efficiently is a key aspect of system performance. But fortunately, new software tools are providing seamless, cost-effective ways to store operational data using an OT, IT, or hybrid cloud.