The Internet of Things (IoT) will be an enabler among the industries’ digital innovation scenarios
*Por Fabio Rodrigues, CEO of Novidá
Recently, I have seen a vast amount of studies and articles, in specialized technical magazines and on the internet, on topics related to information technology in industry, and two of these terms have drawn attention due to the frequency with which they have appeared. They are: Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0.
Perhaps you have already heard about them or are even familiar with these terms, but to talk about the maturity of the Internet of Things in the industry, which even has its own name: IIoT (Industrial Internet of things), I would like to clarify some concepts.
A while ago, the terms most used at the time in the industrial universe and in specialized media were: Automation and Industry 3.0. These terms, already widely known and which translate current technologies and processes, refer to the individual automation of machines and processes.
And when it comes to Industry 4.0, the focus of the conversation is the end-to-end of all physical assets and the integration of digital ecosystems with partners throughout the value chain, elevating and customizing it, allowing for more efficient use. of resources.
Simply put, data generation, analysis and communication support the gains promised by the new revolution in the industry, which encompasses several new technologies to create value, with the Internet of Things (IoT) being the most responsible for all this integration and generation. of value to the business to happen.
The complete acceptance of IoT technology in the industry been happening in parts, starting with just one step of the process and as the results are happening, other processes are being integrated into a data intelligence system, up to bidirectional communication between systems and machines.
Did you find bidirectional communication between systems and machines strange? Yes, this is possible.the Industry 4.0 precept that machines will be more independent and will even be able to communicate without human interaction. The objective is for the factories to work increasingly integrated, in a scenario without distinctions between areas.
The trend is that non-automatic processes and activities will be automated and optimized very quickly! In this scenario, people continue to be important, but with a more strategic focus, as decision makers based on the data collected and processed by systems and machines.
According to a recent survey by the PwC consultancy, for the time being, only 9% of the companies participating in the study incorporate digitalization and industrial automation processes into their daily lives, however, the expectation for the coming years is that this number will revert. By 2020, it is estimated that 72% of organizations in the country will be included in this new scenario.
This innovative vision will not only rationalize costs, but the productivity of the industry as a whole. Most Brazilian companies expect more than a 10% increase in annual revenue from the adoption of these new technologies, while companies around the world expect US$493 billion in additional revenue.
For this, some transformations will be necessary, such as:
- Incremental and revolutionary innovation of products and services
Launch of new industrial products and services with digital characteristics that will increase the existing portfolio, such as data analysis, or even complete digital solutions that serve the supply chain ecosystem of suppliers and customers.
- Strong investment commitment
These investments are focused on digital technologies (such as sensors or connectivity devices, such as Witooth – Novidá’s proprietary beacon sensor), software and applications (manufacturing execution systems and process optimization for example), employee training and in driving organizational change.
- Focus on people and digital transformation
The biggest challenge for companies is not just technology, but also people. Success depends on how leaders drive and communicate the transformation, as well as the skills of employees to implement digital products and services.
- Digital trust is imperative
Digital ecosystems can only function efficiently if all parties involved trust the security of their dataas well as the protection of their intellectual property. To protect your company and ensure digital trust, it is necessary to invest heavily and have clear guidelines regarding data integrity and security.
At the end of this transformation process, successful companies will become truly digital, with machines powered by digital interfaces, processes optimized to an unprecedented level and innovative data.
And this digital transformation is already happening. Now is the time for your company to act!
