The hype surrounding the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing, and rightfully so. With the promise of reduced operating and maintenance costs, improved quality control and customer service, more efficient manufacturing work flows, and not to mention the potential for brand new data-based revenue streams, it’s easy to see why. All of this is possible due to the network of physical objects and devices around the world that are connected to the internet and specifically meant to collect and share data.
While the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) have been buzzwords for a while now, fog and edge computing are two newer terms on the scene. While they may be newer, they are equally important in terms of how IIoT promises to shape how data is collected, shared and analyzed moving forward. In fact, fog and edge computing are so integral to the development of IIoT that consortiums have been formed to aid in that development process.
The Industrial Internet Consortium and OpenFog are two of those consortiums. Both were founded with the goal of accelerating the growth and adoption of IIoT. The Industrial Internet Consortium was founded to bring together the organizations and technologies necessary to accelerate the growth of the Industrial Internet by identifying, assembling and promoting best practices. OpenFog was founded to accelerate the adoption of fog computing and address bandwidth, latency and communications challenges associated with IoT, 5G and AI applications.
Now IIoT can fully enjoy the best of both worlds. In December 2018, the Industrial Internet Consortium and OpenFog announced that they have agreed in principle to combine the two largest and most influential international consortia in Industrial IoT, fog and edge computing. This partnership promises to aid the growth of IIoT by helping to develop and promote industry guidance and best practices for fog and edge computing.
“This is great news for the industry. Both organizations have been advancing the IIoT, fog and edge computing, and their members represent the best and the brightest in their fields. It makes sense to merge their expertise and work streams to continue providing the IIoT, fog and edge guidance that the industry needs,” said Christian Renaud, Research Vice President, Internet of Things, 451 Research.
“We’re excited by the growth and advancement of fog technologies—from a technology, standards and general awareness standpoint—since our launch nearly three years ago,” said Matt Vasey, OpenFog chairman and president, and director, AI and IoT business development, Microsoft. “During that time, it has increasingly become apparent that we share so much synergy with the efforts of the IIC that it just made sense to bring the two consortia together. The resulting combination of memberships, resources and shared knowledge will only further the growth of the technologies, including fog, that will support IIoT ecosystems.”