This has become particularly handy in the Industrial world but it doesn’t come without challenges. In this article, we break down how companies in the industrial sector can tackle these challenges,where Industrial IoT (IIoT) can be applied, and how this can be overcome.
- Security
When it comes to applications of IIOT, security is one of the biggest challenges. As technology has advanced, so has cybersecurity. Equally, cyber hackers have advanced too. When devices are intertwined and connected to a system, it increases the level of risk.
Keeping equipment secure is as challenging as keeping date safe.. Meeting this challenge can include regular system updates, encryption, two-factor authentication and network segmentation so that you can protect your data and information.
- Data protection
Following on from security is protecting data. With the introduction of GDPR in the UK, it’s more imperative than ever for companies to protect customer and company data. With IIoT, data is being constantly collected and stored. It comes in real-time and can be easily analysed which is excellent for growth and businesses. However, a key challenge is that it cannot be processed fast enough to keep up with the machines and robotics. This can lead to breakdowns or downtime in a warehouse, for example.
Having too much data can cause delays and disrupt operations, so using AI or edge computing could be helpful and break down data so that you can focus on what’s important.
- Managing employee resistance
Introducing IIoT into the workplace can be met with resistance. It’s common in the industrial world that manual skills don’t meet with technical and digital skills in the same way. Working on new complex systems will require additional training and can be met with resistance where employees feel like their knowledge and skills are no longer valid and can be hesitant to learn new systems.
Training here is key and may come at an additional cost, but sharing new knowledge and technology can make a member of your team more versatile and make their life easier. For example, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can handle repetitive tasks such as picking, moving and placing in a warehouse.
- Staying connected
There are some real unique delays when it comes to IIoT. Staying connected to wireless networks is one such example, which can cause delays in systems that prevent customers from getting goods in time. Also, warehouses can be in rural areas, which can create dead spots where this kind of technology can’t connect.
IIoT can rely too heavily on good internet connectivity, so running all these connected machines in a remote location, such as a rural farm in Cornwall or an oil rig out at sea, can be challenging. Any network outages or latency can mess up the system and cause it not to work correctly. Luckily, 5G and more reliable networks can help in certain areas. This means that Cloud and Edge Computing become more viable in those previously hard-to-reach areas.
- Scalability and cost
IIoT and implementing new systems can be expensive. It’s also an investment, so the benefits will come over time, but the challenge in the interim needs to be addressed and budgeted for within companies. In addition, scaling up can be budgeted for and planned over time.
The key here is to start small in specific areas that can be predicted and see more minor, quick results to justify expansion over time. Cloud-based platforms and data analysis can prove the results, help with scalability, and monitor costs over time for the best outcomes.
Conclusion
Industrial IoT is an essential component of the modern-day business landscape. Those without it, feel it. Making it work in their favour, as noted, can be a challenge, but the rewards are worth it. What we’ve detailed can all be overcome with proactiveness, development, and excellent tools. All in all, these are practices typical of businesses’ day-to-day activity anyway, making IIoT maximizable.
