3 things your IoT platform should have

The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to embrace everything.

It’s not just devices, cars, homes and cities – IoT is also impacting companies and entire industries. Businesses worldwide are turning to IoT solutions to boost efficiency.

According to the latest IoT white paper from AT&T, 85 percent of global organizations are considering the adoption of an IoT strategy. Additionally, 96 percent of organizations think of IoT first when it comes to keeping an eye on physical assets.

When choosing an IoT platform, it’s important to remember that this is not a single technology. There are many layers to the “tech stack,” or the unifying element that coordinates the connections between a wide range of disparate devices and applications.

These layers include:  

• Devices   
• Connectivity   
• Data management   
• Application analytics   
• Security

Whichever platform you choose, it will be at the foundation of the tech stack. No single sensor, modem or network makes a device “smart” – that happens when all the elements work together through the platform.

Ultimately, your platform is the bridge between the applications you create and your aspirations for their success.

Any platform can take inventory, choreograph a production line, or irrigate corn fields. The right platform can enable you to increase revenues, cut costs, and create your own competitive advantage.

Here are three things you should look for in an IoT platform:

1. Stability

To move forward day to day with confidence, you’ll want a platform with a proven track record and longstanding relationships with world-class partners and service providers.

2. Flexibility

To help your business prepare for the future, you’ll need a platform that’s genuinely flexible, with the built-in ability to welcome new devices and technologies. It will need to be an “open” platform that can relay data between a multiplicity of devices and cloud environments.

When you move beyond these common platform limitations, you’re free to seize unexpected opportunities and respond rapidly to an ever-changing marketplace.

3. Scalability

IoT projects almost always start small, but once their value has been proven, they tend to scale up fast. This scaling should happen seamlessly.

The right platform will be able to make the leap from supporting single devices during the prototyping phase to supporting millions (or even hundreds of millions) during full deployment.

Similarly, a project that began in one geographic area will often grow over time to include every country where your operations, customers or supply chains live. This growth should also happen seamlessly.

Learn more

IoT is more than just devices talking to one another. It’s where the future of many enterprises will unfold.

If you’re ready to take full advantage of IoT, AT&T is ready to help bring your IoT solutions to life. So far, AT&T has connected more than 30 million devices in a global network that spans over 200 countries and territories.