Definition

The Industrial internet of things (IIoT) refers to the network of physical devices (a.k.a. “things”) that exchange information over the internet for commercial purposes, most notably in manufacturing.

The Basics

The internet of things (IoT) is a catch-all term that refers to a wide variety of products that use the internet to send and receive data, not a specific technology. The industrial internet of things (IIoT) references a subset of the IoT that includes commercial products, like manufacturing, farming, commercial transportation, and more. Check out our article on the Internet of things (IoT) for a broader view and consumer applications.

Examples

  • Sensors and equipment installed on a production line at a factory that transmit their status over the internet to remote location are part of the IIoT.
  • Remote sensors on trucks that allow a central operator to know location, speed, gas levels, engine efficiency and storage temperature use the IIoT to transmit data.
  • Smart sensors installed in roadways to collect traffic information and seismic activity are part of the IIoT that powers smart cities.
  • Remote soil moisture sensors in a farm field use wireless networks to transmit readings over the internet are part of the IIoT.

The IIoT is seeing some of the most rapid advances and growth in terms of sheer number of installed devices out of any IoT segment, being driven by falling technology costs and easier systems to implement.

How does this impact me?

In an industrial setting, the benefits of the IoT can be more tangible: greater efficiency and safety in manufacturing, farming, transportation, and more.

Takeaway

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) refers to a subset of the IoT that focused on commercial use cases.

What does this have to do with Connected Proof?

Making devices and a software platform for the IIoT is we focus on here at Connected Proof. We use sensor data from manufacturing operations to help reduce waste, energy use, production costs, downtime, and in turn increase efficiency and quality. We make IIoT devices, like IoT temperature sensors and IoT PID controllers. Our devices could be classified as industrial IoT devices since they’re positioned towards food and beverage producers and other businesses that need cold chain monitoring. Check out the benefits on our IoT Cloud Dashboard page.