The world of technology is continuously blooming and growing by launching unique and useful advancements now and then. Some of you might have little information regarding the Internet of Things. However, while reading this article, you will be able to understand what it is and how you might have actually come across the technology in one way or another. So, let’s get started with knowing what IoT is and a list of IoT device management platforms.
By definition, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology is known as a process through which the connection between physical devices and the internet connection is made possible. Examples of IoT devices include automotive vehicles, wearable watches, and security systems, as well as the machinery used in the military sector etc.
For a long period of time, scientists and engineers have been trying their best to create a technology that could easily connect electronic gadgets in the external world to Internet devices. The reason was that they knew this technology would be beneficial in terms of automating tasks and promoting seamless communication.
In 2011, when Gartner included IoT in a list of cutting-edge emerging technologies, the world saw a rise in awareness of the concept. Since then, the industry has witnessed an emerging evolution and transformation in the world of IoT devices.
In this section, we will discuss the working methodology of IoT devices, which will end any sort of confusion you might be having regarding how they work.
To keep it simple and understandable, we will be discussing the core elements of IoT technology that make its work possible. There is a high chance that, due to changing tech trends, IoT technology has also upgraded. However, the components mentioned below are the three basic elements that you will find in each and every IoT mechanism.
Sensors are the first element of IoT devices. These are basically small chips that are attached to the physical object or device you want to get connected to. The main purpose of attaching sensors to devices is so they can monitor any movement, temperature change, or other environmental changes.
The second element of IoT devices is actuators. They serve as a tool that helps receive signals from the sensors and react to changes in the environment. In other terms, actuators are essential as they translate a sensory signal into mechanical action.
Lastly, we have an internet connection. Be it wired or wireless, an internet device is the most crucial element of IoT technology to be functional. It is through an internet connection that the sensors and actuators in physical things interact and communicate successfully.
Before reviewing the IoT device management software available on the market, it is essential to know the types of Internet of Things. In the initial stages of its development, the technology was referred to as every device that came under its realm. However, the widespread awareness, utilization, and progress of the IoT industry made it necessary to divide and classify the types of technology.
In this section of the article, we will be discussing five of these types.
First on the list is the Consumer Internet of Things, also known as CIoT. It is the most basic form of IoT technology since it is related to consumer devices only. This category includes gadgets and devices like smartphones, wearable smart devices, smart assistants, home appliances, and many more. The consumer Internet of Things (CIoT) is recommended to be utilized for close proximity communication environments, including homes, workplaces, and other institutions.
The second type of IoT technology is known as Commercial Internet of Things. This type does not have an abbreviated form since it will then be confused with Consumer IoT. This type includes the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and technology in bigger spaces and venues—for instance, places like malls, hospitals, hotels, and commercial office buildings. Commercial IoT is best known for simplifying procedures like environmental monitoring, cutting-edge security or safety solutions, etc.
The third type of IoT technology that we will discuss is known as the Industrial Internet of Things. It is also commonly referred to as IIoT. By its name, it is pretty evident that this type of technology is utilized in industrial sectors. For instance, the top industries known to be implementing IoT in their work methodologies are the automotive, agriculture, and healthcare industries. Apart from these industries, other sectors are also entering the field of IoT technology slowly and gradually.
Just like we mentioned before, IoT technology has successfully grabbed the attention of so many sectors that the need to divide it into different types was made necessary by developers. The fourth type of IoT technology is known as the Internet of Military Things (IoMT), which is pretty different from the other types we have mentioned so far. This category is also called Battlefield IoT. With the help of this advancement, many procedures related to the military sector have been simplified, including risk assessment, response time analysis, etc.
Lastly, Infrastructure Internet of Things is yet another important type of IoT technology nowadays. This type is more concerned with managing the production of infrastructural devices and gadgets that are embedded with IoT technology. Tech gurus often regard this type as a sub-category of IIoT. However, the reason it is considered a separate field is that it is limited to the procedures of production, cost-saving, and maintenance of products, etc.
Before moving onto the concept of IoT device management and the platforms that provide these services, we will quickly review some of the advantages of IoT technology in the modern world.
The first advantage of IoT technology is its cost-effective nature. With the help of streamlining operations and automating tasks, IoT-enabled devices help businesses and companies effectively practice cost-cutting and save a considerable share of money for other procedures like production, maintenance, etc.
IoT-enabled devices have helped businesses and industrial sectors automate general tasks and allow employees to save some of their time and effort on tasks that require more attention or concentration. This way, IoT technology has resulted in increased efficiency and productivity among workers.
Another benefit of IoT technology is that, with the help of these devices and applications, businesses and companies can monitor and improve their security systems on a larger scale. Nowadays, people are looking forward to installing IoT-enabled security systems in their homes, offices, and other places just to ensure a better security service.
Last but not least, IoT-enabled devices also contribute to improving customer service in business sectors. By adopting smart devices to capture user-specific data, organizations may better understand client expectations and behavior. IoT technology also enhances customer service by making it easier to follow up with clients after a purchase. For instance, IoT may automatically track customers' purchases and notify them when their equipment needs repair after a set amount of time, when their warranty has expired, etc.
Up until now, we all knew what IoT devices were and how they worked, but have you ever heard of IoT device management procedures? Just like every other tech development, the IoT also includes a proper and systematic procedure for the management of its devices. IoT device management is a procedure that includes onboarding, setting up, authenticating, configuring, monitoring, diagnosing, and managing linked devices on a large scale.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the newly launched technologies. The process of enabling devices to use IoT technology is a complex task. In order to cater to this issue, technological advancements have launched many IoT device management companies. The professionals working in these companies focus on facilitating the process of management as well as maintenance related to the IoT-enabled devices.
An IoT device management company or professionals associated with this field are known to be utilizing different device management platforms and software available in the market. Since the procedures included in activating and maintaining these devices are complex and require detailing, the platforms and software developed for IoT device management often facilitate and automate certain tasks, leaving room for developers to focus on things that might need more time and effort.
Different IoT device management software, platforms, and tools include some of the features that are mentioned below in the list.
After reviewing the meaning, methodology, types, and history of IoT technology, we will finally review some of the IoT device management platforms that are available for developers nowadays.
With the help of IoT device management software, the procedure of functional implementation and activation of the technology is made ten times smoother, more convenient, and more effective. However, people are still not well aware of these facilities available in the market. There are the top 11 platforms and software mentioned in the list below that are utilized by many IoT device management companies worldwide.
The first IoT device management platform that we will discuss is known as the AWS platform, an abbreviated form of Amazon Web Services. This platform provides a cloud-based solution for remotely registering, organizing, managing, and monitoring IoT devices in a secure manner.
A unique feature of the AWS platform is that it supports remote device management for IoT-enabled gadgets. For instance, AWS is a useful tool for monitoring and maintaining devices like vehicles, appliances, cameras, etc.
The second platform for IoT development management software is known as Cloud IoT Core, which was developed by Google. This platform is known to carry out the tasks of connecting, controlling, and gathering IoT data from devices. Not only that, but Cloud IoT Core is also helpful in sending commands and setup instructions to linked devices.
The third IoT device management platform is known as the Oracle IoT Cloud Service. This platform is known to allow users to connect their devices to the cloud and instantly analyze the data gathered. Oracle also supports providing data insights that assist in automating processes and identifying problems to get fixed.
The fourth platform on the list is known as Azure IoT Hub, which is a cloud-hosted service. This platform is used to carry out the seamless communication process between IoT-enabled devices and the applications used to manage these devices. The platform helps users track the status of commands and notifications with cloud-to-device messages. On the other hand, device-to-cloud messages help in understanding the state of the device.
Azure IoT Central is known to be an IoT device management software that enables fast communication between IoT devices and the cloud. Along with that, it also enables the creation of enterprise-grade IoT solutions. The feature of centralized device management makes it simple to update, repair, and reconfigure devices.
Particle is yet another progressive and beneficial IoT device management platform on the market nowadays. Users may register, manage, and utilize all of their devices using the Particle management platform's single interface. Once the product is finished being developed, users can remotely submit software upgrades and fix problems.
The renowned Losant platform enables businesses to create customized IoT services, goods, and apps using the Losant IoT cloud platform without having to write a lot of code. This IoT device management platform includes a drag-and-drop visual workflow engine built into the software, which makes it easier to design complicated IoT solutions swiftly.
OpenRemote is known as an open-source IoT device management software. This tool is known to include beneficial features, including auto-device provisioning, a flow editor for data processing, Web UI components, protocol agents, etc.
This IoT device management software enables organizations to monitor metrics for hardware components, network and software performance, application logs, and other crucial data. DataDog is known to find anomalies and strange technological events with the help of machine learning (ML) techniques.
ThingsBoard is yet another IoT device management tool utilized by many IoT device management companies. It is mainly used for managing devices as well as gathering and analyzing data. It also supports all common IoT protocols, including CoAP, MQTT, and HTTP.
Upswift Linux and IoT device management platforms are known to provide complete visibility into a hierarchy of device groups. It also includes information on current connection status, real-time resource utilization of devices, and more.
Some of the many benefits of IoT device management platforms include:
The importance of Internet of Things (IoT) technology can be calculated or estimated by the fact that these devices are not just utilized in the industrial sector but are also being preferred and utilized in the day-to-day lives of individuals. Since people like the ease and convenience of task completion, the IoT is facilitating them by doing so with the added benefits of security, control, and automation.
IoT technology is one of the leading technologies in the world right now. More and more industries and firms are looking forward to adapting to IoT technology and working methodologies in their systems. In order to find an IoT app development company, it is necessary to conduct market research to find suitable and renowned companies that provide their services in this regard. These companies are well-versed in utilizing IoT device management platforms and software in order to deliver tasks and deadlines efficiently without wasting any time or resources.