Differential Commercial/Industrial IoT vs. Consumer IoT

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Here’s a quick clincher on Industrial IoT vs. Consumer IoT!

Internet of things drives the ongoing digitization and datafication of society in many amazing ways. It is the primary technology behind self-driving vehicles, autonomous manufacturing robots, remote medical devices, heavy medical equipment to monitor patients from a distance and carry out surgeries. It specifically assists medical professionals in making more informed and accurate evidence-based decisions on diagnostic practices. It further adds additional fidelity and reduces side effects.

Areas Seething With IoT (Commercial + Consumer)

E-Commerce, Healthcare, Logistics, Education, Mobility, Food Delivery, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Logistics, Agriculture – artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and related concerns are existing across multiple market verticals. This overreach further bifurcates into two major subsets – Consumer IoT and Industrial IoT. Commercial IoT is inflective with Industrial IoT.

Consumer IoT is a synonym for personal IoT, which is the application of some electronic devices for individual purposes. It is different from the IoT for industrial and commercial purposes. There is an inverse relationship between personal and commercial IoT device evolution.

Industrial IoT Services

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is the cornerstone of Industry 4.0., scratching the efficiencies of smart devices and analyzing them in real-time, to efficiently utilize the industrial machines. IIOT is named after smart machines for two reasons: To capture and analyze data in real-time, and to communicate their findings swiftly, useful in making quick business decisions.  An Industrial IoT network considers hundreds of data points. The network needs to accommodate many devices in a complex architecture. It involves monitoring remote infrastructure that is complex to physically access. In industrial IoT the gadgets are tasked with sensors to complex infrastructures would require technologies with the best cyber-security practices

Industrial IoT targets existing automated industrial systems that require some improvement inefficiency. It is a sequence of large machinery in a large-scale enterprise setup. It takes care of all nodes in network architecture, monitors utilities and expensive assets. Often machinery inside factories wears out with time and requires periodic maintenance. Therefore, the network architecture requires including gateways, the connection between the Cloud, sensors, controllers, resistors, capacitors. Gateways translate the protocols that are used in the manufacturing plant. It helps in data logging and allows integrators to offer more user customizations, runs user applications to adapt them for specific industrial processes.

Examples of IIoT

IIOT is mainly used in commercial areas like industries. Industrial assets are often located in challenging situations like underwater, underground, over elevated terrains, offshore, borders, or at some distant location. These may be with limited or no power supply.

Industrial IoT targets major complex industrial processes and systems with distinct network requirements. It optimizes safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability through remote control capabilities. E.g: Manufacturing, Transportation, Utilities

  • MAN – Truck and Bus Company
  • Siemens – German multinational conglomerate company
  • Caterpillar (CAT)
  • Airbus – European multinational aerospace corporation
  • ABB – Swiss – Swedish multinational corporation
  • Fanuc – Largest Suppliers of industrial automation equipment
  • Magna Steyr – Austrian Automotive Manufacturer
  • John Deere – American Corporation that manufactures agricultural, forestry, construction machinery
  • Tesla – American Automotive and energy company, specialized in manufacturing electric vehicles
  • Hortilux – A company providing lighting solutions

Consumer IoT Services

Consumer IoT includes all the user’s networks around their personal and home devices. The Internet makes it easier to share consumer data and information without individual interaction. A consumer IoT network consists of a few consumer devices with a limited lifetime. It enhances the individual experience by simplifying daily tasks. A shorter lifespan implies easily replaceable versions. The devices are locally located and are easy to access. Consumer IoT accompanies minimal and simple control mechanism for consumer gadgets, which is prone to hacks. Commercial IoT targets our daily life in and outside our homes. Therefore, it includes a set of applications that can be deployed in commercial office buildings, stores, hotels, shopping premises, entertainment venues. It is useful for monitoring conditions, personal control schedule, building access, connected lighting, asset tracking, etc.

Examples of Consumer IoT

  • Personal IoT – Smart Clothing, Smart Watch, Battery power-sharing between two smartphones, Hearable, Smart glass
  • Smart Home IoT – Voice Assistance, Security, Lighting fixtures, Smart Energy Savings, Family Entertainment, Smart Kitchen Gadgets

IIoT vs Consumer IoT

DifferencesIndustrial Internet of ThingsConsumer Internet of Things
What is it?Large-scale networks with hundreds.

These contain thousands of data points.

It is deployed in remote, inaccessible areas with difficult topographies.

Often there is no power supply.

Support for industrial equipment with a lifespan of many decades.

Widespread, massive consequences of network breakdowns.

Small-sized networks with few data points.

It is deployable in flat and urban areas.

Sufficient power supply.

Support for consumer devices with a short lifetime.

Small, local effects of network breakdowns.

Major ApplicationsManufacturing

  • OEE Monitoring (Runtime, availability, quality monitoring)
  • Energy efficiency
  • Prevention and predictive maintenance
  • Supply chain management

Mining/Oil and Gas

  • Equipment monitoring
  • Asset Tracking
  • Production Monitoring

Agriculture

  • Environmental monitoring
  • Irrigation management
  • Product yield monitoring
  • Water management

Utilities

  • Smart meters
  • Electrical Grid Management
  • Power Line Monitoring
  • Water and waste management

Smart Cities

  • Smart parking
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Roads, traffic, and transport
  • Social and security

Other applications include: Asset Management, Predictive Maintenance, Worker Safety, Environmental Monitoring, Energy Management

Home automation and security, Voice assistants, wearable computing, Fitness tracking, Connected car,

IoT Environmental Maintenance

Personal Asset Tracking

Wearable Technology

There are more differences based on robustness, scalability, range/coverage, power efficiency, network longevity, security, and cost-effectiveness. Security is a major concern as it uses sensitive devices with inbuilt sensors for industries applications.

Special Mention: What is Commercial IoT?

Often commercial IoT commixes Consumer IoT + Industrial IoT and is deployable at places we frequently visit like office buildings, supermarkets, hotels, stores, hospital facilities, entertainment venues. It is open to any connectivity type like Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, LoRa, Sigfox, and LTE.

Applications of Commercial IoT

  • Hospitality – Energy efficiency and HVAC, Location-based information, Occupancy monitoring, Customer service scoring
  • Healthcare – Cold-chain monitoring, Patient monitoring, Virtual care, Wellness and prevention
  • Retail – In-store promotions, Shopper Analytics, Smart ordering and payment, Vending machines 

Predictive Maintenance

Commercial/industrial and consumer spaces seek to identify when other devices, equipment, or business process is at risk of failure. Users receive alerts in advance to ensure preventive measures and proactive maintenance. This lets them fix problems ahead of any catastrophic failure. The process of checking failure can now be automated and managed via appropriate software. IoT sensors can detect any slight misalignment, manufacturing defect, metal fatigue, anomalous vibration or changes in thermal images and earmark them for immediate replacement before any serious risks manifest.

Conclusive: How to Make the Most of Hybrid IoT Culture?

The IoT ecosystem is spawning in different verticals, accumulating and diversifying experience across industries. But IoT is still an infant, leaving the AI-based virtual assistants. Internet of Things was an early adopted in commercial and industrial space, where managing and automating large machinery was more a requirement instead of a luxury. It truths endless possibilities, permutations and combinations of robustly connected devices, innovating the historic schism between consumer and industrial collaborators. It amounts to an enhanced user experience, and increased security, and privacy of IoT solutions. Industrial IoT solutions can range from product ideation to commercial launch, irrespective of the business type. We can help you accelerate the time to market. Call us to know more!

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About Author
Neeti Kotia

Neeti Kotia

Neeti Kotia is a technology journalist who seeks to analyze the advancements and developments in technology that affect our everyday lives. Her articles primarily focus upon the business, social, cultural, and entertainment side of the technology sector.

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