IoT: The Next Big Thing
August 2018
It is quite evident that the Internet of Things (IoT) is developing and growing at an ascending rate. RFID sensors, Wearable gadgets, Vehicles and software are evolving past the rudimentary functions and the network is accelerating to include additional advancements every day.
One can likely say that the number of connected gadgets at their home is more than what it used to be in the last year. This rapid growth is likely to hasten in the years to come including the place of our business and public surroundings.
The future of IoT is on the rise. According to IT Pro, approximately 3.6 billion gadgets are connected to the Internet which are used for our everyday tasks in the year 2018 alone. One can safely say that the total number of devices connected to the Internet is larger than that. This means more traffic & more data are on an already jammed connected internet. In the following year, there will be a harder push for 5G connectivity which will add a lane to the already jammed and congested web highway to handgrip the increase in devices.
With keeping this in mind, Insights Success Magazine has shortlisted, The 10 Most Innovative IoT Startups to Watch, 2018 who are raising the bar with their innovative IoT solutions.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2AIZAJX
www.insightsuccess.com
Exceptional entries for 2018 MTN IoT Award
31 July 2018
“IoT creates value for business and also in many other applications like the management of cities. It was exciting to see many developments in this field, a year since we won this prestigious award.” – Co-founder and CEO Nico Steyn in conversation with Powerfm987 after the award ceremony for the 2018 MTN Business IoT Award, presented in Johannesburg.
IoT.xt CTO Bertus Jacobs served on the judging panel to select the winners for this year’s award.
Listen to the interview here: https://bit.ly/2OAJyos
The 2018 winner is the MineRP and @FlowCentricNews team, propelling mining into the future.
www.powerfm987.co.za
Company of the Month IoT.nxt | Bridging the edge
30 July 2018
Almost a year ago, South African company IoT.nxt expanded its operations to The Hague to shape its international ambitions. We spoke to Joe Bester, Marketing Director at IoT.nxt in The Netherlands, about IoT.nxt and his experience of doing business in The Hague in the past year.
What is IoT.nxt?
“IoT.nxt was established in South Africa late in 2015 by a small group of tech entrepreneurs who discovered an opportunity to innovate in Internet of Things technology and strategy. From start-up beginnings, the company experienced explosive growth and demand for its solutions. The demand and interest from Europe following participation at various expos and conferences on the continent led to the establishment of IoT.nxt’s first international office in The Hague in September 2017.
The company has taken a different view to that of many other companies and has developed various sets of innovative technology. IoT.nxt has taken a bottom-up approach as opposed to the bulk of other companies taking a down from the cloud approach. The company has now identified a convergence of the cloud and the edge, which is fundamentally changing what is taking place in the industry. IoT.nxt is therefore perfectly positioned to take advantage of IoT technology becoming real across several industries. IoT.nxt is now at point where companies are implementing its strategies and technology and seeing value. For example, we recently launched a so-called ‘IoT in a box’ solution with global tech giant Dell, combining the company’s intelligent edge IoT gateway – the Raptor™ – with Dell Gateway technology and through this enabling rapid digital transformation.”
Choosing for The Hague
“Dutch legislation is very business-friendly and especially favourable towards technology start-ups. The Netherlands has an established global reputation for its support of innovation in technology, which made it the logical choice for IoT.nxt. The Hague has been a fantastic base to co-ordinate all of our activities in Europe. The city has a business friendly environment and we had an excellent experience in all dealings with all of the Dutch authorities.”
First year of doing business in The Hague
“We have been here for ¾ of the year and it has been most encouraging. Our commercial model is to distribute our solution through value adding partners like System Integrators and consultancy firms that are active in setting up strategies and implementations for enterprises to digitise. We have formalised partnership agreements with a number of significant players in the Netherlands and other Benelux countries and are actively engaging with clients. Globally we are currently involved in 30 different projects and projects in Europe are an exciting part of this.
Eyes on the horizon
‘We see our pipeline in Europe getting stronger and stronger, and for the year ahead we expect to add a number of projects to an exciting pipeline. The US is offering many exciting opportunities and we believe, due to the attitude of early adoption that prevails, that this will be a significant revenue generator for us”, says Bester.
Twenty-Two Organizations Join The Linux Foundation and Invest in Open Source Technology
30 July 2018
SAN FRANCISCO, July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, announced the addition of 17 Silver members and 5 Associate members. Linux Foundation members help support development of the shared technology resources, while accelerating their own innovation through open source leadership and participation. Linux Foundation member contributions help provide the infrastructure and resources that enable the world’s largest open collaboration communities.
“We are thrilled to see so many organizations continue to reinforce their commitment to open source with investments in the community and a wide variety of important projects,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director, The Linux Foundation. “The variety of industries growing their participation in open source, from automotive companies to universities, is truly inspiring.”
In addition to joining the Foundation, many of the new members have joined Linux Foundation projects like Automotive Grade Linux, Cloud Native Computing Foundation, Hyperledger, JS Foundation, and LF Networking. For a full list of members, visit https://www.linuxfoundation.org/membership/members/.
Linux Foundation Silver members are organizations that contribute to or otherwise support open source communities and projects. The new Linux Foundation Silver members who joined in the month of June are:
Anaconda, Inc. is an AI/ML enablement platform that empowers organizations to develop, govern, and automate AI/ML and data science.
Bose Corporation designs, develops, and sells audio equipment.
Circulor is transforming the electric vehicle supply chain using blockchain technology.
ComponentSoft offers a comprehensive intelligent systems deployment and development platform.
DefineSys, based in Shanghai, is an enterprise-level cloud computing service leader.
Estateably, Inc. uses distributed ledger technology to optimize the estate settlement process.
IoT.nxt BV allows rapid deployment and businesses to action an Internet of Things strategy with little or no disruption to current operations.
Kinetica transforms data into instant insight.
KR8OS creates ways to track advertising events using marketing analytics on blockchain.
Linode is a leading cloud hosting provider.
Nutanix, Inc. enables IT teams to build and operate powerful multi-cloud architecture.
Nuvoloso is a multi-cloud container data management system.
PlanetScale Data runs highly scalable database clusters with Vitess.
QingYuan Technology is committed to enterprise containerized platform as service through delivering sophisticated containerized solutions across industry and government scenarios, with capabilities of orchestration, monitor, DevOps, and microservices governance, to empower IT revolution within the cloud native ecosystem.
Tierion creates technology and products that reduce the cost and complexity of trust.
UTRUST offers a cryptocurrency payment solution with instant transactions, buyer protection and crypto-to-cash settlements.
Zhejiang Blockchain Technology is a blockchain technology development and promotion company.
With the support of its members, The Linux Foundation hosts open source projects across technologies including networking, security, cloud, blockchain, and more. This collaborative development model is helping technology advance at a rapid pace in a way that benefits individuals and organizations around the world.
Read more: https://read.bi/2vpr2qg
https://markets.businessinsider.com
IoT: Its moment has come
Larry Claasen 29 June 2018
For years, there has been talk of the wonders of the Internet of Things (IoT). Enabling machines to send and receive data has long been touted as the next big thing, but although it has held a lot of promise, IoT never really seemed to get out of the starting blocks. This seems to be changing. As devices are becoming ‘smarter’ and cheaper, networks are being configured to handle large quantities of data.
Has the moment arrived for the IoT? Or does the ecosystem still need to be developed?
Brian Sangudi, principal strategy consultant, Ericsson Middle East & Africa: The ecosystem still has to evolve, but having said that, I definitely think the moment has arrived. Those who want to take advantage can already do so. The building blocks, the infrastructure, is already there.
Alain du Toit, Intelligent Cloud Business Group lead, Microsoft SA: One of the underlying challenges the IoT still has to face is uptake of IPv6 from an enterprise perspective. We are running out of IP addresses. As millions of devices come online, they are going to gobble up an already depleted IPv4 addressing scheme, and if enterprises don’t deal with this, they are going to run out of IP addresses in terms of building this ecosystem.
Vishal Barapatre, CTO, In2IT Technologies: The statistics don’t lie. We are sitting with 22 billion devices now, and by 2025, it will be three times this number. There’s not only more connectivity, but the falling prices of sensors are also playing a role.
Dr Mark Nasila, head of advanced analytics for consumer and retail, FNB: From what I’ve seen, the IoT is already ‘the business’ for a lot of organisations. This is especially true in the financial sector, where many firms have already invested a lot in their data strategies. As they now understand their customers a lot better, they are also better at being proactive in providing them with services and goods. This has seen a lot of organisations move from providing a single service, to being a multi-service provider.
Greg Vercellotti, executive director, Dariel: Our research has shown that the layers of the IoT have matured sufficiently, and you can go right from a sensor to artificial intelligence. Because of this, we are seeing uptake in the business world. We are starting to see IoT becoming part of the business processes, the decision-making and the transactions. With the weaving of IoT into these processes, we are seeing its arrival into the business world.
Steve Mallaby, COO, Argility Technology Group: It has undoubtedly arrived. It’s been around for many years, the concept of devices being connected to each other. If you look at the rapid growth that’s taken place, you are even starting to see fragmentation across the industry. The key development will be how the mature players in the sector start working together. But this is something that’s still a work in progress.
Warren Green, governance, risk and compliance expert, CURA Software Solutions: I think the moment has arrived. But I do think the ecosystem will continue to develop. For me, this will be from a governance, risk and compliance perspective.
Phathizwe Malinga, CEO, SqwidNet: We view the IoT ecosystem as a symphony in four parts. Locally, we have about ten device makers, there are also two connectivity providers, as well as several application providers. The last part is industry, which is starting to realise that IoT is not a fringe thing or a complementary thing; it’s a core part of their operations. Industry needs to make its assets sweat, but in order to do so, it needs to know where they are, which is what IoT allows it to do.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2Kp4NeD
www.brainstormmag.co.za
A true IOT ecosystem design will rely heavily on edge capabilities
By Marilyn de Villiers 14 June 2018
One of the fastest-growing trends in the ICT sector, and one that is generating considerable hype and attention is the Internet of things (IOT). Analyst firm Gartner predicts that there will be 26 billion connected devices by 2020.
Nico Steyn, CEO of IOT technology innovator, Centurion-based IOT.nxt reckons there are more than 450 IOT commercially available “platforms” that have been set up to enable this still futuristic technology.
However, Steyn believes that despite the fact that the technology has started to gain mainstream traction, the IOT industry could be heading for a crash, the likes of which have not been seen since the “dot.bomb” era almost two decades ago.
“During the .com bomb era, people ran around with amazing ideas that they thought would take over the world once mass adoption took place. This was followed by an implosion which saw a huge number of concepts, ideas and investments disappear. A similar trend is developing in the adoption of IOT and in digitalisation in general,” he says.
Although this is unlikely to be on the scale of the dot.bomb fallout, it will result in the weeding out of many “irrelevant” IOT solutions. These are solutions that he believes are trying to address the complex problem of the interconnectivity required for a true Internet of things from the top down, often using outmoded or inappropriate technologies.
The problem, Steyn maintains, is that many of those involved in the IOT space do not yet understand where the true value of IOT lies. Those that are focused exclusively on the cloud and Big Data, to the exclusion of what is happening within the edge, the layer where all the interconnected “things” lie, will find it all but impossible to unlock the value IOT can deliver.
According to Steyn, they need to recognise that “the edge is eating the cloud”.
Full story: https://bit.ly/2M9eo5F
www.itweb.co.za
Technology is fast disrupting business on a global scale, SA is no exception
25 May 2018
How do our businesses evolve? Gareth Rees, head of Global Partnerships at IoT.nxt, talks to Moneyweb journalist Prinesha Naidoo about this in more detail.
Full interview here: https://bit.ly/2KVvvXJ
Disruptive technologies and new-age thinking
25 May 2018
The ability to offer value creative propositions has become essential to the lifeblood of mining operations which are heavily influenced by a world that where technology is constantly evolving.
Traditional service offerings and thought processes are no longer sufficient and those companies who choose to embrace change, new technologies and dynamic thinking will enter a new era, more successful and profitable than ever before.
The ability to deliver value creation and best return on capital through innovation, cost efficient designs and the application of the world’s best technologies for optimal yields while minimising water, power and consumables has over recent years become routine and widely used amongst suppliers and service providers.
“Differentiating your business in this environment has become essential once again. To achieve this, ELB is embracing disruptive technologies that will change the entire way the industry operates,” reveals ELB Engineering Services CEO Dr Stephen Meijers.
He is referring to the incorporation of internet of things (IOT) technologies for digitalisation, analytics and from there artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing and full system control.
“Our plan is to introduce each technology in stages and then ultimately bolt them all together”.
This will be close to a South African first in the minerals processing sector and a service capability that ELB Engineering Services will apply to all its projects moving forward.
This includes its “alpha” site – a new 200 tph fines and coarse iron ore DMS plant in Postmasburg for Tata Steel’s new Sedibeng project.
“We were awarded the project at the end of 2017 and are equipped to provide a one-stop solution for the plant through our minerals processing/materials handling skills suite and our new technologies offering.”
The project is already underway and due to be commissioned in September 2018.
Discussing some of the disruptive technologies in further detail, Meijers notes that coupled with the analytics elements is full facial recognition and camera recognition technology of man, machine and material movement.
Mining equipment will be optimised in terms of movement to get the correct ore at right time, monitor transportation distances, minimise diesel utilisation and analyse road conditions in order to limit breakage and wear of trucks, etc.
Recognition of people using cameras will monitor all man movement around the plant to determine if they are functioning optimally.
ELB Engineering Services is also working to introduce analytics tools which will monitor the condition of individuals which in turn will elevate on-site safety and determine if employees are focussing on the correct areas of the process.
“Employing these technologies is only the first step – the real value lies in using this information to enhance overall process performance from every avenue.”
To prove these aspirations are well beyond conceptual stage, ELB Engineering Services has formalised a partnership with South Africa based technology diagnostic and digital expert IoT.nxt – who is essentially the technology provider and brain trust behind this technology which will be established specifically for the minerals processing sector.
IoT.nxt mining director Eric Croeser is confident that the two companies can together revolutionise the minerals processing sector through “deep technology” knowledge.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2kxYCFA
www.miningreview.com
SA’s IoT.nxt partners Dell for business digitisation
By Tom Jackson, 3 April 2018
South African Internet of Things (IoT) innovator IoT.nxt and global technology and computing hardware giant Dell have signed a strategic partnership that will allow companies to rapidly digitise their business operations and make IoT solutions a reality.
IoT.nxt has developed a unique technology stack that bridges the gap between all protocols in the industrial ecosystem, creating a single integration or translation point.
Its patented Raptor gateway allows organisations to retrofit all existing legacy systems with no rip and replace. The Raptor has now been combined with Dell Gateway technology, and through this will enable rapid digital transformation.
“We call it ‘IoT in a box’ and it provides an off-the-shelf solution suitable for any company in any industry. With this solution companies can quickly see a return on investment and achieve digital scalability. It will allow them to fast forward unlocking efficiencies and drive earnings,” said IoT.nxt chief executive officer (CEO) Nico Steyn.
It is the latest partnership for IoT.nxt, with has been expanding after securing ZAR100 million (US$7.7 million) in funding last year. The Dell arrangement combines the superior, robust Dell engineering with IoT.nxt’s innovation in IoT technology.
IoT.nxt anticipates its association with the trusted international Dell brand will drive rapid adoption as companies know that their implementation will be supported by the vast and established Dell support offering.
“This Raptor in a box solution gives companies the ability to scale quickly as the Dell Raptor is already configured to be rolled out, yet comes with the support of Dell’s global network which offers warranties and superior service,” Steyn said.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2Gya3Xa
www.disrupt-africa.com
IoT.nxt partners with hardware giant Dell
By Kgaogelo Letsebe, Portals Journalist 28 March 2018
auteng-based Internet of things (IOT) technology innovator IOT.nxt has announced a strategic partnership with computing hardware giant Dell in a deal that will see the launch of ‘IOT in a box’- a solution that aims to fast track businesses’ ability to deploy IOT solutions into their operations.
IOT.nxt chief executive officer Nico Steyn the partnership is one that is mutually beneficial, “IOT.nxt’s edge IOT gateway, the Raptor, has been combined with Dell Gateway technology to develop what we call ‘IOT in a box’. It provides an off-the-shelf solution suitable for any company in any industry. With this solution companies can quickly see a return on investment and achieve digital scalability. It will allow them to fast-forward unlocking efficiencies and drive earnings.
“Dell is extremely specialised around hardware technology they have developed at the gateway level. This tech is also supported by Dell globally which means we have worldwide access for our product and we can leverage off the global support footprint as well. What IOT.nxt brings to the table is technology that allows us to quickly enable the gateway, the hardware. Additionally through our software, we allow it to get intelligence at the edge and to deploy into verticals in multiple industries and also have that same Dell box perform multiple functions as a result of our technology.”
Steyn adds that the ‘plug-in-and-play’ solution will be available to the mass market. “The association with the trusted international brand like Dell is also likely to drive rapid adoption as companies know that their implementation will be supported by the company’s vast offering.”
Ben Vernooij, IOT and embedded computing solutions lead for Dell EMC, adds that Dell has developed partnerships to help customers rapidly implement IOT solutions, which is exactly what the Dell Raptor will deliver. “Customers can now speed up their IOT projects and make sense of the volumes of data produced at the edge.”
Read more: https://bit.ly/2q2YsIN
www.itweb.co.za