On October 24, Advantech invited Vice President of Alibaba Research Institute, An Xiaopeng and Founder of IoT Think Tank, Peng Zhao to hold an “Expert-led Deconstruction of the Great Future of Industrial IoT” reading session, focusing on “Decoupling · Reconstructing · Co-creating”, to explore the future development of Industrial IoT. Today, Advantech’s Chairman Liu Kezhen and IoT Think Tank’s Peng Zhao discussed the technologies and business models behind Industrial IoT. In this article, we will think together:
-
How to interpret open source?
-
What is the difference between a data middle platform and a platform?
-
What is the business model of IoT cloud platforms?
······
Trends in Software Development:Microservices + Open Source
Open source is becoming a powerful tool for breaking the existing patterns in the IoT field, and Advantech strongly supports the development of open source systems.
Over the past five to six years, Advantech has developed PaaS software and gained an insight: software development in this era is no longer about planning a program long-term and then coding from scratch.The current trend is microservices (Microservices) and open source, which means providing individual open-source microservice modules for users to combine and stack to form the final application software. Especially in the IoT field, due to the complexity of the domain, platform, and industry chain, this method must be used to compose.
Trends in IoT:Service Model → Service Popularization → Traffic Monetization
Another logic is that the open-source service model helps in the popularization of software. Nowadays, once software is developed, it is difficult to make customers understand what your software is or to encourage them to use it for development; customers need applications that are highly flexible and extensible. Therefore, selling software has basically become outdated. It has now transformed into a service model, with popular services and free services, which are easily disseminated due to being free and open. After popularization, monetization can be sought through the traffic generated.
Advantech Utilizes Open Source Concepts to Build the Verification Platform WISE-PaaS
In the OT field, open source is still a relatively cutting-edge concept, and there are few companies that truly achieve open source. Advantech’s WISE-PaaS industrial IoT cloud platform is actually built using open source concepts.
Although WISE-PaaS also includes modules developed by Advantech, such as WebAccess and DeviceOn, its core is open source.Advantech’s contribution is to combine open-source software and validate its successful application. After forming the WISE-PaaS platform, Advantech provides it to customers, currently operating on a membership fee model, but the cost is low. Because Advantech does not rely on WISE-PaaS for profit, our goal is popularization, relying on software to enhance hardware value. We hope that after customers use the WISE-PaaS platform, they will be inclined to use Advantech’s hardware, which can then generate normal profits.
Practical Application of Open Source Concepts:Kubernetes, Cloud Foundry
Additionally, Advantech also provides WISE-PaaS private cloud, where many technologies already popular in private clouds are utilized, such asKubernetes, Cloud Foundry, EdgeLink, etc. In the future, these technologies will integrate and gradually become as accessible as air and water, promoting the vigorous development of the IoT industry.
Besides “open source”, “middle platform” is also a recent buzzword in IoT.
The middle platform is a type of enterprise architecture that combines internet technology and industry characteristics, consolidating the core capabilities of the enterprise into a shared service center, forming an organization and business mechanism of “large middle platform, small front platform”.
In this regard, Chairman Liu Kezhen also expressed his views.
The Core of the Middle Platform is Sharing
Chairman Liu Kezhen proposed that the concept of the IoT middle platform is very important,and Advantech should also play the role of a middle platform.With a middle platform, vertical applications can be developed, and the entire industry will flourish.Advantech is already validating this business model through its own practices.
WISE-PaaS is the Practice of the Middle Platform Concept
Advantech’s WISE-PaaS is essentially the concept of a middle platform, which connects the relationship between public cloud and domain users, with many semi-finished products, known as industrial apps. The reason they are semi-finished is that they still need vertical system integrators (Domain Focus SI, DFSI) to complete the last mile.
Currently, the many flourishing applications in the Internet+ field are actually built on the middle platform accumulated in the past. For example, the widespread use of mobile phones is certainly based on a platform like Android, combined with many already completed apps stacked together.
There is No Absolute Theoretical Model for Future Trends
In addition to open source and data middle platforms, there are also concepts like CPS (Cyber-Physical System) and Digital Twin, which are currently very popular.
Regarding these new theoretical concepts, Chairman Liu Kezhen stated, these theories are future trend theoretical models, aimed at guiding users’ thinking to avoid falling into misconceptions; and scholars provide theoretical models in advance or retrospectively to facilitate the public to follow the advanced.
Truly great entrepreneurs do not blindly copy these models, but it is necessary to understand these principles.Entrepreneurs who truly want to succeed need to think outside the box, not be constrained by these conceptual frameworks, and must have their own interpretations for a healthy development approach.
Current Trends in IoT:Focus on Domain, Collaborative Co-creation
Regarding the current development model of IoT, Chairman Liu Kezhen believes that what is most suitable now is:
First, focus on Domain
Second, collaborative co-creation
Advantech proposes a co-creation business model, collaborating with upstream and downstream. The most important advice for industry players is to gain insights into the future of the IoT industry and find their respective positions. The IoT is still in a desert area; although grass has grown, it is not yet a forest. It should evolve quickly and collaborate rapidly, forming alliances.
IoT is not about the winner takes all; it is about proper division of labor.
~ Event Registration ~
Today, the editor also throws out a brick to attract jade; more details can be found in the live broadcast of the reading session on October 24, titled “Expert-led, Deconstructing the Great Future of Industrial IoT”, focusing on “Decoupling, Reconstructing, Co-creating” new thinking, for an in-depth discussion~
