SAP Internet of Things

SAP Internet of Things solution

What Is Internet of Things (IoT)?

In simplified terms, IoT pertains to capturing data from the physical world through sensors and other devices (like smart cameras), and then leveraging that data for various purposes. The data can be captured to make decisions in near-real time or perform descriptive and predictive analytics. There are four key stages involved in an IoT solution, as illustrated in the example illustration below. You can find a comprehensive coverage of IoT on this SAP portal resource.

SAP Internet of Things solution

What Is Internet of Things (IoT)?

In simplified terms, IoT pertains to capturing data from the physical world through sensors and other devices (like smart cameras), and then leveraging that data for various purposes. The data can be captured to make decisions in near-real time or perform descriptive and predictive analytics. There are four key stages involved in an IoT solution, as illustrated in the example illustration below. You can find a comprehensive coverage of IoT on this SAP portal resource.

SAP IoT Solution

SAP’s Business Technology Platform (BTP) houses an SAP IoT solution that allows organizations to build and manage IoT solutions and services. From applications in supply chains to running intelligent business processes, SAP IoT solutions can be leveraged by organizations for a plethora of needs. This video from SAP illustrates some frequent applications of IoT solutions across SAP’s customer base. Key highlights of this solution are:

• Provides a fully managed capability to build data-driven solutions by leveraging sensor data.
• Embedded IoT services.
• Intuitive interface for easy consumption of applications.
• Supports a wide range of capability areas, from industrial manufacturing to field services.
• Cloud-based orchestration for edge devices.

Key Considerations for SAPinsiders

• Understand the benefits and applications within your current processes. Technology is all about the value it delivers. Understand the benefits IoT can bring to your business and explore the range of business cases. Examples of benefits that SAP IoT can deliver are:
  • Decreased machine downtime
  • Increased enterprise agility and efficiency
  • Smarter supply chain management, as highlighted in this example
  • Safer shop floor environments
  • Enhanced customer experience.

This resource from SAP elaborates on benefits and provides a good primer on possible use cases.

• Explore opportunities to innovate. Transforming your current operations is certainly a powerful way to leverage IoT to your advantage. Another approach is to leverage it to create new products and services, as highlighted by SAPinsiders in our research “Modernizing Logistics and Inventory Tracking.” Use IoT to envision new products and operating models, as well as enhance existing technologies, as illustrated in this example. Use the data captured leveraging IoT to build new products and solutions.
• Understand the role of IoT in Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is an amalgamation of various technologies. IoT is one of the key ones. For organizations that are on the path to build Industry 4.0 capabilities, it is critical to understand the role IoT plays so they can build their Industry 4.0 and intelligent enterprise capability strategy accordingly.