by Gary Mintchell | Mar 17, 2026 | Asset Performance Management, Edge, Internet of Things, News
Another news item that became buried in all the AI information flooding my way. Terrence O’Hanlon of Reliability Web considered this significant to the reliability community. The Industrial Internet of Things angle, which seems dated, recently cropped up in a couple of other discussions I’ve had. Of course, “Edge” remains a significant news item. Bringing IIoT to Edge to Enterprise remains a challenge.
These are Terrence’s comments, SUSE Just Acquired Losant:
On February 19, SUSE announced its acquisition of Losant , an Industrial Internet of Things platform. The press release describes a “full-stack open process automation platform at the Edge” and promises interoperability, real-time insights, and freedom from vendor lock-in.
If you work in the Uptime Elements Digitalization Strategy Framework, you just read a press release that could have been written from our 10 Rights of Digitalization Implementation Guide.
This is not a coincidence. It is confirmation.
Let me explain why this acquisition matters — not as a technology story, but as a leadership story — and what it means for every reliability professional navigating the Industrial IoT landscape.
The Acquisition in 30 Seconds
SUSE, the enterprise open source company, acquired Losant to extend its Edge portfolio from infrastructure into operational execution at the “Tiny Edge” — where sensors, controllers, and machines generate the data that drives reliability decisions. SUSE has stated its intention to open source the Losant technology and contribute to the Margo open industrial automation initiative.
The combined platform promises device orchestration, data management, visual workflow engines, customizable dashboards, and AI-driven automation — all built on open standards.
For those of us who have spent years building governance frameworks for exactly this kind of technology, the timing could not be more relevant.
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by Gary Mintchell | Dec 2, 2025 | Data Management, Enterprise IT, Generative AI, Internet of Things, Operations Management
User studies remain one of the primary ways software companies can gain insight and achieve some public recognition. Most of the studies emanate from cybersecurity protection developers. This one comes from a software company with which I’ve had little contact. There was a woman I knew from one company who came to SAS for a while. We had occasional conversations before she left that company.
SAS develops software applications. I’ve never had a handle on its business. It now bills itself as a global leader in data and AI. This study was conducted by the research firm IDC. And we have the acronym AIoT—or the convergence of AI and IoT. Somehow I feel that concatenating acronyms is the beginning of the end times 😉
Key findings from the IDC InfoBrief, How AIoT Is Reshaping Industrial Efficiency, Security, and Decision-Making, sponsored by SAS, include:
This one should surprise no one. Everyone discusses predictive maintenance.
Predictive maintenance dominates current AIoT use. Nearly 71% of organizations use AIoT for predictive maintenance, the most widely adopted use for manufacturing/industrial and energy companies surveyed. IT automation (53%) and supply and logistics (47%) were the next most cited uses for AIoT.
Executives continue to dream of significant cost reductions from AI.
AIoT drives tangible business value. 54% of respondents anticipate major cost savings, 52% predict smarter and faster innovation and 49% expect streamlined operations from their investment in AIoT. Additionally, 63% believe AIoT will boost productivity and competitiveness.
Managers continue to see AI as an aid to overcome the current skills gap of employees.
Skills gap emerges as the top challenge. The skills gap is the biggest barrier to AIoT success, outpacing legacy system integration and data quality issues as the most significant roadblock. Other challenges include high implementation costs, business process misalignment and cultural resistance. Addressing these issues is essential to unlocking AIoT’s full potential.
Some actually use the technology!
Heavy AIoT users see greater value. Organizations using AIoT heavily are twice as likely to report benefits that significantly exceed expectations as those that only use the technology sparingly. Strikingly, less than 3% say the value of AIoT “did not meet expectations.”
The IDC research is based on a global survey of more than 300 industrial executives in the manufacturing and energy industries.
And from the company:
SAS IoT solutions combine AI, machine learning and edge-to-cloud integration, enabling analysis of high-volume, high-velocity data. And joining AI with these IoT solutions extends the value of existing infrastructure investments and digitally transforms the workforce by shifting from manual oversight to intelligent orchestration.
Other organizations benefiting from SAS IoT and streaming analytics for improved asset reliability, enhanced product quality and increased efficiency across connected systems include:
- Georgia-Pacific
- Jakarta Smart City
- Lloyd’s List
- Lockheed Martin
- Town of Cary (North Carolina)
- Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks
- wienerberger
by Gary Mintchell | Mar 25, 2025 | Internet of Things, Networking
5G and private 5G cellular networks were all the rage a few years ago. They hype cycle has progressed. I’ve seen some examples of real-world applications. It remains more promise than use at this time.
However, some news continues to flow through my system. This one is a partnership of sorts between Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) and Celona. This new turnkey solution integrates with ALE’s OmniVista, OmniSwitch, and OmniAccess Stellar networking portfolio, enabling secure and high quality connectivity across complex enterprise environments including large outdoor spaces.
The cutting-edge technology in ALE’s Private 5G solution is engineered for ultra-reliable connectivity in complex industrial settings such as manufacturing, refineries, logistics warehouses, and ports including airport apron/ramp areas. The Private 5G solution offers large-area wireless coverage, secure and reliable high-speed mobility, supporting real-time, critical industrial applications, leading to enhanced IoT and Industry 4.0 integration.
This technology enables connecting next-generation IoT devices and applications that demand ultra-low latency and deterministic performance in enterprises pioneering the use of state-of-the-art devices and technologies, including autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics, HD video analytics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) applications, all of which will benefit from robust wireless connectivity.
ALE is integrating Private 5G with its existing solutions, such as OmniVista Cirrus, OmniSwitch LAN, and OmniAccess Stellar WLAN, to deliver reliable augmented coverage across industrial sites, offices and campuses. This approach ensures end-to-end secure Zero Touch Network Access and high-performance connectivity for seamless operations and advanced applications.
Private 5G powered by Celona delivers on the promise of strong security with robust SIM authentication and Celona’s patented MicroSlicing and Aerloc technologies, which ensure reliable service and application-level SLAs, policy enforcement, and zero trust security for business-critical applications.
by Gary Mintchell | Jan 21, 2025 | Internet of Things, Sensors, Wireless
Following the “fieldbus wars” came the “wireless wars.” Bringing the entire automation and control community together for standards seemed to be The Impossible Dream. I predicted that the market would settle things, and it did.
Wireless sensors ushered in the Industrial Internet of Things era. One constant concern for engineers was powering the many sensors—many, or most, requiring batteries.
I didn’t have to attend CES to get news. I preferred the vacation in Australia and New Zealand we took instead of a crowded Las Vegas. This news comes from a company I’ve never heard of (always a joy).
G-Lyte to Introduce Sensitized Solar Cell Technology To Create a Durable Alternative to Disposable Batteries
(Aside: I take about 75 lbs. Of household batteries to recycling from our community every month. This keeps the toxic chemicals out of the landfill. Plus, companies really do recover the chemicals for reuse.)
Every day, consumers discard more than 72 million non-rechargable batteries contributing to high levels of toxicity that pose a serious risk to the environment while also needlessly driving up consumer prices. Recognizing this urgent need for alternative device powering solutions, G-Lyte has perfected their best-in-class, proprietary Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) technology to create a durable, high-efficiency power source in low light environments that’s eco-friendly and 99%-plus recyclable.
Created as an embedded technology for product integration at the OEM level, G-Lyte is designed to power such products as computer accessories, remote controls, electronic shelf labels (ESLs), smart watches, trackers, sensors and more.
Manufactured for integration into both existing and new electronic devices, G-Lyte’s dynamic team of scientist-inventors work with product manufacturers at every level of the engineering process to evaluate their products’ power requirements and the prevailing lighting conditions in which the device will ultimately operate to first determine if the photovoltaic in-dye solution is, in fact, the best approach before deploying standard or custom sized and shaped products to power the device. G-Lyte also offers the only cell efficient in indoor conditions and stable under prolonged direct sun exposure.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 18, 2024 | Internet of Things, Operations Management
Moira Gunn of TechNation podcast just interviewed Gary Shapiro, longtime head of the Consumer Technology Association managers of the CES in January. He talked about the company pivots he had experienced.
I have followed Digi International for many years. I won’t say that it pivots often, but it does manage to move to newer use cases and technologies while staying true to its connectivity origins.
This latest news centers on the launch of Digi 360, a subscription-based solution supporting ease-of-use, deployment visibility and optimized ROI for Digi cellular routers.
Every company that can possibly offer it tries for subscription-based sales in order to maintain a constant cash flow and hopefully lock in customers to long term service.
Delivering a comprehensive connectivity package, Digi 360 includes purpose-built devices, software, services and enhanced warranty to simplify the rollout of IoT projects and ease the challenges faced by enterprises when configuring, deploying and managing their deployments. With Digi 360, customers benefit from Digi’s robust devices that enable automation and edge computing across a wide range of enterprise, industrial and transportation environments, as well as the latest tools and resources to efficiently manage and secure deployments across evolving use cases.
- Management via Digi Remote Manager (Digi RM): Digi Remote Manager is an intelligent network command center, providing centralized control, management, security, and edge intelligence. Providing a single, secure platform that allows network health monitoring and instant alerts from across the network, Digi RM has the ability to both diagnose and repair issues, reducing the need to deploy a technician or roll a truck. Additional features include API access, simplified configuration, out-of-band management, scheduled automation and access to a range of value-added services.
- Digi Cellular Devices: Digi’s devices offer configurability, scalability and purpose-built design. Additionally, Digi edge devices are designed for extended product lifecycles, world-class reliability, mobile and fixed wireless access and integrated software and security, to keep critical systems running efficiently.
- Customer Care: Digi Expert Support provides technical assistance, including 24/7/365 expert global support within a four-hour response service level agreement for priority case resolution, configuration and network troubleshooting, return merchandise authorization (RMA) assistance, and feature/functionality inquiries. Professional services are also available for integration with third-party devices, code debugging, and more, along with a Customer Success program for mission-critical deployments.
- Limited Lifetime Warranty: Digi 360 includes an enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty, offering edge device protection for active subscribers for the full length of the subscription.
by Gary Mintchell | May 7, 2024 | Automation, Embedded Control, Industrial Computers, Internet of Things, Interoperability
Interoperability forms a key feature for useful technology. Think of train rail gauges. Or shipping cargo containers. Or much of our industrial technology—much, but far from all. The drive of technology application suppliers for proprietary lock in is strong. Many will open up only as much as customers demand immediately.
This news comes from ABB and the Linux Foundation regarding a new interoperability initiative for industrial applications. They call it “Margo” which is Latin for “edge.” Cute, eh? Better than many names I’ve seen over the years.
In brief:
- Margo, a new open standard initiative for interoperability, will address key roadblocks to digital transformation
- The initiative is hosted by the Linux Foundation and driven by a founding group of industrial automation solution providers, including ABB Process Automation and ABB Machine Automation (B&R)
- Margo aims to unlock interoperability at the edge – a key layer of Industrial IoT ecosystems where plant data is transformed into AI-powered insights to drive efficiency and sustainability
- At the Hannover Messe on April 23, 2024, founding members ABB (including B&R), Capgemini, Microsoft, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric (including AVEVA) and Siemens announced collaboration on a new initiative to deliver interoperability for Industrial IoT ecosystems.
Hosted by the Linux Foundation and open to further interested parties, the Margo initiative draws its name from the Latin word for ‘edge’ and will define mechanisms for interoperability between applications, devices and orchestration software at the edge of industrial ecosystems. In particular, Margo will make it easy to run and combine applications from any ecosystem member on top of the hardware and runtime system of any other member. Margo aims to deliver on its interoperability promise through a modern and agile open-source approach, which will bring industrial companies increased flexibility, simplicity and scalability as they undergo digital transition in complex, multi-vendor environments.
“Mastering efficiency, flexibility and quality faster than competitors is key to success in today’s industrial world,” said Bernhard Eschermann, CTO, ABB Process Automation. “Digitalization can help deliver on these benefits, but digital ecosystems require a robust, secure and interoperable framework at the edge, connecting operations and information technologies. For ABB, a long-standing advocate of open automation systems, driving a forward-thinking collaborative initiative like Margo is key to achieving this goal.”
“The more sources you get data from, the better the decisions you can make,” explained Florian Schneeberger, CTO of ABB’s Machine Automation division (B&R). “Yet, while the benefits of digitalization increase with scale, so do the challenges of navigating heterogeneous industrial ecosystems. That’s why interoperability is so crucial to unlocking the full potential of digitalization. It empowers organizations to adopt and scale Industrial IoT solutions at full speed without large teams of IT specialists.”
In March 2024, ABB became a member of the Linux Foundation. This will enable the company to further enhance efforts in promoting open community collaboration, helping unlock innovation and enable better products and experiences for customers. This further strengthens ABB’s commitment to open standard based systems.
