Google has launched a new cloud-based service called IoT Core that enables its enterprise customers to manage their IoT devices, as well as collect and analyze the data those devices produce.
IoT Core has access to all its data processing, analytics, and machine learning capabilities of Google’s cloud and supports devices equipped with Intel, ARM, and Marvel processors. It’s worth noting, however, that companies must manage IoT Core themselves, without assistance from Google. The service is currently available in preview mode with no stated release date.
IoT Core marks Google’s first major move into the enterprise IoT. Competing cloud providers Microsoft and Amazon carved out IoT-specific services based off their cloud offerings a while ago — Microsoft launched Azure IoT in September 2015 and Amazon released AWS IoT later that year. Until now, Google hasn’t had a specially dedicated service to compete with those offerings. But it does now, and that means a large segment of Google’s cloud customers could be looking to integrate the IoT into core segments of their businesses, and need the tools to manage, process, analyze, and store all the data that produces.
But while the service could help Google play catch-up, it won’t likely help it gain a lead over competing services quite yet. Here’s why:
- Companies need help with IoT implementation and management. Forty-six percent of executives that are looking to deploy or have deployed an IoT solution cited system integration as a top challenge in implementing the IoT. That’s because it’s tough and expensive to manage all the devices, networks, software, analytics, and security protocols associated with implementing an IoT solution at scale, and many companies lack the resources to do so.
- IoT Core doesn’t do that, but there are services from competitors that do. IoT Core can’t manage a company’s IoT deployments — it only helps companies manage their deployments themselves. Services from competitors, like Microsoft’s IoT Central, which was announced late last month does exactly that. Google has a broad addressable base, which is advantageous, but it may not be enough to outweigh the cost savings and efficiencies that outsourcing IoT deployment and management brings. That could draw players to competitors rather than Google.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly as companies around the world connect thousands of devices every day. But behind those devices, there’s a sector worth hundreds of billions of dollars supporting the IoT.
Platforms are the glue that holds the IoT together, allowing users to take full advantage of the disruptive potential of connected devices. These platforms allow the IoT to achieve its transformational potential, letting businesses manage devices, analyze data, and automate the workflow.
Peter Newman, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on the evolving IoT platform ecosystem. This report sizes the market and identifies the primary growth drivers that will power the IoT platform space in the next five years. It also profiles many of the top IoT platforms by discussing key trends in the platform industry such as platform consolidation.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
- The IoT platforms market is set to expand rapidly in the years to come, with current leading platforms expanding and others entering the space.
- We define the key categories into which IoT platforms fall: building block open platforms, closed high-end platforms, and product management platforms.
- We highlight the ways platforms can help companies reach the full five stage potential of the IoT.
In full, the report:
- Explains the coming growth of the IoT platforms.
- Profiles a number of leading platforms.
- Highlights the central role platforms play in the IoT.
- Looks to the future of the IoT platforms market.
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