To ensure a successful transformation journey toward IoT, organizations must consider specific elements that will help them bridge the gap between their current state and the first step of the transformation process. Five practical recommendations for achieving IoT success are as follows:
Develop and articulate a coherent vision, communicating the anticipated advantages of the new operational framework to stakeholders
Identify and promptly validate the efficacy of 8 to 10 impactful use cases
Engineer a flexible IT architecture and foster partnerships with technology providers to swiftly scale up use cases
Recognize the imperative for unconventional talent, and undertake recruitment or capacity building as necessary
Understand that success in IoT is not solely predicated on technology; it significantly depends on the transformation of processes, organizational structure, and capabilities
Adopting a holistic approach to IoT adoption is crucial to manufacturers in overcoming the challenges that come with scaling up from pilot projects to company-wide rollout. Success in digital transformation can bring substantial value, but it requires an appropriate approach that considers not only technology-related factors but also the fundamentals of the organization and business. Several real-world cases have shown the potential for significant value creation through digital transformation when approached correctly.
A case of digital transformation of healthcare within a smart city
Barcelona stands as a beacon of success in the smart city landscape, having utilized IoT technologies to revolutionize urban systems and improve quality of life. Following the 2008 recession, the city established the Smart City Barcelona team to consolidate existing projects and identify new opportunities. The extensive fiber optic network laid decades ago facilitated the city’s transformation by enabling citywide Wi-Fi access and serving as the backbone for integrated city systems. The IoT technologies deployed across various sectors, from transportation to waste management, have contributed to substantial cost savings, new job creation, and improved energy efficiency.
The Sentilo platform was developed to manage the vast amount of data generated from 18,000 active sensors in the city. These sensors monitor various aspects, such as weather, electricity, water supply, and air quality, allowing for efficient management of urban systems. Moreover, open data projects such as the City Operating System were adopted, promoting the growth of various smart city applications and services. However, the digital transformation journey presents its own set of challenges, including security risks, energy consumption, and e-waste. To address these challenges, Barcelona invested in renewable energy, implemented recycling programs, and enforced strict data protection measures.
Additionally, Barcelona undertook a remarkable initiative to enhance healthcare services for its citizens using IoT technology. A pilot project was developed in collaboration with technology companies to monitor the health of vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, using wearable devices. These devices tracked vital signs in real time and transmitted the data to healthcare providers, enabling remote monitoring of patients’ conditions.
We can look at how this functioned systematically in Figure 13.6.
Figure 13.21 – System diagram of the Barcelona smart city solution
The system diagram illustrates the Barcelona smart city solution’s multifaceted architecture, integrating various data sources and platforms to facilitate urban management. At its foundation, the city utilizes a broad spectrum of sensors, ranging from geographical and city-specific data collectors to video platforms. This raw data is funneled into specialized platforms, such as SentiloBCN, which subsequently channel the data to analytical components such as business intelligence (BI) tools and specific city semantics modules.
In parallel, there’s an emphasis on openness, with modules dedicated to open data and applications that can be leveraged by developers and stakeholders. Key features such as events repository and management underscore the city’s focus on real-time event monitoring, while components such as security and processes ensure the safe and streamlined operation of the entire ecosystem. Complementing the setup are control centers, situation rooms, and external integration points, ensuring comprehensive oversight and seamless coordination between Barcelona’s smart city infrastructure and external entities.
Now, let’s look at the case of implementing security measures in IIoT.