IoT Use Case

Vendor-Neutral IIoT Platform for Machines and Plants

Vendor-neutral platforms are industrial IoT platforms without their own hardware. They connect sensors, controllers and machines from any manufacturer and provide device management, visualization, alerting and remote access. In the IoT stack, they are the layer where data from a mixed machine fleet comes together.

  • Project Manager Digital Engineering, Albrecht Bäumer GmbH & Co. KG
  • Plant Manager, Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH
  • Head of Development, SPALECK GmbH & Co. KG

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Who offers it

Independent platforms in practice

6 manufacturers from our partner network with 45 solution examples. Those with the most documented use in this category come first.

What it is used for

What they are used for, and with what

Based on these manufacturers' solution examples: the most common use cases and the technologies their solutions speak.

Use cases

Technologies

What to look for

What vendor-neutral platforms deliver

A vendor-neutral industrial IoT platform connects to anything that delivers data: controllers via OPC UA, Modbus or Siemens S7, sensors via IO-Link or LoRaWAN, and gateways via MQTT. It manages devices and users, stores time series, provides dashboards and triggers alerts. Many platforms include remote access for service technicians, while others focus on data analytics or open interfaces to ERP and MES. They run as software as a service, in a cloud of choice or in your own data center.

Examples from the network are IXON, focused on remote access and a machine portal for machine builders, Cumulocity GmbH with an open IoT platform for device management and applications, and Akenza AG for quickly connecting sensors that use different wireless technologies.

How it differs from other platform types

Manufacturer-owned platforms go deep into one vendor's equipment but cover only that portfolio. Hyperscalers provide infrastructure from which companies build their own solution. Specialized platforms solve a single business problem. The vendor-neutral platform sits in between: ready-made functions, but open to every manufacturer. The main reason to choose one is to monitor and manage a mixed machine fleet through a single interface.

What to look for when choosing one

The first thing to check is the list of drivers and protocols: can the existing controllers and sensors be connected without custom development? Next come device management with remote software updates, role and multi-tenant management, security credentials and where the platform runs. The licensing model and open APIs also matter so that data does not stay locked in the platform. A short pilot with two or three typical machines quickly shows whether a platform fits.

A typical solution example is a machine builder that ships equipment with controllers from various manufacturers and supports it worldwide. Through a vendor-neutral platform, the service team sees all machines in one portal, uses remote access when faults occur and spots recurring errors through analytics. An operator with a mixed machine fleet uses the same kind of platform to compare key figures across all lines on one dashboard.

Frequently asked questions about vendor-neutral platforms

What is IIoT?

IIoT stands for Industrial Internet of Things: connecting machines, equipment, sensors and controllers in industrial settings. Their data is collected, transmitted over networks and analyzed in platforms for purposes such as condition monitoring, quality assurance or energy efficiency. A vendor-neutral IIoT platform is where data from devices made by different manufacturers comes together.

IIoT vs. IoT: what is the difference?

IIoT is the industrial branch of the Internet of Things. IoT covers any kind of connected device, while IIoT deals with machines, plants and infrastructure that have stricter requirements for availability, real-time behavior, service life and security. IIoT also involves industrial protocols such as OPC UA, Modbus or IO-Link and integration with systems such as MES and ERP.

How much does an IoT platform cost?

Most vendors charge by the number of connected devices, users or data volume, usually as a monthly subscription. On top of that come one-time costs for setup, connecting the machines and training. For pilots with a few devices, many vendors offer trial access or small starter packages. As the number of devices grows, the price per device usually falls.

Are there open source IoT platforms?

Yes. Several open source platforms cover device management, data storage and visualization and can run in your own data center or a cloud of choice. They save license costs and avoid dependence on a single vendor. In return, operation, updates and security are the responsibility of your own team. Many companies therefore use commercial support offerings built around the open source software.

What is a machine portal?

A machine portal is a web interface through which a machine builder and its customers see all delivered machines in one place. It shows status, alarms and key figures, brings together documentation and service history and often provides remote access for service teams. Vendor-neutral platforms offer such portals as a ready-made feature, even when the machines use controllers from different manufacturers.

On the podcast

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Related categories

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