A Guide to Understanding IoT and IIoT

If you’re interested in learning about the latest technologies, then you must have heard about IoT. Internet of Things (IoT) is not a new concept and most people have some basic understanding of this technology. However, things get confusing when it comes to the difference between IoT and IIoT. Unless you’re a tech geek, most probably you don’t know much about these terms and how IIoT differs from IoT. So, to learn about these two concepts, let’s begin with understanding the meaning of each.

IoT – Internet of Things

IoT stands for Internet of Things which is a network of connected devices. If you’re able to adjust the temperature of the AC with your phone or turn off the lights of your bedroom from the office, it is all because of IoT. This technology allows devices to communicate with each other through the Internet. The devices are embedded with sensors and connected to the internet. This helps in connecting several household appliances and everyday items to the internet and enables remote control from distances. Today, IoT is used to connect billions of products such as cars, light switches, home appliances, and other products to improve user experience. This technology has enabled consumer interaction with connected smart devices to make everyday life easier. From reducing electricity bills by remote controlling lights to automatically locking cars from distance, IoT has streamlined our daily life. IoT includes consumer devices like mobiles, home appliances, and other electronic devices that focus on consumer convenience. So, if you feel curious and interested in this technology, you can talk to an IoT consultant.

IIoT – Industrial Internet of Things

IIoT refers to the Industrial Internet of Things which is a part of IoT. Both IoT and IIoT work in the same way, however, their applications are different. IoT is an umbrella term and Industrial IoT is a part of it. This branch of IoT focuses specifically on industrial applications to streamline their operations. It involves connecting devices to make them intelligent and achieve operational efficiency. The industrial internet of things (IIoT) is also known as Industry 4.0 or simply industrial internet. It involves the use of smart sensors and actuators that provides real-time analytics to make faster and more informed business decisions. Connecting industrial machines allow businesses to identify inefficiencies and problems. This helps in preventing sudden machine breakdown, boosts productivity, and allows quality control. The major IIoT applications include Predictive maintenance (PdM), energy management, asset tracking, and more. So, IIoT is a network of intelligent devices that are used to monitor, collect, exchange and analyze data. 

Differences and Similarities

Both IoT and IIoT involve connecting devices to the internet and making them smart to improve user experience. However, unlike IoT which focuses on consumer devices, IIoT connects machines on a larger scale to increase the speed and safety of machines and allow production facilities to run more smoothly and efficiently. It means that IoT is for consumers while IIoT focuses on industries. IoT includes consumer devices like smart watches while IIoT refers to applications like Amazon warehouse, Airbus, and more. The purpose of IoT is to improve consumer convenience while IIoT is the large-scale application of connected devices to benefit businesses by improving their operations. 

When it comes to cost, IIoT is more expensive than IoT because industries use more sophisticated devices that require higher level of precision. Moreover, IIoT applications are more advanced and used across industries like manufacturing, automobile, agriculture, oil and gas, and more.