IoT is not only real – it is becoming a cornerstone of modern industry. There are a lot of different iterations of IoT, and the one that is perhaps closest to my everyday work life is Industrial IoT. There is one important distinction I keep returning to: the difference between IoT and Industrial IoT. At a glance, they look the same, and they almost sound the same, just a slight stutter, I-IoT. Both involve connecting devices to gather insights, control systems, or track positions. Both help us save resources – good for both the planet and the wallet. The difference lies in execution. If your smart bulb at home goes offline, you simply flick the switch and move on. If your industrial network drops for just a few seconds, the cost of the hiccup starts ticking fast – downtime can be measured in hundreds of thousands of euros, depending on the length and severity, of course. Reliability, security, and automation are not “nice to haves” in industry; they are lifelines, and crucial parts of successful systems.
Why Industrial IoT is accelerating
The question I often get is: why is Industrial IoT gaining momentum right now? I think back to the Covid years. The pandemic forced all of us into digitalisation almost overnight – remote meetings, online collaboration, and an acceleration of change. Industry saw the same. Suddenly, IoT projects weren’t just about efficiency, they were about survival and competitiveness.
But there is more. The European CSRD directive forces companies to report on material use, waste streams, and climate impact. Sustainability is no longer a marketing slogan – well, apart from companies that still think greenwashing is a great idea – it is tied directly to finance and risk. At the same time, political winds are pushing production back to Europe. Competing globally from here requires one thing above all: a very high level of automation. And automation without insights is impossible. Insights without IoT is… old school at best. That is where IIoT enters the picture.
Avoiding the trap of being lost at sea
Still, many companies struggle. You may have heard the phrase “pilot purgatory,” but I find the metaphor of being lost at sea more accurate.Too many projects start without a clear business case, without alignment between departments, and without a plan for scale. Technology is rarely the problem. The business case is. All of the teams have to row the boat in the same direction for the same reason. With different goals, we tend to get stuck in the middle of the ocean, desperately trying to move in the right direction while we run out of energy.
The projects that succeed are the ones that begin with a measurable goal – sometimes just a small one, like predictive maintenance, energy monitoring, or remote asset management. From that goal, it is easier to build a roadmap for scaling. It is about preparing the organisation, not just the technology. Because scaling means facing new challenges: integrating with legacy systems, handling huge data flows, ensuring cybersecurity, and managing devices across multiple regions – devices that will need remote management, firmware updates, and troubleshooting without anyone being on site.
Connectivity at the core
Every IoT project has at least four building blocks: devices, connectivity, data management, and device management. Connectivity is one of the crucial enablers. Without a reliable connection, data does not flow. And without data, there is no IoT.
This is also where many projects stumble. Assuming that one network will cover all locations. Underestimating weak-signal areas. Ignoring regulatory differences between markets. Not planning for redundancy. In a lab everything looks perfect, but in the real world things go wrong. That is why rugged hardware, roaming SIMs, eSIM/eUICC, and proper device management platforms are so important.
It is also why I spend so much time talking about secure connectivity. Cybersecurity is not an add-on – it has to be part of the design from day one. Regulations like NIS2 and RED are tightening, and for good reason. If we build IIoT without security in mind, we are only postponing the inevitable problems.
Shaping the next decade of IIoT
What excites me the most is what comes next. Edge computing will make devices smarter, capable of running independently if the network fails. Digital twins will create a virtual layer of factories and processes, enabling predictive optimisation. And AI will take automation to new heights, where machines not only monitor themselves but make decisions in real time.
The global IIoT market is forecast to reach new heights. The numbers are impressive, but what matters is what they represent: not hype, but real demand. In Asia-Pacific, large-scale rollouts are already happening. In Europe, compliance and sustainability are driving progress. Different approaches, but together they are shaping a truly global movement.
By 2030, I believe Industrial IoT will no longer be a project in itself – it will simply be how industry operates: autonomous, data-driven, and sustainable. The companies preparing today, investing in secure and flexible foundations, will be the ones shaping that future. The ones waiting on the sidelines risk being left behind. I am sure that only five to ten years from now, we will see fully autonomous factories, running 24/7 with fully automated production, transport, maintenance, and logistics.