Dell dedicated IoT unit claims ‘industry’s broadest” internet of things solution portfolio
Armed with results from several sweeping internet of things (IoT) projects, Dell Technologies, in a new report, sees a future totally reshaped by the combination of software, big data, compute power and smart, connected things. “In 2030 every organization will be a technology organization and, as a result, businesses need to start thinking now about how to prepare their infrastructure for digital transformation,” the company says.
Among the customer wins highlighted, Dell called out projects with industrial automation powerhouse Emerson; Korean security and surveillance firm Innodep; software provider Talisen Technologies; and Irish ICT outfit TSSG.
“We’re committed to helping customers build the right IoT solutions to address their unique business needs,” said Joyce Mullen, senior vice president, Global IoT and OEM Solutions, Dell EMC. “Not only do we offer the industry’s broadest IoT portfolio, but we help customers build upon their existing equipment to help simplify the deployment process and reach their return-on-investment faster.”
The IoT is a moving target that requires not only connected objects, but both centralized and distributed computing, storage and processing functionality that spans the data center-based cloud, as well as infrastructure deployed in the field to support mobile edge computing.
Looking to the coming decades, in a report titled “Realizing 2030,” the company sees a new level of human-machine partnerships.
From the report: “As processing power increases 10 times every five years (Source: Moore’s Law), humans will be eclipsed by computers in many areas. Machines will bring lightning speed and accuracy to all manner of tasks. However, it would be a fallacy to assume that technology is making human effort redundant. It’s doubtful that computers will have fully mastered the fundamental, instinctive skills of intuition, judgment, and emotional intelligence that humans value by 2030. Over the next decade, partnering with machines will help humans transcend their limitations.”
A key aspect of successful IoT projects, beyond proprietary deployments specific to any one company, is the level of interoperability needed to realize broad insight from all of the IoT-related data produced by a connected world.
To that end, Dell contributed more than 100,000 lines of code developed internally to see the Linus Foundation’s EdgeX Foundry, focused on interoperability at the network edge.
And, as businesses embrace IoT-driven digital transformation, Kevin Terwilliger, Dell’s IoT Solutions Director, Client Solutions, explained in a conversation with Enterprise IoT Insights during the Dell EMC World exhibition that he helps customers to identify IoT “blueprints” meant to accelerate return on investment. In a departure from the predominant thinking, Terwilliger explained this process doesn’t start with an evaluation of technology, but rather with an analysis of the attendant business case.
“It’s important to not start with the technology,” Terwilliger said in a meeting room tucked away in the Sands Expo and Convention Center. “We’re really trying to help customers think about the business case. What is the ROI that matters to you? Some businesses care about customer experience and how do I engage a customer in a new way. Other customers are concerned about cutting cost out. Then you craft the whole solution around that business case.”
