The Industrial IoT Blog
IIoT Insights by Henry Costa
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Sparkplug B vs Plain MQTT: Performance Lessons
Read more: Sparkplug B vs Plain MQTT: Performance LessonsIf you work in industrial manufacturing and you’re looking at MQTT, you’ve probably heard about Sparkplug B. You might be wondering: Is it really faster? Does it use less bandwidth? Is it worth the extra complexity? I’ll walk you through…
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Equipment Connectivity: The Unglamorous Work That Makes Everything Possible
Read more: Equipment Connectivity: The Unglamorous Work That Makes Everything PossibleIf you’ve ever walked into a modern factory and seen dashboards glowing with real-time data, robots humming along, or operators using tablets to check production status, you’ve seen the shiny side of smart manufacturing. But behind all that magic, there’s…
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IIoT Vendor Demo vs Reality: What They Don’t Show You
Read more: IIoT Vendor Demo vs Reality: What They Don’t Show YouIf you’ve ever sat through an IIoT vendor demo and thought, “Wow, this looks easy,” you’re not alone. I’ve been in this industry for over two decades, and I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a slick demo only…
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The Power of Storytelling with IIoT Data
Read more: The Power of Storytelling with IIoT DataIf you’ve been in manufacturing for a while, you know the plant floor is noisy—not just with machines, but with data. Every sensor, robot, and PLC is constantly spitting out numbers. But here’s the thing: all that data is just…
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Edge AI Is Transforming IIoT with Real-Time Decisions
Read more: Edge AI Is Transforming IIoT with Real-Time DecisionsLet’s break it down simply. Edge AI means running artificial intelligence—things like machine learning models—directly on devices at the “edge” of your network. That’s usually right where the machines, sensors, and cameras are, not in some far-off data center. Why…
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Managing Up, Down, and Sideways: The Hidden Skill of IIoT Architects
Read more: Managing Up, Down, and Sideways: The Hidden Skill of IIoT ArchitectsIf there’s one thing I wish more people understood about IIoT architecture, it’s this: the tech is hard, yes — but managing people up, down, and sideways is the real superpower. You can have the cleanest architecture, the best platform,…
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IIoT Risks: What Manufacturers Need to Watch Out For
Read more: IIoT Risks: What Manufacturers Need to Watch Out ForWhen you start connecting machines, systems, and people across a factory, you open up a world of opportunities — but also a minefield of risks. I’ve spent years helping manufacturing teams roll out machine connectivity and IIoT platforms, from the…
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Foundations: Key Differences Between IoT and Industrial IoT (IIoT)
Read more: Foundations: Key Differences Between IoT and Industrial IoT (IIoT)I get asked a lot about the difference between IoT and IIoT, especially from folks who are new to manufacturing or are coming from IT. It’s a fair question. On the surface, both involve connecting “things” to the internet, collecting…
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Industrial IoT Market Size in 2025: What the Data Really Shows
Read more: Industrial IoT Market Size in 2025: What the Data Really ShowsWhen I walk through a modern plant, what stands out isn’t just the hum of machines or the glow of control screens—it’s the invisible web of connections tying everything together. IIoT has become the backbone for smarter, more responsive operations.…
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How IIoT and AI Are Transforming Maintenance & Asset Tracking
Read more: How IIoT and AI Are Transforming Maintenance & Asset TrackingIIoT and AI are changing maintenance and asset tracking; it’s not hype, and it’s not just for big manufacturing conferences. I’ve seen the shift up close, from the early days of connecting a few machines to the reality today—where we…
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Building a Smart Manufacturing Consulting Practice: The First 90 Days
Read more: Building a Smart Manufacturing Consulting Practice: The First 90 DaysStarting a Smart Manufacturing consulting practice from the ground up is a bit like jumping onto a moving train — you need to get your bearings fast, build trust with new faces, and learn to solve real problems before you…
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Retiring SAP MII: Closing a Chapter and Opening the Next One
Read more: Retiring SAP MII: Closing a Chapter and Opening the Next OneAfter spending almost twenty years working with SAP MII (before that, xMII), it feels strange to say goodbye. It was part of daily life for many of us. It solved tough problems, frustrated teams, and more than once saved a…