The devices that form ‘the Internet of Things’ (IoT) are ideal for making the most of data analysis. These devices contain chips, cameras, sensors and many other components that receive and collect huge amounts of valuable data. These data, therefore, are the largest flow of information that is grouped on the Internet, making the IoT the largest provider for Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cognitive Computing systems.
Let’s focus on the relationship between Big Data and IoT. Were they created at the same time? Is one the result of the other?
Big data has been around for decades, but today’s concept of Big Data goes further by integrating the organisation, as well as the scalability of the petabytes of information that are generated through our daily activity. Big data existed long before IoT, and the evolution from simple data storage to active data use has made possible the analysis and prediction of behavior, which are the basic drivers of IoT devices.
Differences between Big Data and IoT
The Internet of Things is a set of gadgets, devices, wearables and machines that can connect to each other and communicate data with each other and that have been powered by consumer products. It is generated by machines, but its value increases according to the data they collect.
On the other hand, Big Data is generated by humans. In a context where not only humans interact with technology to create data, but also machines interact with each other, it is thanks to the human-created Big Data that the elements of the IoT are able to act intelligently and become more sophisticated.
Key features of the Big Data process
The Big Data process can be applied to environments that generate large data sets as well as those that generate small data sets. These tools have a number of key features:
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Data structure
Data can be structured, semi-structured or unstructured. Each with its intrinsic value that can be extracted.
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Leading edge effect
Companies that harness the full potential of the IoT maintain a competitive advantage at all levels of the business (from marketing to production).
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Revenue source
Integrating IoT and Big Data is becoming an increasingly accessible possibility for all types of companies. In return, it generates significant business opportunities and benefits in the medium and long term.
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Importance of volume
Although Big Data can operate with limited amounts of data, over time and by virtue of volume more aggressive gains can be generated.
Data-based choices are the only way to have real confidence in a company’s strategic decisions. But to extract value from Big Data and IoT it’s essential that each company determine what forms of data analysis to use for each data set, and create a compliant strategy.
First and foremost, it’s critical to identify the data you need and locate a reliable and comprehensive data source for accurate analysis. The more you narrow the focus, the easier it is to identify failures and bottlenecks, as well as reveal dependencies, processes and underperforming components.
IoT and Big Data pieces in the workflow
The machine records, along with the Internet of things, have assets and connected sensors capable of measuring, recording and transmitting performance in real time translated into data. This data has a very high potential value for manufacturers, but it needs to go through a process where this data is extracted in a relevant way. This process consists of the following pieces:
- Sensors and IoT data collection devices are installed in factories to generate a large amount of unstructured data that is collected in the Big Data system. The latter depends largely on its main 3Vs: volume, velocity and variety.
- In the Big Data system, which is a shared distributed database, the different types of data are stored in a kind of data lake formed by Big Data files.
- The stored IoT macro data are analysed by analytical tools, which generate reports and graphs of results.
- Both are fed back through additional metrics, configurations and customisations.
The Big Data is the precursor of the IoT
Although the two concepts have not been developed at the same time, they are inextricably linked. Each element of IoT is the result of the application of Big Data, and in turn, the nature of IoT makes the collection and exchange of data even more powerful.
Big Data IoT platforms such as Nexus Integra are responsible for integrating all business intelligence based on data collected by different elements (equipment, IoT sensors or others) that are part of the process or activity.
The Nexus Integra integrated operations platform consists of a powerful three-layer structure that helps your company to integrate, acquire, standardise, unify, manage and display data in a simple way.
- The first layer, Nexus Connect, helps your company integrate and acquire unstructured data through sophisticated IoT devices and tools.
- The second layer, Nexus Core, is responsible for standardising and unifying this data through the Big Data.
- The third layer, Nexus Apps, is composed of Nexus applications that provide you with the necessary tools in a global operations environment to manage and display data in a simple way.
If you need more information about the relation between Big Data and IoT or if you are looking for a platform that allows you to apply these two concepts contact us and we will tell you in detail.
