Our guest for this week is Jared Huke, founder and CEO of Daito Design. Daito Design is a strategy, consulting, and design firm focused on creating impactful innovations for enterprises.

In this episode, we talked about how user-centric design can improve the success of IoT solution deployment in the energy sector. We also explored the complex interactions between user experience, business design, technology development, and risk management.

Key Questions:

• What is the landscape of digital projects in the energy sector from a user-centric perspective?
• How does the energy sector differ from other sectors in terms of interface?
• How do you align your business model to provide a user-centric design and functionality in IoT service?

This week, our guest is Malcolm Hawker, Chief Data Officer of Profisee. Profisee is a cloud-native master data management solution that helps enterprises solve data quality and governance issues.

In this talk, we discussed the challenges related to data management, from integration between systems to standardizing workflows. We also explored how blockchain can impact data governance by making it easier to manage data sharing between supply chain partners.

Key Questions:

• How do you segregate jobs to be done in data management?
• What are the distinct challenges for each platform and data set?
• How centralized does network data mover tend to be?

This week, we interviewed Ivo Rook, Chief Operating Officer and President of 1NCE. 1NCE is a leading provider of connectivity and software for IoT at a global flat rate. They offer fast, secure, and reliable cellular connectivity and services in more than 110 countries.

In this episode, we discussed trends in IoT adoption and the telecommunications industry that enabled the 1NCE business model to grow rapidly in recent years. We also explored the non-technical challenges related to scaling IoT, like business case economics, servicing cost, supply chain, and the overall need for simplicity.

 Key Questions: 

• What technological shifts are driving business demand for global IoT connectivity services today? 
• What is the cost structure behind the total cost of customer deployment solutions for IoT device roaming?
• What are IoT device manufacturer, operator and user priorities and requirements for roaming services? 
• How are telco operators partnering to deliver services for IoT devices globally?

This week, our guest is Dominik Obermaier, CTO of HiveMQ. HiveMQ helps companies connect devices to the internet by enabling fast, secure, efficient, scalable, and reliable bi-directional data movement between devices and the Cloud.

In this talk, we dive deep into the IoT protocol landscape as we focus on MQTT and the surrounding standards in enabling software. We also explored the critical role of open standards and open-source software in an efficient and dynamic marketplace that promotes innovation.

Key Questions:

• What is an IoT protocol, and how does it differ from a standard and connectivity technology?
• What are the different MQTT alternatives for communication with devices?
• How has the functionality of MQTT changed over time?
• How do you define the appropriate communication protocol for particular use cases?

In this episode, we spoke with Natali Tshuva, co-founder and CEO of Sternum. Sternum provides cybersecurity and data visibility throughout the product life-cycle process using embedded self-protection and monitoring solutions for resource-constrained devices.

We discussed the cybersecurity threat landscape for IoT devices and why hacking a device is significantly easier than securing a device. We also explored the potential to unlock hidden data points from device operations to provide operational visibility and insights to operators and manufacturers.

Key Questions:

• What are emerging challenges in the current IoT cybersecurity landscape?
• What device security capabilities are missing from traditional cybersecurity solutions?
• What is the decision process for manufacturers and operators in assessing cybersecurity partners?
• How can cybersecurity solutions be used to better understand device operations and user behavior?

This week, our guest is Justin Beals, CEO and co-founder at Strike Graph. Strike Graph is a compliance SAS solution that simplifies security certifications such as SOC 2, ISOO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS compliance.

In this episode, we discussed the importance of an effective compliance program for technology companies to meet customer requirements and reduce the time to close sales. We also explored the evolving landscape of security in compliance standards as regulators and companies seek to stay ahead of security threats.

Key Questions:

• Can you describe the landscape of cybersecurity and compliance standards for technology companies?
• What is the significant difference in requirements between traditional internet-connected and IoT devices?
• What are the challenges technology providers, software providers, device manufacturers, or operators face based on their operating model?

In this episode, we interviewed Matan Libis, VP of Product at SQream. SQream provides an analytics platform that minimizes Total Time to Insight (TTTI) for time-sensitive data, on-prem and on-the-cloud.

In this talk, we discussed the value of modern database architecture for extracting insights from petaflops of data. We also explored the merger of traditional data warehouses with data lakes into lakehouses wherein large volumes of data are queried without duplicating to a warehouse.

Key Questions:

• What are the unique architectural requirements for managing peta-scale data sets?  
• How do data management requirement differ for the manufacturing, telco, and banking, industries?
• What is the difference between a data lake, a warehouse, and a lakehouse?

In this episode, we talked with Robin Farmanfarmaian. Robin is a professional speaker and healthcare entrepreneur. She is also the author of "How AI can democratize healthcare?"

In this talk, we discussed AI's role in the shifting landscape of healthcare delivery towards telemedicine and healthcare. We also explored the interfaces between traditional healthcare products and service providers with the new generation of digital diagnostics and therapeutics companies.

Key Questions:

• How do digital therapeutics work with the technology company and traditional healthcare providers?
• What is the current landscape of the ability of machine learning to make predictions accurate in healthcare products and services?
• How are the integrations across other applications work to enrich medical data sets?
• How does digital diagnostics impact the traditional healthcare industry and therapeutics companies, especially in hospitals and pharmacies?

Our guest this week is Nick Jordon, founder and CEO of Narrative. Narrative is a category creating company that has redefined data commerce by helping organizations acquire and monetize data more efficiently.

In this talk, we deep dived into data monetization, from common use cases to marketplace pricing mechanisms and data quality assurance. We also explored how large, mature companies can monetize data from customer interactions with their products to improve margins.

Key Questions:

• What are the buyer and seller  dynamics of a data marketplace? 
• Which use cases are mature today, and which are being tested?
• How are prices and purchase rules set rules on the platform, and by whom?
• What is the process to guarantee data ownership and accuracy?

This week we interviewed Cameron Worth, CEO and co-founder of SharpEnd. SharpEnd is an IoT agency and SaaS platform that supports CPG brands in connecting non-digital consumer products.

In this talk, we discussed using QR codes, NFC, and augmented reality to drive consumer engagement and generate market insights. We also explored the challenges involved in rolling out large scale IoT campaigns that involve millions of products, thousands of sales points, and dozens of countries. 

Key Questions:

• What does the IoT application landscape look like today for CPG brands and retailers?
• Which "common sense" sales and marketing use cases should every brand consider?
• What are the significant differences in capabilities and cost between QR codes and NFC?
• How is NFC deployed to gather insights across the lifecycle of products?

This week we interviewed Jag Gattu, founder and CEO of UptimeAI. UptimeAI is an artificial intelligence-based plant monitoring software that combines predictive maintenance with explainable failure modes, recommendations, and self-learning workflows to mitigate equipment failures and performance loss in process industries.

In this episode, we talked about the current state of artificial intelligence for system optimization and process manufacturing as we focused on performance degradation and equipment failure. We also discussed the need for energy improvement, efficiency, and long-term sustainability priorities.

Key Questions:

What is the value UptimeAI brings to the market?

What are areas of confidence and challenges for predictive analytics and system-wide optimization?

What are the steps a company should take to provide energy-efficient solutions?

How do you see the data availability in the manufacturing industry?

Our guest this week was Martin Whitlock, CTO of Telenor IoT. Telenor IoT is a world-leading provider of managed IoT connectivity for cloud services that enable cost-effectively building and operating both large and small-scale IoT solutions.

In this talk, we discussed the impacts of 2G and 3G sunsetting on IoT device manufacturers, owners and operators. We also explored how companies can minimize the effect of 2G and 3G phase-outs on their customers and how they can future-proof devices currently in design and production.

Key Questions:

• What does it mean to sunset a communications technology?
• What are the practical implications of the 2G and 3G sunsets for IoT device manufacturers?
• How do existing products need to be modified to maintain functionality after the infrastructure sunsets are implemented?
• How will functionality be impacted for systems that have both cloud and embedded/edge capabilities?

This week we interviewed Dean Priebe, Senior Director of the Robotics Center of Excellence for Dematic. Dematic is an intra-logistics innovator that designs, builds and supports intelligent automated solutions for manufacturing, warehouse and distribution environments. 

In this episode, we discussed how robotics shapes the supply chain by improving e-commerce service levels, operational flexibility and cost structures. We also discussed the benefits of partnering with startups and tech giants.

Key Questions:

• What are the areas of innovation for modern warehouse robotics?
• What is the business logic for solution integration between Dematic and Dexterity?
• Which automation use cases have the most reliable payback for mid-sized companies?
• Are SaaS-based robotic intelligence solutions becoming the norm for warehouse automation in North America?

In this episode, we interviewed Liam Bates, founder and CEO of Kaiterra. Kaiterra creates air quality solutions for healthy, sustainable buildings by providing innovative environmental monitoring devices, intelligent data analytics, and turn-key building integration. 

In this episode, we discussed how environmental data can provide insights, modify the behavior of operators and tenants, and enable system automation to reduce energy consumption. 

Key Questions:

How can building operators use data analytics to identify the root causes of air quality and energy consumption problems?

How is the technology stack evolving for indoor air quality analytics in commercial buildings?

How are investment decisions made among the multiple stakeholders involved in building, owning, operating, and using commercial buildings?

What is next on the horizon for smart building environment management?

This week we interviewed Daniel Young, Senior Manager of Product Standards at Toshiba.  Toshiba provides innovative and cost-efficient technology solutions for multiple industries. Daniel is part of Toshiba's global Digital Innovation team, promoting digital transformation strategies and best practices across all of Toshiba's operating companies.

In this episode, we discussed trends in manufacturing technology adaptation and common adoption challenges to address. We also explored how standards and microservices enable the development of solutions with significantly lower system integration costs and timelines.

Key Questions: 

How would you characterize the state of manufacturing in the US today?

How do you assess the financial viability of use cases and optimize them to meet ROI targets?

What are common challenges in digitalizing industrial automation processes that are operated with legacy technology?

In this episode, we interviewed Brian Sathianathan, co-founder and CTO of Iterate AI. Iterate AI is a low-code rapid prototyping platform set up in 2013 that helps accelerate innovation projects with large enterprises by developing and employing digital solutions faster using the 465 pre-built software components.

In this talk, we discussed how a low-code platform simplifies the completion of tasks by using components of AI and IoT tech stacks that are already pre-built. We also covered how low-code platforms can transform the go-to-market path for edge and cloud AI solutions.

Key Questions:

• What is the difference between the traditional AI-development process and low-code platforms for enterprises?
• What are the unique challenges of deploying a platform for edge AI versus cloud AI?
• How can high volumes of data be efficiently tagged to train AI algorithms?

In this week's episode, we interviewed Taylor Cooper, CEO of MistyWest. MistyWest is an engineering design consultancy that creates technically complex, intelligent connective devices that accelerate the world's transition to a more sustainable future.

In this talk, we discussed embedded computing, an essential system that helps electronics and industrial devices function well. We also dive deep into the current state of embedded computing and share the best practices for crossing the valley of death from concept to production for a connected device.

Key Questions:

• What has changed in embedded computing over the past ten years?

• How is the current chip shortage impacted companies that are bringing new IoT solutions to market?

• Which IoT segments are red oceans today, and where is there potential to discover blue oceans?

• How do you explore opportunities for new solutions?

In this episode, we interviewed Andy Chatham, CEO and Co-founder of DIMO. DIMO is an open platform that connects data producers like cars, consumers and business applications to unlock next-generation mobility services. 

Today, we explored the potential of Web3 as an enabling technology for the automotive industry. In particular, we discussed how Web3 provides a convenient infrastructure to conduct business transactions on which innovative business models can be designed. 

Key Questions: 

• What technology and market changes have made DIMO’s business model feasible today? 
• What are the challenges of hardware-software integration for applications used in cars? 
• When does the Web3 approach make sense as part of a business model?
• How does government regulation impact the development of Web3 business models? 

This week we interviewed Ross Sheil, Senior VP of Global Revenue at Infogrid. Infogrid is a mission-based, AI-intelligence-powered platform that gathers and analyzes data from its Internet of Things (IoT) sensor network to drive its mission of making every building healthy, efficient, and sustainable. 

In this episode, we discussed how the demand for building intelligence to reduce energy consumption and improve human well-being has increased. Infogrid works with Fortune 500 companies helping them to reimagine their smart-building strategies for corporate real estate.  

Key questions: 

• What significant changes in the building tech industry have you observed in the past years? 
• How do regulations impact the use of technology in buildings? 
• How do you measure the impact of AI solutions on building owners and managers? 
• Which stakeholders do you typically work with in a smart building project? 
• How do you deal with issues of privacy in collecting data related to employees or customers in commercial buildings? 

In this episode, we interviewed Gijs Meuleman, CEO of Sensorfy, specialist in predictive solutions for industrial companies. Sensorfy designs and develops predictive maintenance solutions to processes sensor data near the source, with machine learning on the edge. 

We discuss how to transform a transactional business model into service-based, data-enabled business that is more closely aligned with benefits realized by the end customer. We also discuss how predictive maintenance impacts operations cost structures to allow leaner maintenance organizations while sustaining service levels.  

Key Questions: 

• Why is predictive maintenance one of the most widely adopted IoT use cases? 
• How do you evaluate the different parameters to decide if predictive maintenance makes sense in a specific situation?  
• How do predictive analytics enable business model innovation? 
• What is the current level of maturing in industrial equipment markets in terms of adopting service based business models?