4. Increased Collaboration Between IT And OT

Internet of Things applications have grown beyond the glitzy consumer market in 2016 to the manufacturing and industrial markets. Industrial executives are realizing that connected factories can ultimately cut costs and make manufacturing floors more efficient.

However, part of the growth of Industrial IoT is the convergence of IT and operational technology (OT)– that is, the connected valves, pumps and HVAC systems and other critical building and factory infrastructure. In the coming year, IT solution providers and vendors will need to begin to work more closely with the operational technology side of the manufacturing floor.