http://www.europeanbusinessreview.com 19Buildingthenew
IoTinfrastructure
willtakeyears
andmany
companiesthat
canbenefitfrom
theIoTarenot
preparedtouse
thetechnology.Industry 4.Enter the
Industry 4.0 Era
Today by Using
“Dark Data” Yo u
Already Have
BY GREGORY GIMPEL AND ALLAN ALTER
The Industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT), also
known as Industry 4.0, provides new oppor-
tunities to harness data-driven insights to
improve business performance. In reality,
operational technology, production equip-
ment, and other “things” already provide data
that can improve – even transform – company
operations. By answering four key questions,
business leaders can benefit from this “dark
data” today.
Enter the Industry 4.0 Era Today by Using “Dark
Data” You Already Have
The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), also known
as Industry 4.0, provides a new opportunity to
improve business performance through data-driven
insights. A quick Internet search provides many
details about the transformative potential of the
IoT. Wireless sensors on patients will help hospi-
tals to predict heart attacks before they happen,
enabling preventative emergency measures.^1
Companies will equip employees with uniforms that
detect hazards as a way to cut down on industrial
accidents.^2 Sensors in roadways, sidewalks, and mass
transit systems will manage traffic flow in real time,
minimising traffic and the lost productivity and
environmental cost associated with it.^3 IoT-enabled
supply chains will become adaptive, self-organising,
and super-efficient networks.^4
Building the new IoT infrastructure will take
years and many companies that can benefit from
the IoT are not prepared to use the technology.^5
Fortunately, companies can enter the IoT era today
by using the “dark data” created by supply chain
operations, production equipment, operational
technology, and other existing “things”. Presently,
over 90% of these data are dark, providing a rich
opportunity for companies to begin exploiting these
information resources today.
Our interviews with senior executives suggest
that companies can begin to take advantage of the
opportunities enabled by dark data by asking four
questions. What data are being generated? What
problems can I solve with the data? Should we use