On this episode of the IoT For All Podcast, Marc Sauter, Head of IoT Product Administration at Vodafone, joins Ryan Chacon to debate what companies ought to contemplate when shopping for IoT connectivity. Marc highlights Vodafone’s world efforts to attach companies intelligently, providing real-time operational knowledge that may assist automate processes. He outlines the position of synthetic intelligence in IoT and predicts an elevated adoption of IoT in healthcare and manufacturing as a consequence of demographic challenges. Marc additionally shares some widespread challenges in IoT similar to reliability and safety.

About Marc Sauter

Marc Sauter is accountable for main Vodafone’s IoT Product Administration together with flagship merchandise like IoT Administration Platform GDSP, Invent and Web within the Automobile (IITC). Marc has a wealth of senior administration expertise. After beginning his profession at HP, he went on to work at Siemens and Cinterion Wi-fi Modules, specializing in R&D, technique, enterprise improvement, and product administration inside the communications and trade sector. Marc holds a Grasp’s diploma in Electrical Engineering from the College of Cambridge within the UK and a Grasp’s in Enterprise Administration from the European Faculty of Enterprise in Reutlingen, Germany.

Concerned with connecting with Marc? Attain out on LinkedIn!

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the most important pan-European and African telecoms firm. Their goal is to attach for a greater future through the use of know-how to enhance lives, digitalize important sectors, and allow inclusive and sustainable digital societies. They supply cell and stuck companies to over 300 million clients in 17 international locations, accomplice with cell networks in 46 extra, and are additionally a world chief within the Web of Issues (IoT), connecting over 167 million units and platforms.

Key Questions and Matters from this Episode:

(00:13) Introduction to Marc Sauter and Vodafone

(01:36) What does Vodafone do?

(03:06) Shopping for IoT connectivity: what to think about

(10:20) Future-proofing IoT connectivity

(12:56) Recommendation for firms beginning to join units

(16:10) Frequent challenges in IoT adoption

(17:53) Predictions for IoT in 2024

(19:20) What industries will begin adopting IoT extra?

(20:29) The intersection of IoT and AI

(21:56) Study extra and comply with up

Transcript:

– [Ryan] Welcome Marc to the IoT For All Podcast. Thanks for being right here this week.

– [Marc] Yeah, thanks, Ryan. It’s a pleasure. 

– [Ryan] Yeah, I’m very excited to have you ever. Earlier than we soar into the dialog that we’ve deliberate, would you thoughts giving, introducing your self a bit to our viewers and giving an outline of Vodafone and what you all are doing within the IoT house?

– [Marc] Yeah, certain. Look, I’ve been with Vodafone for 14 years, all the time in IoT, and had varied roles from main technique and enterprise improvement, advertising and technique. I’m at present, I’m accountable for portfolio and product administration. So engaged on fairly thrilling stuff and creating the long run for Vodafone IoT.

Principally, engaged on which new merchandise and options we’re going to develop to assist our clients reworking their enterprise and succeeding in an more and more aggressive place. Previous to Vodafone, I used to work at Siemens, HP, and a smaller equipment firm in Canada, all the time with some IoT context.

Though 25 years in the past, it wasn’t referred to as IoT however trade automation or machine to machine, M2M. So general, I’m actually captivated with IoT due to the potential it has to rework our enterprise and lives and the constructive affect on society. For me, it’s tremendous rewarding to be a part of an trade that helps sufferers to get out of hospital sooner or helps enterprises to cut back their CO2 emissions.

– [Ryan] I feel the trade has come a good distance in all probability over these 25 years, and it’s undoubtedly in a really thrilling place. So let me ask about Vodafone particularly. What position do you all play within the IoT house? And this can be a sort of a query for many who will not be as accustomed to what you all do and what you’re offering to the trade and the place you’re slotting your self in.

– [Marc] We at Vodafone, we’ve been serving to organizations of all sizes to intelligently and reliably join your small business globally with our main IoT connectivity answer for over 30 years, and we assist them to intelligently join machines, asset, issues, and other people, and companies have entry to operational knowledge virtually in actual time and might use this to automate processes, cut back working prices, and achieve flexibility.

So principally, they will flip knowledge into significant data to make knowledgeable selections and run their operations higher. As well as, it helps them to develop new enterprise fashions and income streams to remain aggressive. In the present day, we assist over 160 million IoT connections throughout a spread of industries from utilities, manufacturing, logistics, automotive, agriculture, healthcare.

And I feel all of that is turning into much more vital in gentle of AI. You might even say that IoT connectivity is an enabler for AI, for synthetic intelligence, as IoT helps to make the info from all these machines, property, et cetera, out there to get processed and analyzed by AI.

– [Ryan] Completely. No, that’s an incredible level. So, I assume you’d be an incredible particular person to ask this subsequent query to then. If I’m a enterprise on the market trying to how greatest to pick out the IoT connectivity for my units to attach, what ought to companies actually contemplate? What ought to I as a enterprise proprietor or I as an organization trying to undertake an IoT answer be actually occupied with and contemplating in terms of the buying and choosing of IoT connectivity that matches or that matches greatest with the answer that’s being constructed or deployed? 

– [Marc] Excellent query as a result of IoT connectivity is commonly mission important. So from that perspective, it’s actually vital that you just clearly specify your use case and the necessities by way of IoT connectivity from the beginning.

For instance, you recognize, what companies are wanted, what knowledge utilization is required, the place will the units be deployed, et cetera. And we are able to dive into all these totally different parameters if you need. 

– [Ryan] Yeah, be happy to increase on a couple of of these. I feel it’s good. We’ve talked prior to now in regards to the, these totally different factors from have, totally different specialists have talked about them, however it’d be good to possibly carry all of it collectively and discuss why it’s so vital that you just perceive your use case to have the ability to perceive the necessities and the parameters that, what sort of knowledge is coming in, how briskly you want the info, how a lot knowledge it’s. All these various things are going to dictate the kind of connectivity that may be a match on your answer and never and in addition not be overkill and in addition not underperform when within the surroundings that the {hardware} and the answer is being deployed in. 

– [Marc] Yeah, completely. After which look all of it hangs collectively as a result of all this has an affect on the general answer and due to this fact the full value of possession as a result of you should begin from the system.

One other kind of connectivity you choose will have an effect on the system. And likewise then on the fee and all that sort of stuff. I do know the primary query I might ask is which companies does your use case want? Is it knowledge solely? For instance, you probably have a manufacturing machine the place you often must do a software program improve and knowledge is completely advantageous. Or do you additionally want voice and SMS capabilities like in lifts and elevators to assist an emergency name? I used to be as soon as caught in an elevator, and I used to be comfortable to press the button and speak to any individual and say, hey, I obtained caught. Are you able to please assist me? For these use instances, then you definately additionally want voice.

Then, assuming you’re okay with knowledge solely, then the query is what’s the anticipated throughput or knowledge utilization? In our case, with our clients, we’ve clients and use instances with a month-to-month knowledge utilization of a couple of gigabyte. And for instance, that’s updating the software program of a manufacturing machine or remotely managing property like a wind turbine or updating the map of your navigation system within the automotive. So these then require a strong 4G at the least, and even higher, a 5G connection. 

On the opposite excessive, we’ve use instances that solely require a couple of kilobyte of information per 12 months. So for instance, a smoke detector, proper? On this case, LTE-M or Narrowband IoT are the only option and that has a direct affect on the price of the module of the system as a result of an LTE-M or Narrowband IoT system or module is less expensive than a 4G or 5G module. After which, after all, there are all these different use instances which might be in between, like electrical energy, fuel, water meters, farming, medical units, and so forth.

Okay, so when you’ve readability on the throughput and the info utilization of your system, then the following query I might ask is the place the units might be deployed. So this begins with deployments in a single nation versus worldwide deployments. So, you want an answer that helps roaming overseas on this case or different units deployed in exhausting to achieve places similar to basements.

, for instance, my dad only recently put in an answer to remotely monitor the oil tank in his outdated home. So clearly the tank is within the basement and protection is admittedly poor due to the physics. However then the answer right here is Narrowband IoT or LTE-M once more, that are designed for higher deep indoor protection.

After which additionally in these instances, take into consideration the vitality consumption of the system and entry. In some instances, there isn’t a exterior energy provide, and your system is dependent upon the battery. For instance, if you consider a smoke detector or a sensor to measure water ranges of a river to ship an alarm in case of flooding. So, you need these units to function so long as potential with the smallest battery, so once more, the answer is LTE-M or Narrowband IoT. 

Then the fourth query is how typically does the system must transmit data? And what’s the affect in the event you don’t have a dependable service? How mission important is it? And right here we’re speaking in regards to the reliability and resilience. In our options, for instance, we offer a characteristic that known as nationwide roaming, which provides you entry to a couple of community, a couple of radio community in any nation. And that considerably will increase your probabilities to get a sign and have good protection. And the opposite facet is latency. So right here, clearly, 5G and particularly 5G standalone present the bottom latency, which is sort of actual time. And that is required to remotely function a crane or a distant surgical procedure. 

After which final however not least, the query is how do you wish to handle your use instances and units? So most of our clients, they require refined capabilities to handle their SIMs and connections. For instance, in the event you manufacture your units in Asia, and also you wish to have a ultimate check of the answer on the finish of manufacturing, then the system will get shipped to Europe, and just a few weeks later, then the system and the answer is offered and used. And on this case, our clients can use our administration platform to place the SIM right into a check mode for the ultimate manufacturing check, then right into a sleep mode throughout transport, after which activate them simply earlier than utilization. In addition they can handle knowledge utilization to see the place and the way the units are used, and so on. And that’s all remotely achieved via our platform.

Most clients use our APIs to attach our platform to their programs. However we even have an internet portal, which is used as effectively. So these are the 5 factors I feel. It’s essential to get readability and type it out earlier than you begin in selecting the right connectivity on your use case. 

– [Ryan] That’s improbable. Yeah, it feels like from an organization perspective, a purchaser perspective, it’s actually vital that they perceive all of the intricate particulars that they presumably can about their use case, the surroundings through which it’s going to be deployed, are their units going to be shifting from area, between areas. Is it gonna be staying in a single space? As you talked about, the varieties of knowledge that’s going to be transmitted, how typically they want the info, issues like that. 

What about occupied with after the deployment, I assume it in all probability could possibly be considered extra after the deployment is completed, there’s going to be new applied sciences that come out sooner or later, there’s going to be sunsetting of networks sooner or later. Are there issues that firms can do or take into consideration to assist put together themselves for future applied sciences down the road or different varieties of applied sciences which will exist that may affect their choice on the varieties of connectivity that they select for his or her answer?

– [Marc] Yeah, completely. Firstly, IoT is enabling many inventions throughout all industries, however then there may be additionally quite a lot of innovation occurring inside IoT. So Vodafone, for instance, is working with trade our bodies on the definition and standardization of future applied sciences and infrequently main these actions.

I’m significantly enthusiastic about 5G and the extra alternatives and innovation it brings. In the present day, we already join a number of million units with 5G. These units profit from the elevated throughput and bandwidth of 5G, however much more developments will include 5G standalone, standalone with an actual 5G core community. Along with the elevated pace, this can even present tremendous low latency and better high quality of service via community slicing, and this can allow a complete raft of recent use instances, particularly mission important and actual time use instances like autonomous driving, distant surgical procedure, good vitality grids, and lots of extra.

– [Ryan] Do you suppose that is one thing that as an adopter of those applied sciences is vital for firms to watch and monitor and perceive themselves? Or is that this one thing that a company like Vodafone and the businesses that they work with to carry an answer to life are going to assist information them via as the long run sort of unfolds?

– [Marc] Yeah, I feel each. Look, most of our clients, their core competency is just not round communications or connectivity, proper? Their competency is manufacturing and creating automobiles or medical units or different issues. Subsequently, it’s good to have a powerful accomplice that helps them on what’s occurring within the telco house and actually offers good consulting companies and guides them on what’s occurring right here. However clearly, it’s additionally, it doesn’t hurt if in addition they watch and monitor what’s happening within the trade right here as effectively. 

– [Ryan] So let’s take it one step additional, and the corporate has decided on the kind of connectivity that they’re going to make use of, and now they’re beginning to join their units. What recommendation do you’ve for firms which might be simply getting began connecting their units to the community and actually beginning to deploy their IoT answer? 

– [Marc] So simply principally what we talked about earlier than, clearly outline your necessities, what use instances, companies, et cetera, however then additionally work with a powerful accomplice who has the expertise on this space, sturdy reference instances, and who might help and seek the advice of you to refine these necessities, possibly even difficult you and offering a distinct perspective that may result in a greater general answer. Now, this accomplice must also make it straightforward so that you can deploy and handle IoT. If in case you have worldwide operations, your accomplice must also have world experience and arrange and trade expertise to assist you. After which the answer you choose needs to be safe, dependable, scalable, and clever to offer good high quality connectivity companies to you and your small business which you’ll depend on. 

And general, the recommendation I all the time have and provides to clients who really haven’t had any IoT venture but is to start out with a smaller pilot or proof of idea, join some units, check it, get some expertise, validate your assumptions, and doubtlessly refine your necessities. After which primarily based on this pilot and the expertise you bought, clients can then march on to bigger deployments with confidence.

From our expertise, most clients that begin small shortly notice the extra worth they will get by connecting the units. After which for this journey and course of, you want a powerful accomplice that walks with you and offers the assist and experience you want. 

– [Ryan] How does that recommendation differ for the businesses which might be within the IoT house? So let’s say system builders, answer builders, versus the adopters of the tip answer. Is there a sort of totally different recommendation or any of that recommendation tweaked in any means that makes these varieties of group that you just both work with or linked with in some capability distinctive in how they’re approaching it versus simply the upper degree person or firm that’s going to simply undertake an answer for his or her specific downside and attempt to clear up it?

– [Marc] Yeah, every buyer is slightly bit totally different. So due to this fact, actually vital that you choose a accomplice that has broad expertise and experience, proper? Like in Vodafone, for instance, we’ve 1000’s of shoppers throughout all sizes, throughout all verticals, additionally worldwide. So, we’ve during the last 25, 30 years collected quite a lot of expertise and experience, which then our clients can profit from. I feel that is actually the profit and the differentiator right here, and every IoT venture can be barely totally different with totally different necessities. So, you all the time typically must customise it and be very particular and bespoke. 

– [Ryan] Are there any widespread challenges that you just come throughout working with these firms or that you just notice quite a lot of these firms have of their adoption of IoT options? Is there something that you just witnessed out of your perspective that is likely to be value sharing with our viewers of issues simply to bear in mind exterior of the clearly the choice making course of for selecting the IoT connectivity, however simply usually as a complete, are there widespread challenges like, let’s say, options which have units which might be touring via a number of totally different areas, which you’ve talked about roaming, however what about like exhausting to achieve places? What about while you’re beginning to discuss property which might be shifting much more like automobiles, speaking about bringing voice into it, issues like that. Are there different challenges which might be beginning to seem as of late greater than possibly prior to now which might be value sharing sort of ideas on how you can, or what issues it’s best to have and how you can overcome them?

– [Marc] Our world will get extra linked on daily basis. There are such a lot of sensors, actors, units, property on the market that profit from being linked, and increasingly of these items get really linked. So due to this fact, the companies but in addition we as a society and people rely rather more on this linked world and having a secure and dependable connectivity. So from that perspective, I feel having this reliability is tremendous vital. Resilience is tremendous vital. After which additionally the safety is tremendous vital since you wish to guarantee that your knowledge is just not compromised. These are challenges that go throughout principally all industries, all clients, that reliability, resilience, safety is more and more vital. 

– [Ryan] I assume the, one of many final questions I’ve is as we’re now in 2024, what do you expect or see or count on or most enthusiastic about occurring in 2024? In from a Vodafone perspective, from simply an trade perspective within the work that you just do, the businesses that you just work with, the place do you, the place ought to individuals be maintaining a tally of and what do you foresee coming about that may actually take this to the following degree?

– [Marc] Yeah, look, I’m tremendous enthusiastic about the way forward for IoT, particularly in gentle of synthetic intelligence as a result of I feel the alternatives, it’s simply large that’s on the market. And the extra units, property, issues we join, the higher it will likely be, the extra knowledge we’ve for to feed the factitious intelligence machines and that may solely drive quite a lot of advantages, proper?

I’m, as I mentioned earlier, I’m tremendous excited to develop with our clients modern options that basically remodel companies and lives. And as I mentioned, it’s tremendous rewarding to see sufferers popping out of hospital sooner or to additional cut back CO2 emissions. These are the issues that basically maintain me going and in addition maintain the Vodafone workforce going. We’re extremely dedicated on innovating and offering the most effective options to our clients and actually serving to them to achieve their house. 

– [Ryan] Are there any industries that you just really feel are going to take the following step in IoT adoption? As a result of clearly there’s been many various use instances and industries which might be, which have been main the best way for a few years. Do you see any sort of that you just suspect will begin to actually undertake IoT extra that possibly hasn’t been one of many bigger adopters prior to now possibly due to the maturity of sure applied sciences and issues like that. Is there any sort of trade that you just’re actually targeted on maintaining a tally of?

– [Marc] Yeah, I feel the demographic challenges that we’ve in particularly within the extra developed world the place we’re struggling to get extremely certified individuals that may drive much more adoption of AI and IoT and people sort of issues. Automation in areas like healthcare but in addition in areas like manufacturing, proper, as a result of then you possibly can automate extra issues and that is the place I’m tremendous excited, and I feel the adoption of IoT and connectivity in these areas will really considerably enhance over the approaching 24, 36 months. 

– [Ryan] And what about AI? You’ve talked about that a couple of instances. We’ve been targeted lots on AI the final in all probability 12 months or so due to how shut knit IoT and AI are. With the work that you just all do, how does AI match into the spectrum of choices and the stuff that you just have interaction with clients round? 

– [Marc] Properly, there are two issues to it, proper? So to start with, we in our merchandise and options, we’ll more and more undertake AI and machine studying and people sort of issues to make our service higher and much more dependable and resilient and safer. In order that’s one facet. However then additionally by connecting extra units, extra property, extra knowledge might be offered to those AI machines, they usually can then course of extra knowledge and extra in actual time, and that may solely assist to drive the end result of AI processes. 

– [Ryan] Yeah, it’s avery thrilling time. I feel 2024 goes to be a extremely nice 12 months throughout the board. I feel we’re seeing extra firms perceive the worth of IoT, perceive what it could possibly do for his or her enterprise, how different firms of their trade are using it to unravel sure issues. And I feel applied sciences have come an extended method to actually make it one thing that they will see a faster ROI and actually justify attending to scale, which is the place everybody right here wins if firms are capable of see that and get to that extra shortly. So, I actually recognize you taking the time to share your insights at the moment, and I assume the very last thing I’ve for you is simply to let our viewers know the place they will be taught extra about what you all have happening, doubtlessly comply with up with any questions, something like that. 

– [Marc] Yeah, to start with, Ryan, thanks very a lot for giving me the chance. Then, yeah, if firms wish to get in contact with us, then I feel the primary place is our internet web page. However then additionally, we’ve in most international locations, we’ve a Vodafone consultant, IoT gross sales power, additionally within the US or in Japan, then simply get in contact with them, and we’ll assist you and work with you to make your small business linked.

– [Ryan] Mark, thanks a lot. This has been nice. We’ve all the time cherished the alternatives to work with Vodafone on content material and sort of discuss your all’s experience, what you’ve happening within the trade. We predict what you’re doing is nice. Actually recognize the time, and hopefully we’ll have the chance to speak once more sooner or later.

– [Marc] Thanks very a lot, Ryan.