Prototyping IIoT with our all-in-one service

Industrial IoT (IIoT) can feel like a huge and complicated topic with sensors, analytics, automation and integrations that depand specialized know-how. Yet many manufacturers, particularly smaller ones, don’t realize they can begin with small, low-risk prototypes which provide benefits fast. Even better, you no longer need large up-front investment or multiple vendors. We’ve introduced a monthly, all-in-one service that covers everything you need including the platform, expertise and continuous updates within a predictable budget.

Over the next few months, we’ll go through 10 IIoT pain points in detail, showing how our agile, subscription-based model helps you innovate faster and use your time and resources where it matters most. First, let’s talk about quick-win prototypes that can prove ROI fast.

Why start with quick-win prototypes

1. Low risk, high return: Test a small, focused idea, like automated defect detection or basic machine data tracking, without committing to a facility-wide deployment.
2. Faster buy-in: Show real numbers (fewer defects, less downtime) to build confidence. Once you’ve proven value, it’s a lot easier to commit.
3. Scalable approach: Our monthly service ensures you pay only for what you need right now, then expand the scope (adding more data collection, analytics, process-control and new production lines).

Three example prototypes and how we can help you with them

1. Lightweight machine vision for QA
   • Concept: Use an entry-level camera and open-source machine vision software to detect missing or misaligned parts, issues with paint or faulty labels.
   • Outcome: Even a basic system can help avoid costly rework or shipping a faulty product. Proving this at small scale can justify bigger investments later.
   • How we can help: Under our monthly plan, you get access to automation specialists, machine vision engineers and software developers without need for separate project scoping or big hardware costs. If you see clear ROI, you can upgrade to better cameras, more advanced analysis and other use cases.
2. Tracking production speed and fault ratios
   1. Concept: Gather simple metrics like production throughput, defect counts and product configuration specifics, along with info about operators and shifts involved.
   2. Outcome: Even basic analysis can uncover bottlenecks or highlight training needs. A small speed boost or fewer faulty products yield immediate savings.
   3. How we can help: We can set up data collection using our Owl IIoT Platform, included in the monthly subscription model. Each month we can bring in data scientists to analyze the data with you, or use software developers to make small but meaningful tailoring or new user interfaces if needed. No unexpected bills, just incremental improvements.
3. Anomaly detection in process parameters
   1. Concept: Monitor and log basic machine data, like temperatures, pressures and speeds, and watch for unusual trends or threshold breaches.
   2. Outcome: Catching a potential fault early can prevent serious downtime later, often saving the entire cost of the prototype in a single avoided downtime.
   3. How we can help: Our Owl platform continuously monitors your key parameters and alerts you about abnormal readings. Each month you can decide if you want to add more data collection, refine alert logic, add machine learning algorithms or implement process control.

These three examples illustrate how your proof-of-concept projects don’t have to be just that, but that they can provide real value from the start and seamlessly grow and scale to improve your operations from single machines to production lines and multiple facilities.

Our monthly, all-in-one service model

IIoT projects often involve large upfront investments, long timelines and multiple vendors for hardware, software and expertise. We’ve streamlined that approach:

1. One fixed monthly budget:
   • Instead of paying separately for software licenses, consulting hours, automation work and development, you get a single subscription that covers it all: our Owl IIoT Platform (if needed) + the exact experts you need at any given stage.
2. Flexible resource allocation:
   • If you need a data scientist this month, you get one. Next month, you might need a software developer or someone to do work on your industrial automation, no problem. You avoid hiring or contracting different specialists each time. Shutting down for summer? Just scale the subscription down to upkeep for a while and continue later.
3. Built-in scalability:
   • Start small with one or two prototypes. Once you prove it’s worth your time and money, scale up adding more data collection and integrations, or moving to more advanced AI based solutions or process control, without negotiating big new contracts or finding new partners.

Whats next: Pilot purgatory

We’ve now explored quick-win prototypes as a way to figure out business cases that could be worth your while. In the next blog post we will discuss how moving from quick-win prototypes to larger scale deployments should be done. This was the first blog post in a 10 post series that will cover 10 of the most common pitfalls that we’ve encountered when companies try to gain real benefit from IIoT solutions.

Stay tuned!

Meanwhile check our Owl platform here, and our pricing here.