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< Previous10 IoT technology, it was the first company to offer a commercial package using b-tree algorithms on microcomputers in 1979. The FairCom EDGE solution is explicitly designed to unlock machine data right at the edge—whether it’s the factory floor, a warehouse, a wind farm, or a retail store. The unique solution bridges this gap by communicating in both machine and software protocols. It combines an MQTT broker and OPC UA client for machine connectivity (OT) with a database and web server for REST and SQL software connectivity (IT). Moreover, it does so quickly and transparently as an all-in-one solution with no external dependencies. Users can simply install and start it on an edge device or gateway and manage it through a clean web UI. In addition, a ThingWorx connector enables FairCom EDGE to continuously synchronize the data produced by physical machines with digital twins in the cloud. Simplifying the Integration of Edge Data FairCom truly eats, sleeps, and breathes data at every point of its operation. The highly advanced FairCom database is embedded within countless applications across the world, often running in resource-constrained environments and in the absence of database administrators. “We saw a similar challenge in IoT – the handling of data produced outside the reach of IT. Whereas the edge used to be a desktop or server application, now it’s a machine or connected device. And it’s why we built FairCom EDGE, the world’s first converged Industrial IoT hub. To simplify the integration of edge data by making it accessible to enterprise applications out of the box – and to developers and data scientists as well,” explains Mike Bowers, Chief Architect, FairCom. While edge data can be forwarded directly to cloud services such as AWS IoT Core or Azure IoT Hub, the best solution is to persist the data locally (at the edge) before forwarding it to the cloud. This removes the risk of data loss when sending data across slow Internet connections and to intermittent cloud services. Even if the Internet is down, FairCom EDGE will continue to collect and store machine data as it is produced. The result is that real-time dashboards and analytics can run reliably at the edge and be enriched by the cloud when it is available. Based on the company’s findings, IoT, and Industrial IoT platforms, in particular, are pretty complex as per the additional number of components and third-party software to provide a complete solution. Moreover, they require separate databases for SQL-based access, MQTT brokers, web servers, connectors, and other add-ons for them to work effectively. FairCom’s team identified these challenges and introduced FairCom EDGE, which combines these services into one executable that is installed by simply unzipping and running. However, FairCom EDGE doesn’t only converge a database, an MQTT broker, and a web server, it automatically parses data, whether JSON or binary, transforms it, and stores it in relational tables to be queried via standard BI/reporting tools, machine learning, and custom applications/dashboards using SQL or HTTP/REST. Integrated Database FairCom EDGE is entirely self-contained and self-reliant. What makes the product stand out from the crowd is its fully integrated database. It is much easier to build an IoT hub or MQTT broker than to create a database. This is why other IoT solutions require a separate database. But, with FairCom EDGE, there is no need to purchase, install, administer, manage, and monitor a third-party database. The embedded FairCom database requires no installation and maintenance. Further, the performance of FairCom EDGE cannot be beaten precisely because it persists machine data to its internal database engine, not across the network to a remote database server. “FairCom EDGE is an all-in-one solution that includes all the core features needed to integrate IoT/ Industrial IoT solutions. There is no need to purchase, install, and manage separate software for MQTT, REST, SQL, and JSON. But most importantly, all the data automatically go into and out of the same database tables and this makes data integration easy,” points Bowers. For about half a century, FairCom’s performance and reliability in resource-constrained environments running outside of IT have made it perfect for edge deployments. An instance that highlights the company’s value proposition is when the team assisted a global leader in digital transformation employing more than 2,000 employees. One of its current IoT projects, at the forefront of pushing the IoT envelope, involved wastewater treatment for a major North American city. By integrating Industrial IoT technology, the city can operate wastewater treatment systems more efficiently, taking a significant step in conserving water while at the same time improving waste removal and preventing flooding. The company accomplished this quickly by deploying FairCom EDGE to collect sensor data and persist it on the edge, thus enabling the creation of intelligent control systems and providing the capability to enhance existing control systems with IoT capabilities. A High-Performance, Reliable Solution FairCom laid its cornerstone in 1979 to advance database technology and expand its usage beyond the data center. Since opening its doors, the database engine in FairCom EDGE has been trusted by more than 40 percent of the Fortune 100 companies. In fact, FairCom DB is known as the developer’s database. Today, FairCom DB has clients in multiple languages and can be embedded and deployed as a server. FairCom EDGE is a major enhancement of FairCom DB for IoT and Industrial IoT use cases. “In the past, our customers needed a high-performance, reliable solution for embedded data access within mission-critical applications. Now, they need one for microservices, connected devices, and industrial gateways – and that’s precisely where we’re going, the application of an unmatched core database technology to next-generation use cases such as IoT/Industrial IoT, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and microservices,” adds Bowers. Looking ahead, FairCom EDGE has an aggressive and exciting roadmap over the next few years. The team is currently testing support for Siemens S7 user-defined data types over MQTT to make it even easier for manufacturers to unlock machine data out-of-the-box with no code needed. Next, it’ll update the MQTT broker to support the MQTT 5 and Sparkplug protocols. "The other interesting area we’re looking at is allowing developers to use MQTT itself to asynchronously query and modify the machine data stored within FairCom EDGE. In addition to converging a database engine, MQTT broker, and REST server, we’re looking to directly integrate Python into FairCom EDGE to expand its transformation capabilities and for running artificial intelligence and machine learning on the edge.” Things, no pun intended, are going to get even more exciting in the edge space soon!” concludes Bowers. A s the tech world grows beyond imagination, connected devices will continue to define nu- merous industries in the coming year. A vari- ety of trends are accelerating the IoT’s prom- inence, from data-intensive experiences that use IoT devices such as self-driving cars or wearable devices to basic health-and-safety needs. Today, with over 30 billion connected devices, IoT redefines how interaction happens between intelligent solutions, real-life objects like home appliances, and electronic gadgets, assisting us in improving our daily lives. This level of innovation and evolution is making IoT a beneficial tool, resulting in mass adoption. While IoT is expected to concentrate on security to meet the complicated challenges in the coming decade, the combination of advanced technologies into an AI-driven IoT system is developed to reduce deviations from the optimum in the manufacturing procedure and ensure high performance, lower costs, less waste. Meanwhile, blockchain technology or distributed ledger technol- ogy is also adding value to IoT and the abilities it can perform. At this juncture, there are a variety of IoT solutions and ser- vices that are being developed. However, this huge number of offerings in the industry could, in a way, confuse businesses in selecting the right solution provider. To help enterprises to make improved decisions and enhance their operations, Enterprise Viewpoint Magazine’s editorial team, researchers, and a team of tech experts have selected a list of some of the innovators in the IoT space. The companies listed here are capable of creating an impact in the IoT industry. Here are the Top 20 IoT Solution Providers 2021. 20 InnovativeCSG : Brian Shepherd, President & CEO Greenwood Village, CO csgi.com For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetize, engage and retain customers. CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. Cisco : Chuck Robbins, Chair & CEO San Jose, CA cisco.com Cisco enables people to make powerful connections whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible, providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time. In addition to its products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. Eddy Solutions : Travis Allan, President & CEO Toronto, Ontario eddysolutions.com Eddy Solutions is an innovative North American manufacturer of smart water metering products and related technologies. Cumulus Digital Systems : Matthew Kleiman, CEO Cambridge, Massachusetts cumulusds.com Cumulus digitizes manual work that is mission-critical, high volume, and difficult to automate. Their system has been used to manage over one million work completions across five continents. Clients have achieved significant cost savings through the reduction or elimination of paperwork, exposure hours, unnecessary rework, and unplanned downtime. Most importantly, their users have eliminated fugitive greenhouse gas emissions that commonly result from improperly bolted connections. IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 InnovativeFairCom Corporation : Ray A. Brown, CEO Alysha Brown, COO Mike Bowers, Chief Architect Columbia, MO faircom.com FairCom database technology is among the fastest and most trusted on the market today. Since the company’s founding in 1979, FairCom products have been powering mission-critical systems for global entities in a broad spectrum of industries, ranging from small and medium- sized businesses to high-profile enterprise-level companies and government agencies. Currently, more than 40 percent of the Fortune 100 use FairCom for its database needs. FairCom’s product line includes FairCom DB, FairCom EDGE for IoT and Industry 4.0 environments and c-treeRTG data management solution for COBOL. Fleet Space Technologies : Fleet is an agile space company connecting the Internet of Things around the world using a massive fleet of small low- cost satellites. They are making it faster, simpler and cheaper to connect the world’s devices. Fleet provide direct, global access to a secure low-cost low-bandwidth connectivity platform ideal for machine to machine data exchange and deploying IoT sensor networks at scale. Flavia Tata Nardini, Co-founder & CEO Beverley, S outh Australia fleetspace.com Eseye : Nick Earle, Chairman & Ceo Guildford, Surrey eseye.com Eseye empowers businesses to embrace IoT without limits. Eseye help them to visualize the impossible and bring those solutions to life through innovative IoT cellular connectivity solutions that enables their customers to drive up business value, deploy differentiated experiences and disrupt their markets. Eseye deliver innovative IoT cellular connectivity solutions, versatile hardware, and technical consultancy and round-the-clock support that steer all industry verticals from their initial concept through to global deployment GE Digital : H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman & CEO San Ramon, CA ge.com GE Digital provides software and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) services to industrial companies. They operate across four key industries, including power generation, manufacturing, oil & gas, and electric utilities & telecom. GE is helping industry work better. Driven by people, process and proven technology, they are innovating with their customers to make the complex simple - at unparalleled speed and scale. IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 InnovativeNozomi Networks : Edgard Capdevielle, President & CEO San Francisco, CA nozominetworks.com Nozomi Networks accelerates digital transformation by protecting the world’s critical infrastructure, industrial and government organizations from cyber threats. Their solution delivers exceptional network and asset visibility, threat detection, and insights for OT and IoT environments. Customers rely on them to minimize risk and complexity while maximizing operational resilience. KORE Wireless : Romil Bahl, President & CEO Alpharetta, GA korewireless.com KORE is a pioneer, leader, and trusted advisor delivering transformative business performance from IoT solutions. They empower organizations of all sizes to improve IoT operational and business results by simplifying the complexity of IoT. Their deep IoT knowledge and experience, global reach, purpose-built solutions, and deployment agility accelerate and materially impact their customers’ business outcomes. Nordic Semiconductor : Svenn-Tore Larsen, Presi- dent & CEO Trondheim, Norway nordicsemi.no Nordic Semiconductor is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor company specializing in wireless communication technology that powers the Internet of Things (IoT). Nordic was established in 1983 and has more than 1000 employees across the globe. Their award winning Bluetooth Low Energy solutions pioneered ultra- low power wireless, making them the global market leader. Oxagile : Dmitry Karpovich, Co-Founder & CEO New York, NY oxagile.com Oxagile is a leading-edge provider of custom web and mobile application development services with a focus on multi- platform video streaming and RTC solutions. Oxagile has been on the IT scene for over a decade now and has successfully delivered more than 400 projects to companies in various industries, such as Media and Entertainment, e-commerce, Ed-Tech, Advertising, Finance, Healthcare, and others. IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 InnovativeSBT Alliance : Benjamin Buchanan, President & CEO Long Beach, CA sbt-alliance.com Smarter Building Technologies (SBT) Alliance redefines how energy efficiency and IoT-based control projects are engineered, deployed, and supported long term. By pooling the strengths of their internal divisions, they deploy, support, and amplify smart building systems faster and with fewer headaches. SBT Alliance partners with small, medium, and Fortune 500 customers to design, deploy, and support IoT-enabled solutions, systems, devices and technologies. Tele2 : Tele2 is committed to fearlessly liberate people to live a more connected life. They constantly strive to be the truly integrated challenger – providing speed, data and video content, no matter where or when. Their award winning networks enable mobile and fixed connectivity, telephony, data network services, TV, streaming and global IoT solutions for millions of customers. Kjell Johnsen, President & CEO Stockholm tele2.com Panasonic : Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman & CEO Newark, NJ na.panasonic.com Panasonic is a leading technology partner to businesses and governments, at the forefront of everything from electric batteries to smart cities to high-tech stadium experiences. They provide a wide range of integrated solutions across many different industries, including automotive, avionics, energy and utilities, food services and hospitality, retail, government and public safety, logistics, manufacturing, and sports and entertainment. Theorem : Brady Brim-DeForest, CEO Woodland Hills, CA theorem.co Theorem is an innovation and engineering company that advises clients on product strategy, engineering, design, and culture, then partners with them to build and launch technology-driven solutions to their most complex problems. Theorem is chosen by clients when results matter most — becoming the agent of change, and driving a transformation that involves not only technology, but also people, process and leadership. IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 InnovativeVates : Mario Barra, President Cordoba, Argentina vates.com Vates is dedicated to software development, testing, quality control and R&D. They are devoted to provide IT products and services to corporations and governments, always following the strictest quality standards. Vates utilize agile frameworks and take an iterative-based, incremental approach which optimizes predictability and reduces risk during the development process. Tive : Krenar Komoni, Founder & CEO Boston, Massachusetts tive.co Tive in-transit visibility solutions help shipping and logistics professionals manage their shipments and eliminate preventable delays and damage. The Tive platform analyzes your shipments tracker data and turns it into actionable, real-time insights. Tive provides alerts, reports, and all the tools you need to understand and optimize your supply chain from end to end. Trackx : Tim Harvie, CEO Denver, Colorado trackx.com TrackX is the enterprise tracing, tracking & collaboration solution that leading brands trust to achieve more sustainable and better performing supply chains. TrackX is the only integrated end- to-end solution that combines the best technology, analytics and expertise to collect, process and analyze asset data to drive better performance. Verizon : Hans Vestberg, Chairman & CEO Basking Ridge, NJ verizon.com As one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products, Verizon is transforming the way people, businesses and things connect. They have the ability to learn and grow at the speed of technology, and the space to create within every role. They are diverse network of people driven by their aspirations and shared purpose, committed to shaping the future. IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 Innovative18 Eddy Solutions Delivering Intelligent Water Management tools W ater has long been called the “new fire” in insurance, causing billions in damages, displacing families and businesses, and exposing people to displacement and environmental risks such as mould. Today, much of the damage in buildings and homes is due to issues that are related to water leaks from within, such as appliance failures and burst pipes. This is what Eddy Solutions—an innovative North American manufacturer of smart water metering products and related technologies—solves, providing peace of mind for building owners, property managers, tenants/residents, and insurers. Eddy Solutions’ comprehensive system includes a full suite of protection for the home and multiple elements within a multi-rise building that covers risers, common areas, suites, boiler rooms, and the water main, to significantly reduce the risk of water damage. “Our primary focus is on leveraging IoT technology and real-time data,” begins Travis Allan, President & CEO. Eddy’s comprehensive suite of products empowers property/building management with the necessary tools and data to both mitigate acute water damage risks, prevent future events from occurring, and identify potential water-saving opportunities. Its IQ is an ultrasonic water meter with leading resolution and includes a built-in full port ball valve that provides automatic and remote shut-off features. The wireless H2O sensors track humidity, temperature, and the presence of water, and the Link interfaces with existing meters to track consumption and can be coupled with a shutoff valve for large pipe sizes. To connect Eddy’s system, the team employs a Long-Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)—a low power, low bandwidth radio network technology, ideal for high interference environments such as those inside a commercial or multi-unit residential building. The backbone of their solution is a behavioral learning system that understands the normal uses of water within an environment to identify leaks and anomalies, along with their 3 in 1 sensors to monitor the presence of water, as well as fluctuations in temperature and humidity. When an anomaly is detected by the system, an email/text alert is sent to the client. The client can choose to investigate an alert and trigger a shut-off remotely if needed, and the system also includes an automatic shutoff. In commercial and multi-family buildings, Eddy works with management to establish business rules providing a dashboard, which offers the ability to isolate shutoffs according to the water zones. “We support our customers by initiating a shut-off from our monitoring center when needed to ensure a property is protected,” adds Allan. Eddy’s is one of the only systems available today that protects all water elements—be it pipes in the riser stacks, the irrigation system, or the building’s hydronic system. “As one of the earliest to market, we have had the benefit of learning and applying practical engineered solutions that meets the needs of the real-estate and its various stakeholders, says Allan. An instance that highlights the company’s value proposition is when in a recent deployment, less than a month after installation of their full system, a major leakage issue was identified by the system. Due to a pressure relief valve failure shortly after installation, water began leaking into the mechanical penthouse at a rate of 80 liters/ minute. Eddy’s H2O sensors immediately alerted and within 30 seconds and water makeup for the heating system was closed off. Eddy literally means a circular movement of water, counter to the main current, disrupting the regular flow of water into a small whirlpool. Today, Eddy’s team of experts is revolutionizing risk management in buildings and homes. “Recently, we partnered with some huge global companies, including PCL Construction, AIG, AXA XL, and Rogers. We are now preparing for the next step, which is to take the company public, as we’re prepping for a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange,” concludes Allan. Eddy system is recognized for our comprehensive approach to providing protection to all water elements in a building – including pipes in the riser stacks, the irrigation system, or the building’s hydronic system Travis Allan, President & CEO IoT Solution Providers 2021 20 InnovativeNext >