German software giant SAP plans to invest 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in IoT solutions by 2020, according to Fortune.
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The company will be launching a new product line called SAP IoT. This will leverage SAP’s existing HANA platform and focus on applying machine learning/advanced analytics to the vast amount of data that IoT devices collect.
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SAP acquired PLAT.ONE, an IoT platform/solutions provider, and Fedem Technology, an analytics software company. Both of these companies will be integrated into SAP HANA. ZDNet notes PLAT.ONE will integrated into HANA to add capabilities including device lifecycle management and connectivity, and edge computing. Fedem Technology will be used to improve HANA’s analytics capabilities — a crucial component of IoT platforms. The acquisitions mark just two of many among IoT platform providers in 2016.
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SAP will be releasing Industry 4.0 packages designed for industrial companies to easily connect and implement an IoT solution. SAP notes Industry 4.0 packages will be complemented with SAP’s Distributed Manufacturing application, which helps manufacturers use additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. This is noteworthy, particularly because SAP announced a partnership with Bosch that would deploy SAP’s software in Bosch’s industrial equipment and machines. This would allow SAP to enhance its business by finding new use cases from the manufacturers that use Bosch’s machines in their factories. However, it’s unclear if Bosch is using one of the Industry 4.0 packages.
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SAP will be opening labs throughout world to help customers learn and test various IoT and digital solutions. The locations include Munich, Palo Alto, Berlin, Johannesburg, and more.
Overall, SAP’s name recognition as one of the largest software providers in the world should allow it to be successful in the IoT. The company has a long history of providing enterprise and consumer-level software solutions, so it will likely be similarly successful in providing software for IoT solutions. Further, with the move into big data, the company looks poised to eventually analyze and store the data that it collects. Taken together, SAP could be a very big player in the IoT in the coming years.
John Greenough, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on enterprise robotics that examines the rising use of robots across many industries. It examines top use cases, market leaders, growth drivers, potential for workforce automation, the top barriers, and includes market forecasts on shipments and investment in robots between 2015-2021.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:
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We expect enterprise robotic shipments to nearly triple between 2015-2021.
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Manufacturing will continue to be the top adopter of robots. A recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey found 44% of US manufacturers and 66% of German manufacturers plan to install autonomous robots and assistance systems within the next five years.
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Rising wages around the world is just one of the key reasons enterprises are beginning to leverage robotics.
Robots have the potential to displace jobs, meaning that while they might take some more labor intensive jobs they have the potential to create new jobs for working on robots.
In full, the report:
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Forecasts enterprise robotic shipments
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Identifies market leaders
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Discusses economic conditions leading to the rise of robots
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Examines the advantages of using robots
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Identifies five of the top barriers preventing robot adoption