| | Dec/Jan 20179CIOReviewits analysis and thus real time value. This delay can directly contribute to slower response times and unplanned downtime due to late or undetected equipment errors.Conversely, if the sensor data could be pulled and analyzed in real time right at the point of data capture, on the factory floor (at the edge), one could take immediate action upon the findings. In fact, with the right level of compute power directly at the edge, technology such as machine learning and augmented reality can also be utilized to detect and fix the source of the problem before it becomes an issue altogether. This can help eliminate unplanned water shutdowns, result in countless savings to the business and community. This is just one example of how data center-level compute­processed and analyzed right at the IIoT edge, will help solve business problems in the coming years. Hence with all this newly created data there is a growing need for high performance processing and analysis to happen at the edge where the "things" are. And further, increasing demand for the data capture, real-time response, and control of the "things". This in turn has created the need for a convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) space. IT is widely known for deep, high performance computing and systems management, while OT is known for data acquisition and control. It's a most efficient approach to converge together in a single product, all in one box, both IT and OT technologies. That is, integrate the functions of deep computing, data acquisition, control, and remote lights out systems management­and place this system directly at the IoT edge. I liken the convergence of all these IoT functions in a single box to metaphorically follow the past integration of modular stereo components into a single box, many personal gadgets into a single smart phone device, and networking, storage, and compute converged into a single server blades system in the data center. The "Converged IoT System" will be the preferred approach in IoT solution deployments in the near future. This is because Converged IoT Systems offer 7 demonstrable benefits to the end user:1) Less space. Many times there's not much space at the IoT edge. 2) Less energy. Many times there's little provision of power at the IoT edge.3) Less latency. Real time response is needed in many IoT applications.4) Less cables. Cables are costly, add latency, and reduce reliability. 5) Less deployment time. Reduced time-to-value of an IoT deployment afford superior economics. 6) Less to buy and manage. Procurement and steady state management is simplified.7) OT and IT synergy. Less separation and better cooperation among the IT and OT organizations will afford an advantage.I like to say, "A good company aggressively follows the trends, but a great company sets the trends". For a first mover advantage in IIoT deployments, addressing the voluminous data capture, analysis, and control challenges with a Converged IoT System, is setting the trend. Using a Converged IoT System to address the voluminous data capture, analysis, and control challenges, is setting the trend
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