Billions of interconnected devices and sensors collect real-time data about the physical world with the aim of improving the control of systems and processes. In recent years, the use of cloud computing has played a key role in archiving and analyzing the data. But what can be done if there is no direct access to high bandwidths and therefore a fast route to the cloud? To enable these companies to benefit from the advantages of the IoT, IBM and Cisco have decided to join forces to enable initial analyses directly at the data source. Target groups include operators of oil production facilities, wind and solar energy providers and the shipping industry - wherever the necessary bandwidths for transmitting large amounts of data are often not available.

"Cloud computing and the Internet of Things are significantly changing the way we interact with the physical world," says Harriet Green, General Manager, IBM Watson IoT, Commerce & Education. "However, for an oil rig or a factory in the furthest corner of the world, where critical decisions need to be made as quickly as possible, it's not always practical or possible to upload the data to the cloud first. IBM and Cisco are now going this last mile and bringing Watson IoT technology from the cloud and edge analysis technologies from Cisco in the networks directly to the point of action. This means that powerful analysis technologies will be available practically everywhere and at all times in the future.

For example, employees who need to monitor the condition of systems or machines in remote areas will be able to determine maintenance or spare parts requirements much more accurately. With the help of such condition-based maintenance concepts, in which the monitoring of devices and machines takes place in real time, maintenance costs can be reduced by up to 50 percent and productivity increased by up to 25 percent, it is said.

Cisco and IBM say they are already working with Bell Canada, Canada's largest telecommunications company, to deliver IBM Watson IoT technology and Cisco Edge over Canada's largest and fastest 4G LTE network. In addition, there are other projects that are also already using the hybrid IT solution from IBM and Cisco: The Colombian port in Cartagena, for example, uses it to monitor the current status of its facilities, including cranes and trucks. Silverhook Powerboats use the solution to be able to react immediately to sudden weather fluctuations on the high seas.