Distributed Analytics for Industry

Distributed analytics extends data processing and computing close to or at the data source. In many instances, data for distributed analytics comes from IIoT devices located at the edge of the operational network. These devices can be located near, or embedded in, a wide variety of edge machines and equipment, such as robots, fleet vehicles, and distributed microgrids.

These analytics can reside within one or more intelligent, two-way communication devices, such as sensors, controllers, and gateways. While the terms “edge” and “fog” are often used interchangeably to describe these types of distributed analytics, as we’ll see, there are some distinctions between the two.

Analytics at the edge of the operational network is common in some industries, such as retail and finance. However, until recently, analytics at the edge wasn’t possible in industrial settings due to a mix of cost, complexity, security, and technology barriers. Instead, edge data-to-cloud analytics was the default starting point.

Integrating analytics, and distributed analytics into industrial setting offers significant and far reaching benefits. These include:

• Revenue generation from new methods of serving existing customers and ways of reaching new ones

• Asset optimization through improved, proactive, and highly-automated management of infrastructure, resources, and capital

• Higher satisfaction and retention by engaging customers with highly-valued products and services where and when they need them

• Improved operational flexibility and responsiveness through better and faster data-driven decisions

   

When considering and developing an analytics strategy to drive these benefits, companies often begin with centralized solutions in mind. These typically leverage cloud solutions due to their ability to provide powerful analytics to complex and large data sets.

Table of Contents

• Edge Data Takes Center Stage

• Rethinking Cloud-centricity

• Distributed Intelligence Evolves

• Distributed Analytics Methods

• A Few Use Cases

• Recommendations

   

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Keywords: Distributed Analytics, IIoT Devices, Data-To-Cloud Analytics, Operational Flexibility, ARC Advisory Group.