Avnet Inc. has unveiled a cloud-based software platform for developing Internet of Things solutions, as well as an extensive family of pre-assembled solutions based on that platform. Together, the new offerings are designed to help channel pros and their customers jumpstart development of IoT-enabled systems and services.
Called IoTConnect and based on Microsoft’s Azure public cloud, the new platform will be Phoenix-based Avnet’s star attraction at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which opens next week in Las Vegas.
“Avnet recognizes that concerns such as security risk, unexpected downtime, low efficiency and information latency frequently hinder organizations’ ability to capture the full potential of digitization,” said Lou Lutostanski, Avnet’s vice president of Internet of Things, in a press statement. “IoTConnect, supported by Microsoft Azure, not only helps mitigate these risks, but enables enterprises to generate intelligence that will make their organizations more productive, secure and competitive in the digital age.”
Avnet’s market-ready solutions, which come with both software and hardware, target common use cases in a range of vertical industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction, retail, and food processing.
Developed in partnership with 14 third-party suppliers, the new portfolio includes a wide array of Smart Factory, Smart Asset Monitoring, Smart Connected Worker, Smart Building, Smart Healthcare, Smart Retail, Smart Office, Smart Fleet Management, and Smart Warehouse systems that partners can deploy as is or tailor to meet segment-specific requirements.
“Built on Azure services, Avnet’s versatile IoTConnect platform and its new Smart Industry solutions include powerful analytics, cognitive services, artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Rodney Clark, vice president of IoT at Microsoft, in prepared remarks. “With these repeatable Edge to Cloud solutions both partners and customers will be able to take full advantage of the digital transformation opportunities IoT represents.”
Avnet will host training sessions designed to help simplify the complexity of building IoT solutions and scaling them for mass distribution following CES.
The Internet of Things and embedded systems have been Avnet’s sole market focus since it sold its technology services division to distribution rival Tech Data Corp., of Clearwater, Fla., for $2.6 billion in September of 2016. The company introduced an end-to-end set of IoT services last month.
Analyst firm IDC expects the Internet of Things to generate $772 billion of spending worldwide in 2018.
