6 Essential Features That Power Plants Need in an IoT Solution

Not all IoT technologies are created equal. Here are six things to look for to ensure that you get the most value from your solution:

Choose a solution that combines IoT with asset performance monitoring. It should allow you to install IoT sensors on all your assets—not just the most critical ones. Your solution should also provide you with a wealth of data about your assets so that you can better analyze plant performance and spot issues before they lead to failures.

1. The ability to monitor all your assets and improve fleet-wide performance

You don’t need to spend months—and millions—on an IoT installation. Look for a cloud-based solution that can be installed in less than a week. That way, you can see immediate value—such as improved asset performance, reduced downtime, increased safety, and a positive impact on your bottom line.

2. Fast implementations and results

If your IoT solution runs on a private cloud, you don’t need to invest in hardware, IT infrastructure, databases, and software upgrades. Your provider will take care of everything so that you can avoid capital expenditures while you elevate asset performance.

3. A solution that eliminates technology CAPEX and lowers your operations costs

Look for a solution that is designed for power plant users—not for IT experts. That way, you won’t need to hire expensive consultants to perform ongoing monitoring and analysis.

Your solution should include mobile apps that operators, managers, and other plant personnel can install on their smartphones or tablets. Then, they can collect IoT and vibration data, monitor assets, and perform analysis at any time and from any location.

5. Security

Choose a vendor or platform that is privately and securely managed, instead of one that will put your data in a public cloud.

Optionally, you may set up a separate network for connecting IoT sensors directly to the internet. You can make software apps visible to your operators and maintenance team from any network. Then, they can access data that helps them better understand your asset health without compromising your security.

6. A solution that works with your existing systems

With many technologies, integration is an afterthought. This makes it hard for you to connect your IoT platform with your other enterprise systems. However, your tools should all work together to improve your asset performance. Look for a solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing systems so that you can drive more value from all of your technology.

IoT has come a long way. In the past, plant automation solutions took months to implement and a team of IT experts to maintain. They also couldn’t share data with your other enterprise systems. These limitations made it hard to gain a holistic view of your fleet.

Now, you can install IoT technology within a week and see immediate value from your investment. The insights you gain from your IoT data can help you improve asset reliability, minimize failures, and optimize production.

Click here to download our full whitepaper on Next-Generation IoT Technology

Visit assetsense.com to learn more about IoT solutions

Call 720-463-0220 to schedule a free consultation with our experts