Dell Enlists Systems Integrators in IoT Ecosystem Expansion

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Dell Technologies’ Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions Partner Program has already garnered the support of more than 50 independent software vendors (ISVs). Now, the IT giant – made even bigger after acquiring EMC – is making room for system integrators.

The first batch of system integrators includes Action Point, Datatrend Technologies, L&T Technology Services and Mobiliya. “We’re passionate about providing our customers with a comprehensive IoT ecosystem to help them innovate and move an idea from concept to reality,” remarked Jeff Brown, vice president of Global IoT and Embedded PC Sales at Dell EMC, in an announcement today.

“By adding SIs [system integrators] into the mix, we are helping to bridge the gap between IT and OT, and transform IoT into a profitable market reality,” continued Brown.

Naturally, Dell isn’t the only IT heavyweight that’s gathering support from IT companies for its IoT initiatives.

Last year, IBM announced plans to invest $3 billion in IoT software and services that would enable its technology partners and customers to speed IoT deployments. This summer, AT&T joined IBM to bring open-source IoT tools to the developer community.

Earlier this month, while announcing its new $200 million Watson IoT headquarters in Munich, the company announced a multi-year collaboration with German auto and industrial supplier Schaeffler.

“We are entering an age where parts can monitor and evaluate their own performance and even order their own replacement when necessary,” commented Peter Gutzmer, deputy CEO and chief technology officer at Schaeffler, in prepared remarks. “Schaeffler is a world leader in product development and manufacturing, IBM in hybrid cloud and cognitive computing; through this partnership we are ushering the new industrial era.”

In June, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced it had joined GE Digital in a strategic partnership that would help joint customers spin up industrial IoT analytics systems. According to a forecast from Technavio, the market for industrial IoT solutions is expected to nearly reach $132 billion in 2020, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 percent until then.

“We are building an ecosystem with world-class partners who share our commitment to delivering better outcomes for our customers,” said Denzil Samuels, head of Global Channels and Alliances at GE Digital, in a statement. “By combining HPE’s key infrastructure capabilities with the Predix platform, we are enabling our customers with industrial analytics and the ability to leverage new insights that were not possible before.”

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.