In this episode, we dig into Sparkplug B — what it is, when it makes sense, and when it doesn’t — all from a hands-on IIoT angle. We explore how Sparkplug B helps structure and manage industrial data, enable plug-and-play interoperability, and simplify integrations across mixed vendor environments. But we don’t shy away from its drawbacks: trade-offs in reliability, the learning curve, and situations where alternatives like plain MQTT or Kafka might be better fits. If you’ve ever wondered whether Sparkplug B is “required” for modern data streaming in factories (or if it's just another tech hype), this is for you. No fluff, just practical insight. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.