In this episode, we break down the role of a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) inside an IIoT stack. We explain how PLCs act as the “field brain” — reading sensors and driving actuators — and how they bridge real-time control with higher-level systems. Then we cover where PLCs can become a bottleneck: things like scalability, protocol limits, or visibility into data for analytics. You’ll hear from field stories where teams struggled to thread PLCs into an IIoT path, and what approaches helped (or didn’t). If you’re building industrial data systems, or curious how control gear fits into a cloud-enabled world, this is a grounded, practical take — no hype, just what really matters. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

How hard is it for a small IIoT consulting firm to land projects in the U.S.? In this episode, we strip away the hype and walk through the real challenges: building credibility without big brand names, tackling strict procurement rules, and managing long sales cycles. You’ll hear what works (niche expertise, agile delivery, smart partnerships) and where small firms often stumble. We’ll also look at how buyers think when stakes are high, and why many deals are lost before they even start. If you’re in the IIoT space — or want to understand what it takes to break into U.S. industrial markets — this story might resonate more than you expect. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

In this episode, we dig into a real deployment of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) in a busy manufacturing plant. You’ll hear how these robots were tied into SAP ME and SAP MII to make material flow more flexible and responsive. We’ll explore the tech hurdles — protocol mismatches, real-time data delays, OPC UA quirks — and the people challenges: getting operations, IT, and logistics working together. Along the way, you’ll pick up lessons on choosing simplicity over fancy, building trust on the factory floor, and how “plug-and-play” rarely applies in real life. If you’re curious how AGVs and MES integration can really work (and what can go wrong), this is for you. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

You might think naming tags and data points is a small detail. It’s not. In this episode, we explore why naming conventions become the backbone of any IIoT system that needs to scale. We’ll walk through failures and successes from real projects—how inconsistent names cause chaos, and how a good standard and some automation can save months of cleanup work. We’ll also dig into how to build a unified namespace, use hierarchical naming, and enforce rules without driving your team crazy. By the end, you’ll see naming isn’t boring—it’s the scaffolding for everything else to work well. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

Imagine going from bulky control room screens to streaming millions of data points in real time from anywhere in the world. This episode takes a reflective look at how manufacturing data evolved—from the early days of SCADA and OPC connections to the rise of cloud analytics and AI-driven insights. It’s not a hype story about technology, but a grounded walk through the lessons learned along the way. You’ll hear how small steps in connectivity turned into a full digital transformation and what that means for today’s shop floors. Thoughtful, relatable, and a little nostalgic, this one’s for anyone who’s ever wrestled with data that just wouldn’t stay put. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

In this episode, we dive into the trade-offs between Kafka and MQTT for streaming industrial data from edge devices to the cloud. I share field experience where MQTT shines in constrained environments, and why Kafka takes over when you need durability, replay, and analytics. We walk through a hybrid pattern (MQTT at the edge + Kafka in the cloud) and talk about pitfalls of trying to run Kafka directly on edge gateways. If you're wrestling with questions like “Should I push Kafka down to the plant?” or “Can MQTT scale to my analytics needs?”, this is one you’ll want to hear. It’s practical, real, and no hype — just what works (and when). For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

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.

In this episode, we explore why many companies are choosing to replace SAP MII now — not just because it’s “old” — but because of real limits in maintenance, support, and scalability. We look at key lessons from migration efforts: how to manage data flow, maintain integration with shop floor systems, and plan for a gradual transition to newer platforms. You’ll hear what’s working (and what’s not) from teams who’ve faced surprises along the way. Whether you’re evaluating your own SAP stack or just curious about how manufacturing systems evolve, this episode gives you grounded insight and practical ideas (with a few laughs in between). For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

In this episode, we explore how Ignition 8.3 is pushing things forward in industrial IoT. We cover the key features and improvements — like better event streams, smarter dashboards, and updates in the gateway historian — and talk about what they really mean on the shop floor. You’ll hear how these changes might help solve real pain points: data bottlenecks, scaling across sites, integrating older machines. I also reflect on the human side — how users are reacting, what surprises came up in the upgrade, and where the gaps still are. If you follow industrial software or manage plant systems, this is for you: a grounded talk about what next-gen tools can (and can’t) do. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.

In this episode, we talk about UNS (Unified Namespace) — what it is, why it’s more than a fancy acronym, and how it shows up (or fails) in real IIoT projects. We share field lessons: how teams used UNS to simplify data access, reduce redundancy, or sometimes got stuck because of poor planning or scope creep. You’ll hear stories of what went right (and what didn’t), and what to watch out for when adopting UNS in your own systems. If you work with industrial data, integration, or planning digital transformations, this is a useful, grounded conversation — no hype, just honest takeaways. For more in-depth stories and insights, visit iiotblog.com.