HCL Technologies Ltd, India’s fourth-largest software services exporter, on Monday said it will launch an incubation centre for the Internet of Things (IoT) in partnership with Microsoft Corp. in Redmond, Washington.
The project aims at building advanced solutions based on machine-to-machine (M-2-M) technology, in areas such as industrial manufacturing, life sciences and healthcare.
For those who are new to the whole concept of IoT, it is best defined as a worldwide network of devices; including appliances and machinery of all forms and sizes. The connection is made through the internet. As for the M-2-M, it is the automated exchange of information between machines.
HCL has been active when it comes to IoT. In July 2015, Noida-based HCL bought some assets of US-based consulting firm Trygstad Technical Services Inc. The firm is known to deal with niche segments of emerging technologies and has expertise in IoT, embedded systems, intelligent systems and core engineering, including operating systems.
Then in September, the firm partnered with International Business Machines Corp. to set up an incubation centre for IoT solutions in Noida to jointly develop connected products and operations such as remote monitoring, smart inventory management, smart building and facilities management.
The Redmond-based incubation centre will “also deploy a new model of innovation leveraging real-time analytics, sensory data and rapid co-creation allowing customers to experience the impact IoT can have on their ability to create sustainable business value”, according to the company statement.
According to Susan Hauser, corporate vice-president, enterprise and partner group, Microsoft, “the aim of the partnership with HCL is to enable companies to accelerate IoT adoption with industry-specific solutions that deliver greater business insights, new revenue models and speed return on investment”.
Sukamal Banerjee, executive vice-president and head of the IoT WoRKS business unit at HCL Technologies, commented by saying that industrial IoT is the next big thing for the company and it will be the major source of revenue for the firm.