Democracies are inclusive environments where everyone has an opportunity to participate and improve solutions over time. Today’s IoT markets are similar. There is massive demand for unique IoT solutions, inviting all types of players to participate across the complex range of use cases. Those solutions inevitably require different types of devices, data types and applications. Protocols, networks, data and hardware will range from lightweight and simple to complex and highly secure.

Diversity – not conformity – is the path to realizing the potential of the IoT. Winning IoT solutions will be those that leverage whatever technology they must to deliver maximum value to customers today, and which remain relevant by adapting to changes in the “IoT Environment” over time.

CANDI identifies the “IoT Environment” as the data space that encompasses (1) ecosystems of devices, (2) LANs and WANs across which device data travels, and (3) the apps/services which collect, protect, exchange and process that device data. So what is the ideal IoT Environment?

Like a democracy, the ideal IoT Environment is Open, Flexible and Enduring. These three traits encourage participation and competition across the broadest range of players. They describe solutions that will appeal to the widest customer audience. They suggest cooperation and future-readiness. And they leave it to innovators and markets to determine the winners over time.

The IoT is full of heterogeneity. And the IoT Environment is going to see a lot of change. So any IoT-targeted technology – product, protocol or app – may find itself isolated and at risk of obsolescence unless it can embrace heterogeneity and adapt to change by being Open, Flexible and Enduring.

This article is part 1 of a four-part series. 

This article was originally posted on CANDI's blog.